A New Way To Self Publish

A New Way To Self Publish
By Anna Kathryn Bir

More and more good authors are turning to the Internet to self publish. There are several reasons for that. All of them are probably well known to every writer by now, so we'll not go into them here. What we'll talk about here is a new way to self publish.

Everyone has, by now, heard of ebooks. This is a wonderful way to publish on the net, but it requires special programs to empliment it. And there are web sites that will do all that for you for a fee. But what if you simply can't afford it or you don't want to pay anyone?

This idea I've come up with may be out there in left field, but out in left field is where you usually find some great ideas. Here is what I found.

Create a credit card account somewhere first. Pick any company you are comfortable with and doesn't cost a great deal. After that is all set, put your novel on your web site, create its own page, and use the ariel font. Use size 10 for the main text. Your title and chapter headings can be larger.

Write an intro page for your novel and create a separate page for it. Here is where you'll put any illustrations you may have. So people will have an example of your writing, copy and paste the first chapter of your novel and put it here, too. Also on this page will be the link to your credit card payment company.

The next step is to set up your credit card account to connect with the novel page after your customers have paid for it and then they can simply print out the novel or copy and paste it to their Word or Works program that is already on their computers.

This is a simple and yet effective way to self publish and it does not cost you anything, either. Out in left field, I know, but hey. Anything to survive, huh?

About The Author

Anna Kathryn Bir is a published author of many sci fi short stories. One of them was a Star Trek story. You can find her sci fi novels on her web site http://e-sac.com email address is info@e-sac.com

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A Few Tips On How To Market And Sell Your Self Published Books

A Few Tips On How To Market And Sell Your Self Published Books
By Helen Hecker

Self publishers need to have a good marketing plan to sell books and should be written prior to writing your book and in place a year prior to publishing your book. It's one thing to write a book, but an entirely different thing to write one that's saleable, viable, and marketable. In today's publishing environment, a book's success depends greatly on a strong marketing plan.

Mail a press release to all the trade journals in your field over and over again; you can use the same release. Invest in press release submitting software and set aside time every week to send out a press release online to the press directories. Make sure your press release spells out the 'who, what, where, when, and why.'

Learning to write and use powerful optimized press releases can often drive tons of traffic to your website while providing multiple back links that can lead to increased page rank and numerous top ten search engine rankings for your targeted keywords. Using press releases can be a very effective marketing tool if used properly. Press releases can generate thousands of dollars in sales when picked up by national trade or print media.

Using press releases for marketing or promoting your book or book's website has become increasingly popular as publishers discover the powerful benefits of using press releases. Make sure you have at least one good press release, written in AP style, which you can send out for the lifetime of your book.

Place free ads periodically for your book's website on Craigslist in different categories to drive even more traffic to your website. Make five telephone calls a day that relate to marketing your book. Make sure to promote and market your book each and every day, both online and offline.

When you get a nice write up or feature about you and/or your book, have it laminated and set it up on an easel at trade shows. Create an online contest and list it in online contest directories to drive traffic to your website. Every day it's important to focus on a variety of marketing approaches.

Submit articles to online article directories that focus on your book's topic to drive customers to your website. Find a non-exclusive distributor with a good reputation to carry your book for the book store trade, as well as for other retailers. Contact non-bookstore booksellers and offer to leave books on consignment.

Offer to trade writing a monthly column in a trade publication in your books' genre, in trade for display ads on the same page. Contact any companies, corporations or organizations that might use your book for promotions; offer significant discounts for volume orders or for thousands of copies offer a specified amount above book production costs. If your book solves a problem, focus on this in your marketing.

If your book fits a specialty market, find a store that fits the genre and offer to leave books on consignment; many publishers have sold thousands of books this way. Get as many testimonials about your book, as possible, from experts in the field relating to your title, not customers; use on your fliers and back of books.

Remember to make sure your book is listed in Books-in-Print; don't assume it's already listed. Make sure your sales letter or flier is first class; this is your formal presentation of your title to the prospective buyer.

Use your book promotion and book marketing dollars wisely; go after the free and cheap resources daily. If you apply yourself every day and you promote your book like crazy, you can achieve that ultimate goal of selling thousands of copies of your book, many self publishers have. Yes you can market and promote your book on a shoestring budget, just be careful about your marketing dollars.

For more information on book marketing tips and selling more books go to http://www.TwinPeaksPress.com founded in 1982, specializing in help for authors, self publishers, ebook and book publishers with tips, advice and resources, including information on media, library and other mailing lists, and press releases - online, wire service and offline distribution

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BestSelling Author Asks: Will Publishing Articles Qualify You As An Expert?

Best-Selling Author Asks: Will Publishing Articles Qualify You As An Expert?
By Dr. Gary S. Goodman

Webster tells us that an expert is A person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field.

So, does writing articles for an Ezine or for other publications qualify you as an expert?

That depends, doesnt it?

Most people, I suppose equate publications with knowing something. After all, why would someone bother to put pen to paper or paws to the keyboard if she didnt know a lot about what she was writing?

The short answer, of course, is to APPEAR to others as an expert! True experts write articles, but bozos and phonies do, too. So, how do we separate the genuine from the fakes?

Lets go back to Webster for a moment.

Again, an expert is a person who has SPECIAL skill or knowledge.

I can start my car by placing the key into the lock and twisting, but does this make me an expert at driving, at keys, locks, or automotive mechanics? Of course not, because ANYONE can do what I do with a key; it takes no SPECIALIZED knowledge or skill, whatsoever.

A locksmith is an expert, the real deal. Having seen, keyed, re-keyed, assembled and dissembled numerous locks, he knows a lot more about them than I do. He can fix a broken lock, and improve one that is barely functioning.

That smithy may have gone to school and have a certification or he may have apprenticed with a Master Locksmith over the course of time which are generally accepted indicia of expertise in his field.

You get the point. There are CRITERIA for determining expertise, so what criteria can we use to distinguish the expert writers from the amateurs?

(1)That locksmith we spoke of has to pass some sort of test to practice his craft. It could be a real world test, where someone calls on him to make a set of replacement keys or to re-key a lock. If he does it without a hitch, hes competent. A writer must be comprehensible to readers, make a point and support it, factually, if hes producing non-fiction. If he cant spell, or construct grammatical sentences, its doubtful hes a writer.

(2)Real writers say something SPECIAL, that hasnt been said before, or they say what has been said, but they do it in a SPECIAL WAY, with a special style. If theyre merely imitating or plagiarizing the work of others, theyre certainly not experts, unless like painters and counterfeiters they are referred to as MASTER forgers, or MASTER counterfeiters. But then IMITATION itself, is elevated to an art form, and arguably, it deserves special recognition; ethics notwithstanding.

(3)Experts in nearly any walk of life are NOT SELF-APPOINTED. If you want to write a book and have a major publisher invest in it and issue it, you and your product will be screened, evaluated, filtered, and edited, generally by multiple people and committees that will have to agree on your competence and expertise. Expertise is always subject to verification, debate, and dispute.

(4)Experts are generally excellent in one field and possibly two, but they are not DaVinci, who was a brilliant painter and engineer and scientist, and more.

Are Ezine writers experts?

Undoubtedly, some are quite special. They say new things or say old things in new ways, and theyre eminently comprehensible, and even enjoyable.

But there are others who are saying nothing new, nothing special, that are imitators, and are really trying to APPEAR to be experts.

Theyre the counterfeiters, but theyre far from being MASTERS at it!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman is the best-selling author of 12 books, over 700 articles, and the creator of numerous audio and video training programs, including The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable, published by Nightingale-Conant-a favorite among salespeople and entrepreneurs. For information about booking Gary to speak at your next sales, customer service or management meeting, conference or convention, please address your inquiry to: gary@customersatisfaction.com

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How To SelfPublish Your Own Books Manuals Reports Or Newsletters

How To Self-Publish Your Own Books, Manuals, Reports Or Newsletters
By Julia Tang

You can make a lot of money by writing and self-publishing your own material, if you are willing to write books, manuals, reports or newsletters that millions of people across the United States, and throughout the world for that matter, desperately want to buy.

Today, more than ever before, is the age of information. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, there continues to be an incredible demand for information throughout America and the world. There is an astronomical demand for information packed books, manuals, reports and newsletters of almost every imaginable kind.

It's really much easier than you might have ever guessed to start filling your bank account with cash from information you possess. People crave information that appeals to their basic needs and will somehow educate or enlighten them. Simply by putting your own specialized information into books, manuals, reports or newsletters, you can start putting a hefty price on information you have no doubt been giving away.

FIND YOUR MARKET-THEN WRITE YOUR MATERIAL

Anyone who can communicate an idea to another person, should be able to get their same message across on a written page. If you are either an expert on some subject, or are interested enough to obtain the information for a project, you have what it takes to go from having an idea, to self-publishing your own material in whatever format it develops into. There are hundreds of publications filled with ads by people just like yourself, who discovered they could make a lot of money writing and publishing their work. Looking through opportunity magazines, or other publications that cover the field you are interested in, is a good place to start looking for ideas.

Review all the advertisements in the magazines you have chosen to see what popular topics and subjects are being written about in books, manuals, reports and newsletters. Then ask yourself if you can come up with a better way, or have equally interesting information you can present from a different angle, or with a different twist that would be of interest to the readers in that market. If the answer is yes, then you can enter that market and also make some incredible money!

CASH IN ON YOUR OWN CREATIVITY AND EXPERTISE

Be creative in developing your material. Perhaps you are aware of some technique that allows people to accomplish their goals faster in a certain field. Maybe you can think of a better way to cash in on a current fad. The bottom line is that people are hungry for information and ideas, and you can become the writer or self-publisher of information people want to buy. People are eager to buy information that can help them improve their lives 1) Financially; 2) Physically; and 3) Emotionally. If you can fill any of those needs with information that can be put onto a written page, there are millions of people waiting to hand over their cash to get it.

KNOWING HOW TO PACKAGE YOUR INFORMATION CAN EARN YOU A FORTUNE!

After you have written your material, you will have to decide on how you will package the information to make it salable. Depending on your market, some packaging will sell better than others. For example, you can print your information in a series of publications, print it in a book, manual, report or newsletter, put it on a cassette tapes or present it at seminars. You can focus on one area, or utilize many area.

One thing is certain, people are paying billions of dollars to obtain well packaged information! there are books that sell for up to $100 and more, with manuals in a close second. There are reports that consist of 10-12 pages selling for up to $10 or more, while seminars can cost as much as $15,000 for a single weekend. It may sound incredible to the average person, but people are willing to pay top dollar for information. However, the packaging must be perceived as being worth the price you are asking.But before you decide on how to package your information, you must first consider who your primary audience is, and cater to those people in everything you do.

FOCUS ON SUBJECT MATERIAL THAT IS SALABLE

Information for your subject matter can be found in various places. For the best results, start with your field of expertise and turn it into a book, manual, report or newsletter.

Focus on providing your targeted market with simple, understandable, and helpful information. It must overwhelmingly appeal to your customers' wants and desires...

Never forget that this is the age of specialized information. People are completely willing to spend their money for tens of thousands of different forms of information, provided it is useful to them. Your job is to either find a need and fill it, or create the need and supply it.One of the best ways to get started is to sit down with some paper and write down every subject you have some degree of knowledge about. Your list of subject doesn't have to be in any particular order. Don't force it. When ideas for headings no longer come easy, stop and start up again at a later time. When you feel comfortable that you have covered most of the areas you know, start picking out the topics that interest you the most. Then you can start researching more material for your writing projects.

FILL YOUR MATERIAL WITH SELF-INTEREST BENEFITS

Many new writers fail to understand that if they expect any hope for business survival, let alone success, they must come to realize early on that a big part of their job is to arouse the emotions and desires of their customers. Your product, whether a boo, manual, report or newsletter, must be portrayed as being jam-packed with self-interest benefits.

Millions of dollars in failed business ventures are wasted every year simply because entrepreneurs fail to understand that what customers want to hear is not necessarily what they have to say. You should never forget this valuable lesson. It can make you rich!

YOUR MATERIAL MUST STIR EMOTIONS AND DESIRES

Emotions are what move people to buy anything. therefore, the job of your product and advertisement vehicle is to move your prospect to buy. You have to stir enough emotions, not only to cause desire, but the rationalization that provides an excuse based on logic.

Even after a prospect makes a commitment to buy your book, etc.,they may think they have acted logically. None of your customers will ever admit that emotions had anything to do with their purchase. What you must always be aware of however, is that logic probably had little to do with the buyer's decision. That is because human actions are often caused by instincts and compulsions that most buyers are unaware of.

As you write your material for publication in any form, or as you develop an ad or other sales package, always think in terms of how a particular benefit will stir a reader's emotions and desires. Try to understand how your product might be perceived by reader's by focusing on your own feelings.

ADVERTISING IS VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF YOUR SELF-PUBLISHING VENTURE

The success of your advertising will ultimately depend on the salability of your book, manual, report, newsletter, etc. Good advertising will make a good book sell better, but it cannot transform a poor book into being successful.

Advertising is vital to any business venture because:

1) It allows a business to deliver their message repeatedly and reinforce it in the minds of targeted consumers.

2) It allows a business to reach hundreds of thousands of potential customers at a relatively low cost compared to individual calls.

3) It allows a business to target their market and test their product.

4) A business identity can quickly be established.

5) A forum for showing a product, together with benefits and advantages can be established.

BASIC ADVERTISING RULES

Effective marketing is a vast field. It includes using marketing tools such as: direct mail; space and classified ads; signs; radio and TV commercials; business involvement, and more. In fact, the approaches you can take and the methods you use are only limited by your imagination and resources. There are basic rules however that do not change however. They are as follows:

Rule No. 1-You must get a prospects ATTENTION. ( Your headline is the most important part of an advertisement.)

Rule No. 2-You must create reader INTEREST (Your ad should be built around an idea that offers value.)

Rule No. 3-You must arouse the reader's DESIRE. (By focusing on all the benefits they will receive.)

Rule No. 4-Your ad must move them to ACT. (Tell your readers exactly what it is you what them to do.)

In order to avoid making careless advertising decisions that can cost you money, it is important that you understand and participate in your own strategies. That means getting involved and researching what strategy will produce sound advertising.It is essential that you have a plan before you take action on developing an advertising strategy. Your plan must be based on an objective analysis that resulted from your knowledge and it doesn't matter what your background is, you can learn to master the type of mail order advertising that is needed to launch a self-publishing business.

Through research and careful planning you can become familiar with the writing skills you will need to create effective ads. Obtain all the information you can from the masters in the business. Read and study every book, manual, report, newsletter, sales letter, ad, article, and publication you can get your hands on that will help you in developing your own successful strategies and techniques. Then bring all of that knowledge together to obtain winning results.

10 MONEY-MAKING REASONS WHY SELF-PUBLISHING IS THE BEST CHOICE

You become a self-publisher by taking your material (book, manual, report, newsletter, etc.) and by-pass all the middlemen. You by-pass the middlemen, by going directly to a printer and handling all the marketing and distribution of the product yourself. As a self-publisher you invest your talent,time and energy and money. The benefits you receive are complete control over your product and all the profits~

Here is a condensed version of 10 good reasons why you should self-publish:

1) Self-publishing may be the only way to get published. With thousands upon thousands of manuscripts, etc. being sent to publishers continually you may not be able to get to anyone to even look at your idea. Self-publishing may be your only solution.

2) As a self-publisher you get to keep all of the profits from your sales. Why accept 45-6% in royalties from a publishing company when you can have it all!

3) You have absolute marketing and editing control when you self-publish. According to A Writer's Digest poll, 60% of the big publishing firms do the final editing; 23% select the final title; 20% will not even consult an author on the cover design, and 37% do not involve authors in promoting their own material.

4) Major publishers may receive up to several hundred manuscripts a week. Unless they have already published your work, the odds they will even look at your material aren't very high.

5) When you self-publish you are in control every step of the way. By depending on another publisher to make things happen for you, you take the chance of never getting anywhere.

6) By self-publishing you gain the perspective of being able to see the complete marketing picture from a publisher's point of view.

7) Even if a publisher did accept your work, it would take an average of 18 months before the first copy reached the marketplace. Self-publishing will save you valuable time. Especially if you can't afford to miss a market that can quickly pass by.

8) Waiting for a letter from a publisher that never comes can be frustrating and embarrassing. Self-publishing eliminates the waiting and wondering.

9) When you self-publish and get more directly involved in marketing you will obtain a more total business picture.

10) As a self-publisher you will receive more tax advantages.

---------------------------------------------------------
Julia Tang publishes Smart Online Business Tips, a fresh
and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people
like you! To find out the best online business opportunities,
and to discover hundreds more proven and practical internet
marketing secrets, plus FREE internet marketing products
worth over $200, visit: http://www.best-internet-businesses.com
----------------------------------------------------------

Note:You may use this article in your ezine or on your site as long as the article and resource box remain unchanged

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The Inner Workings of Magazine Publishing

The Inner Workings of Magazine Publishing
By Victor Epand

What is the working protocol of journalism especially for magazines? Also what is the role of editor-in-chief in a magazine and the working hierarchy in a magazine... who reports to whom? Also how much should the editor-in-chief allow the owners/publishers/directors of the media company to interfere in the editorial content? These are just some of the questions that is normally asked about the inner workings of a magazine.

First, I'm not sure what you mean by working protocol of journalism. Are you talking about relationships with sources, between editors and reporters, or something else? In the context of your other questions, I wonder if you mean something to do with editorial authority, too.

Second,Various journalism roles can vary quite a bit, actually, from publication to publication. Some companies have more hands-on management styles, while others give their executives more autonomy. But, in general, the editor-in-chief has control over the publication's editorial contents and direction, just as the advertising director has control over the ad contents, placement, and policies.

That doesn't mean the editor is God, because he/she shares power with other high-ranking executives. The editor's greatest management skill is in working effectively with people -- knowing how to negotiate with other power brokers who have a say in how the magazine is put together, distributed, etc.

I'll give you an example of hierarchy: In the trade magazine publishing company where I worked, there was an individual editor over each magazine. We shared a pool of in-house writers, and we each contracted separately with freelancers as needed. There also was an advertising director who managed the ad sales and placement for each of the three magazines. If I didn't like the ad placement in my magazine, I could go to her and negotiate; she was usually agreeable within reason.

(Of course, we usually prevented negotiations by talking in advance about special features that would need special space, and she was conversant with our standard placement of recurring features, etc.) We also worked with execs at various support companies -- R.R.

Donnelley printing in Senatobia, Miss., which required us to meet certain format standards with what we submitted and to adhere to agreed-upon timetables; and the company that wrapped, labeled, and mailed our magazines, which required clear directives, correct mailing label files, and adherence to agreed-upon timetables. We also worked with the business office in our publishing company to communicate clearly about incoming bills from freelancers (then signing off on them) and other issues.

In other words, the hierarchy is broader, and less linear, than I thought it would be from my studies in journalism. The real world is much, much, much more cooperative than it is territory based. And, sadly for editors, the power tends to reside where the money is (hint: Not in the editorial offices). Often, the ad director swings a bigger stick than you will as an editor. Make close friends with the ad director -- do favors when you can. You'll need to call those favors in at some point. Make sure you develop a relationship as allies rather than as adversaries.

Last, The editor-in-chief has limited options in how much he lets the magazine's owners, publishers, and other higher-ups interfere with the editorial content. He should establish the extent of his authority when he is hired and, if possible, have it spelled out in writing. Clear upfront communications are the best preventative step. He can help prevent problems by communicating clearly with his bosses about editorial directions and getting buy-in as he goes along rather than waiting for issues to arise.

If issues are raised later on, the editor's best tool is to be persuasive to his bosses and help them understand why his editorial judgment should prevail. However, when push comes to shove, the editor's choices are limited: Stay and bow to his boss's wishes, violate his boss's wishes and take the consequences, or quit. If he has an employment contract that has been violated, he may consider suing, but that would be rare. Often, compromise (within the limits of your personal ethics) is the best option.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant at http://www.4Magazines.info. 4Magazines.info offers the greatest magazine subscriptions from a variety of top publishers. Browse through our selection of Lifestyle Magazines here: http://www.4Magazines.info/category

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What's Killing Your Publishing Career?

What's Killing Your Publishing Career?
By CF Jackson

With the large increase of books being published by self-publishers, and the up-rise of print on demand, there is still a lot of death taking place in the publishing industry. Thus far, 175,000 books have been published in 2005.

Are you a part of this population? There are many aspects that make up these individuals. However, let us target just three that are undeniable to anyone reading this article.

As in anything we do, a large portion of it is about taking risks. Are you a risk taker? Youve completed your manuscript or just published your novel; it is time to open the entrepreneur portion of your brain.

Risk takers do not mind the possible end result because the thought of success in pure motivation. Many writers and authors remain reclusive within the safe haven of their creativity. What makes this ideology costly? It is the slow return on their investment.

Are you wondering if you fit into this population of authors? Sure you have published your work for the whole world to read, even critique. But that is just the beginning of this venture. What makes you any different than the other hundreds of thousands of writers and authors?

Sure you can play it safe and hope your extraordinary opportunity hits you over your head. Why not become a risk taker and take it by authority?

Becoming a risk taker you must be:

--- persistent

--- creative

--- passionate

Another obvious bludgeon death is the lack of knowledge.

Yes it is lovely to remain in your creative world and just produce book after book. Can you imagine leaving all the other hoopla for others to sort out?

No one whose a true business person would dare allow themselves to walk blind in their business. Prime examples are Oprah, Donald Trump and Bill Gates. However, many writers and authors are just that, blind.

In order to be successful, you need to be savvy on all levels in the literary industry. If you are not, just like buying a car, you are going to get taken every time. Do your homework, rather than relying on third party hearsay. Why would you find knowing unimportant?For example, POD (print on demand) writers. Many have shouted foul play. The pitch is knowing the short and long term of POD. Before signing any contract, may it be for a car, house, student loan, or what have you, the rule of thumb is to know what it says. If you do not know, you will swing at a curve ball because the only pitch you anticipated was the fastball.

To become knowledgeable:

--- ask questions

--- take the time to research

--- make sure you understand

Lastly, the beast of all beasts, is marketing. It is amazing how many authors who are not marketing exhaustively.

This reverts back to the second point of lack of knowledge. Too many authors belief that a publisher will sign them and they will promote and market their book. Happy to inform you, that is not always the case.

This is your business and these publishers have invested enough in you, such as, advance, printing, and a brief promotion run. After this, it is the authors job to build a website, create news releases, get interviews and so on.

There are many authors and writers out there with published works who are at a lost. Many assume self-published authors must deal with marketing and promoting. If no one has informed you, allow me: that is not true. All published authors, in any realm must market themselves.

How else will your book or novel sell without getting out to the masses? Your readers?

To market, you must:

--- think-outside-the-box

--- market everyday on some level

--- address all angles of your novel or book

--- have a user friendly website

Take a look at where you are and where you desire to be in this literary world. Determine if you are killing your publishing career.

This is going to be a challenge, but you have to have enough energy, passion, and juice to make it past the trying moments.

As a writer or author, make sure you are multi-dimensional. You are becoming an entrepreneur, so know where your hats are and when to wear them.

C.F. Jackson is the author of the ebook The Self-Publishers Little Black Book: The Resource Book to Self-Publishing for Writers, Authors and Poets: http://www.thepublisherslittleblackbook.com This author has been Nominated Atlanta Daily World Readers Choice for Author of the Year 2005 for the suspense fiction novel, Wont Be Denied. Visit http://www.cfjackson.us to learn more about this author and or contact.

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Why Internet Publishing is Best (For Readers)

Why Internet Publishing is Best (For Readers)
By Mike Scantlebury

It's easy to forget readers.They are the people who go out to bookshops and buy books.They are the ones who decide, by their choices, which ones become 'best sellers'; which authors prosper and which flounder; which books are remembered and which are forgotten.

The problem, for readers, is that most people in the world of books underestimate them.Critics think that they decide which books are best.Publishers think that since they decide which books get published, then they are the ones who makes authors rich or not.

It's not true.

I remember, when my daughter was about 11, she brought home a book from school, that had been lent to her by a friend. She took it to bed and stayed up most of the night reading it. She loved it. She read it again, then lent it to another friend. They formed a little circle, a junior appreciation society, and when the author came to town and appeared at a book signing, they loyally queued up for hours to get her autograph.

The author was called Rowling and the book featured a hero called Harry Potter.

It's difficult to think now, after all the hype, that once upon a time Harry Potter wasn't famous (and a film star), and his author wasn't hugely successful and widely read.But it's true.My daughter and her friends, of course, hadn't read a single review.They didn't know that they were supposed to love this new young wizard.They just did.

Worse, for the history of the myths that publishers spread amongst themselves, publishers had been slow to appreciate the possibilities of the Harry Potter books. Many had rejected the author's submissions outright. The one publisher who decided to take a chance on the unknown and untested author initially ordered a very small print run, and was surprised when it sold out. And when it sold out again. And again.

Even worse, for the stories that publishers make up about themselves, they got the biggest blockbuster of the decade wrong too.You've heard of it. It's called 'The Da Vinci Code'.It was recently made into a successful film, but several years ago unbelievably - the manuscript was languishing after having been turned down by a succession of publishers. The author, Dan Brown - now one of the most famous people on the planet - had written a handful of novels that until the 'Code' breakthrough had attracted minimal interest.According to 'the experts', he was going nowhere.What went wrong for their predictions?The answer, of course, is readers.

Readers of the book told their friends about it.It started a buzz, and that became a tidal wave.

It wasn't critics who told people to buy Dan Brown, anymore than it was critics who made J.K.Rowling a star.It was the readers.It wasn't publishers' hype that made the books successful, either.It was the interest shown by the public.

Publishers, of course, explain that away.Such aberrations, they seem to say, are a mere hiccup in the smooth transition of daily business in the world of publishing.Most days, they say, they scan the manuscripts that arrive on their desks and pick the winners.It's not true.

If it was true, they'd already have the next Dan Brown and the next J.K.Rowling waiting in the wings. But the truth is, they can't find them and they have no idea what they look like.The publishers are floundering in the dark.As usual.

The coup-de-grace for traditional publishers, of course, is the internet.Readers now can go to their computers and find anything they want.Whether it's a left-handed screwdriver, an unlisted pharmaceutical, or murder mysteries with a hint of romance, they can track them down on the web and order up the books they want through an on-line bookstore.

They can also communicate with authors, view their web sites and send them comments.This means that most authors these days have a much better idea what their readers want than anyone else in the chain.

I'm an internet author.I write the kinds of books you can drink a mug of cocoa to.Kick off your shoes, lean back in your easy chair, and relax with one of my stories.They're traditional, and easy to follow.There's a beginning, a middle and an end.There's not much sex and no swearing at all.

They don't set out to shock, (although there might be surprises).If I write a murder mystery, then first there's a crime and secondly someone comes in to investigate. The puzzle is solved and people can move on with their lives.If I write a romance, then there's a man and a woman, falling in love.Of course, I tend to write Action Adventures, so when men get involved with my hero Amelia Hartliss, they often get swept along and then left by the wayside, (a bit like a female James Bond).

I don't get any complaints.From readers.People who buy my books nod their heads and say with a smile that they enjoyed reading them. They know they're not great literature, and they're not worried: that's not what they want.What they do want is rattling good yarns that take themselves out of themselves for a while and allow them time to think about the world.

That's not what publishers want.Since most publishers only want to impress other publishers, they need books that are 'challenging', 'ground breaking', and capable of winning awards.

When publishers look at my books they say they're 'traditional'.(That's right. I just said that.)They say they're mundane and ordinary.They say they're predictable.That's right.

So I should be selling millions, right?Because all those things are exactly what readers want!

There's the old story about a romantic novelist out on a signing tour.She was sitting in a bookshop, putting her name to books that people brought her.One fan came up and raved about the book she was holding. She loved it, she said. When was the author going to write another like it?The author turned it over in her hand. It was the story of a young woman who played the violin. She joined a prestigious metropolitan orchestra and fell in love with the conductor, a strong-willed, tempestuous man, with a shady past and driving demons.The author smiled.Music, eh? Well, she said, she had been toying with a story of a woman who played the clarinet, joined a jazz band and fell in love with the trumpet player.The fan looked disappointed.Struggling, the author said that she supposed she could write a story about a young female percussionist who joined an orchestra and fell in love with the composer-in-residence.Again, the fan looked crestfallen.

It took a while, but eventually the author appreciated that her admirer wanted nothing more than another story that featured a woman who didn't play anything other than the violin.That the musical combo was nothing else but an orchestra.And that the moody hero just had to be a conductor.Nothing else would do.

In other words, it had to be exactly the same story as the one before!The reader wanted a reprise.A repeat.A sequel that was the same and didn't go off in new directions.

That's boring for writers to write, and unexciting for publishers to publish.But it's what readers want.

Still, who ever listens to readers?

Mike Scantlebury is an internet author. He has several novels available on Lulu.com and has more samples available on his many web sites.Try http://www.mikescantlebury.biz/ for a touch of excitement, entertainment and a chuckle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=MikeScantlebury
http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Internet-Publishing-is-Best-(For-Readers)&id=397565

Start Small but Finish Big in SelfPublishing

Start Small but Finish Big in Self-Publishing
By Anthony Obey

You may have never considered self-publishing as an option for your book or even considered publishing at all for your work. Publishing a book is extremely effective in broadcasting your message, ministry, or organization. A book gives you the ability to thoroughly inform, educate, and inspire your audience on what you are teaching. A book also adds another very lucrative stream of income to your organization that will enhance your existing ones.

Now that your interest is peaked about the power of writing a book, you may directly go to thinking who should I go with: Random House or Nelson Publishing? Who said that you would be able to go the traditional route in the first place? Traditional publishers only publish about a dozen to 50 books a year while they receive 1000s of book proposals from would be authors every single month. Do you see how the two dont equal a book deal for you any time soon?

But take heart, many of the greatest writers of time past up to today have been self-published authors. Check out this list of names to see if self-publishing could be profitable for you:

WEB Dubois, Ken Blanchard, Benjamin Franklin, Earnest Hemingway, Spencer King, Edgar Allen Poe, William Strunk, Henry David Thoreau, Mark Twain, T.D. Jakes, and Walt Whitman.

This is some list, huh? What makes the difference is not whether you get a book deal with a traditional publisher or self-publish, the difference is within you. You have to determine how successful you will be and what legacy you will leave to the world after you. I wouldnt let the rejection that youll get from traditional publishing companies stop me from being successful if I were you. I know because my wife and I didnt let that stop us. We self-published our book and started marketing, promoting, and speaking to teach our message to the world. We have found this to be a great way to get our message out and reach people.

You should definitely consider self-publishing as the road that will lead you to where you are trying to go. Do your research on different Self- Publishing companies and get your work out there.

Anthony Obey is the owner of GMA Publishing providing book publishing and marketing services to Writers, Pastors, Leaders, and Speakers. At http://www.GMApublishing.com you can also sign up for Book Coaching and receive FREE E-Tips on Writing, Publishing, and Marketing your book.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=AnthonyObey
http://EzineArticles.com/?Start-Small-but-Finish-Big-in-Self-Publishing&id=264675

How Not To Get Published How To Win the WWOTYA 6 The Writing Itself

How Not To Get Published - How To Win the WWOTYA - 6, The Writing Itself
By Gabrielle Guichard

First of all: to win the WWOTYA, rely neither on spelling mistakes nor on grammar errors. As soon as their number is above the correction allowance, your manuscript is rejected without even being nominated to take part in the championship.

From the publisher's point of view, spelling mistakes do not have much to do with the book, and this is still more true if you address a publishing house that specializes in dual language books; spelling and grammatical mistakes have a lot to do with the production cost. Of course, they are going to bother the reader, what can be part of a global scheme designed to not to get published, but they seldom dissuade him from reading an intriguing story.

Grammar errors are far more promising because they easily lead to confusion and allow you to write perfect nonsenses. The drawback is that nonsenses make the book funny, even if it tells a tragedy, and the funny side salvages a little something. You will not get published, but you will not win the WWOTYA either.

The significant writing errors are harder to achieve. Of course, you must use clichs and pleonasms; but they are the bricks, not the building. To completely spoil the literary aspect of your book, never balance anything. Too little or too much is what you must aim at.

When it comes to dialogs, inserting too many of them is quite easy to achieve. Not only the reader will be fed up with numerous He said and She answered, but you can play the imbalance game inside the imbalanced dialogs. What about the former French teacher ignoring French conjugations (my favorite), the old countess using slang or the young shoplifter quoting Spinoza?

These inner mistakes are powerful. Whereas you often need to combine the points covered in the previous lessons, inner mistakes proudly stand for themselves. The best way to fail is also the most commonly used: begin a story and go on with another. For your manuscript to end up in a museum do not exclude some other curiosities and things to see. A character whose name changes, another who appears despite his death, the narrator who jumps from I to One, the snow storm that would be so vividly depicted, if only the action were not taking place in Miami, etc.

Everyone overlooks some improper sentences. People who do not compete for winning the WWOTYA lay their manuscript in a drawer for a couple of weeks, even months ! before reading it again; thus, the mistakes of the kind stick out a mile. Never read your work again. Send it with some marvelous strokes of inspiration: a gun in each hand and a knife in the other or the two cars collided with each other exactly as the same time. Be careful. If there are too many funny mistakes, your book is going to be published with the label of humor.

Cheer up ! Not everything is lost as long as you are still able to argue with your publisher.

Gabrielle Guichard writes bilingual textbooks and is in charge of the English-French department at Multilingual Bookstore, the publishing house that translates and publishes bilingual and multilingual short novels.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=GabrielleGuichard
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Not-To-Get-Published---How-To-Win-the-WWOTYA----6,-The-Writing-Itself&id=360012

How To Promote Your Site By Publishing Your Articles To Specialized Directories

How To Promote Your Site By Publishing Your Articles To Specialized Directories
By Buddy Clark

Having the best looking site offering outstanding value products is worthless if your potential customers dont get to see it. I know I am stating the obvious, but this critical fact is often overlooked.

Promoting Your Site To Potential Customers

Two obvious methods of promoting your affiliate links are using mailing lists and ezine advertising. There are many other ways in which you can attract visitors (traffic) to your site. However, one of the most effective and often neglected ways is to submit good quality articles with original content to article directories.

Write a short article (300 - 700 words) relating to your niche and include a link back to your site in the resource box. All good article directories provide a resource box at the end of the article where the author can provide details relating to his product or services with a link back to their website.

Tip: Do not blatantly try to sell or promote affiliate links as your article will almost certainly be rejected!

Submit your article to some of the many article directory sites that accept articles for free publication. Just sign up for free membership by providing some basic personal details, such as your name and e-mail address.

This is a very effective way to generate traffic to your site. Article directories are websites that specialize in publishing articles that are submitted to them from anyone who wishes to do so, subject to their editorial guidelines.

Some directories specialize and only accept articles on a single specific subject such as health or employment etc. The majority of article directories are general in nature, but segment their directories into numerous categories.

The best article directories are very easy to use and provide members with a lot of help in the form of online tutorials and help screens. Even if you have never written or submitted an article before you will find the process quite straight forward.

A good idea is to get some help in the form of step by step instructions and coaching videos designed specifically for newbies.

If you are a newbie struggling to make sense of internet marketing and want to find out more about writing / submitting articles and how anyone can now make profits from selling info products, Internet Business Buddy provides you with all the help you need. For a limited promotional period you can get a free copy of his life changing system (reports and video tutorials). Click here to get yours now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=BuddyClark
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Promote-Your-Site-By-Publishing-Your-Articles-To-Specialized-Directories&id=232132

Benefits of Writing Articles & Online Article Publishing

Benefits of Writing Articles & Online Article Publishing
By Razib Ahmed

When I started to submit articles in this website (ezineartcles dot com) 2 weeks ago, I did not have any high expectations from this website. I was happy to submit my articles at a website which is regularly visited by a lot of people like me. When I posted a question in a writing forum about submitting my articles, I got a discouraging response from a fellow forum member. I was told that this kind of website will not contribute in increasing my earning potential as a freelance writer. I was also told that when I submit my writing to a paying market, if I mention that I have published articles in this website it would not go well to my credentials.

Thus naturally, I felt some discouraged and was hesitating whether to continue submitting articles or not. However, after just two weeks, I feel that submitting articles at this website is the smartest move that I have done so far in my pursuit of becoming a freelance writer. In this article, I am going to state the benefits I have got in the last two weeks from submitting articles in this website.

The first significant benefit that I have got is in search engine ranking. If you search my name (Razib Ahmed) in Google you can find this in the first position -Razib Ahmed - EzineArticles.com Expert Author. Razib Ahmed is not a very uncommon name in South Asia and in Google you will find that there are many people with my name present in the world of Internet. How would you feel to see that you are in the first position in Google's ranking with your name? With one of my articles keyword, I found my ranking in Google in the third position. With all the keywords and article titles, I found astonishing rankings in Google. For example, for the search writing a good article (with the quote mark), I found my article in this website in the first position in Google search. Whether you are a writer, web developer, businessman or professional, being in the first page of Google search is really like a dream come true. Thanks ezinearticles dot com, I am there within just 2 weeks.

The next benefit that I like to mention is the fact that my articles have received more than 550 hits in just 10-11 days. You may wonder why I am giving importance to this matter since I am not getting any money. It is so important to me because of the fact that every day more than 50 persons are reading my articles. The average figure is increasing everyday as I have more and more articles in my name. I do not know about others but nothing can be happier for me than the fact that my articles are being read by people from around the world. Today, I found in a newsletter of another website that now around 1 millions visitors come to ezinearticles dot com daily. Many of the readers of this website are web masters who are in search of free contents that they can use in their own websites. So, naturally my potential of getting offers of paid writing is increasing everyday.

In just 2 weeks my articles have been published in more than 10 other websites. This means more exposure for me and getting a greater readership for my writing. However, the best thing that has happened to me is that my blog has got more hits after I joined ezinearticles dot com. Moreover, the ranking of my blog has increased substantially too in the search engine. Those of us who have very basic ideas about Internet can easily understand the value of more hits for our website.

I am trying to become a freelance writer from a third world country and I cannot afford to pay money for promotions of my blog and in my country online transaction is yet to come. Ezinearticles dot com has provided me the best scope for carrying out my promotions and the best side is that it is at free of cost. Before joining this website, promoting myself was my biggest challenge and it was a real obstacle for a young writer like me. I can easily say now that this obstacle has been removed in the easiest way without any expense.

Razib Ahmed is a freelance writer and English language teacher from Bangladesh. He mainly writes about Information and Communication technology, International and Asian business, literature and freelance writing. Razib is also a freelance journalist and translator with 10 years of experience with him. He writes everyday about various topics in his blogs: http://asianbiz.blogspot.com and http://write-translate.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=RazibAhmed
http://EzineArticles.com/?Benefits-of-Writing-Articles-and-Online-Article-Publishing&id=157879

How To CoPublish For Profits!

How To Co-Publish For Profits!
By Julia Tang

The Benefits of Co-Publishing

There are a number of publishers, printers, and mail order dealers who publish their own mailorder magazine. They make their profit by selling advertising space to others in addition to selling their own offers. They offer others (Co-Publishers) a sizable discount for ad space in return for mailing a small number of each issue.

Many mailorder dealers, for one reason or another, prefer to act as a co-publisher rather than sending out their own adsheet, circular or magazine. They do not have all the expense and hastle of laying out the copy, printing, etc., and a good co-publishing program gives them nearly the same exposure.

If you are tied in with top quality magazines or adsheets you can make a reasonable profit through co-publishing. You handle it as if it were your own publication, getting ads on your product or service at a good discount plus you get additional commissions for subscriptions and ads you obtain for the Prime Publisher. Quite often prime publishers will give a commission on their own products which are sold through your efforts with orders coming direct to you.

For best response you should mail to your own name list and to dealers, etc., in the mailorder business, who are not yet advertising in the publications you are offering.

Co-Publishing and the Inner Circle!

How does co-publishing relate to the inner circle of mailorder? You place your ad in a trade magazine or adsheet that is co-publishable by sending your ad and remittance to the co-publisher, who will forward the same, usually with 50% of your payment to the Prime Publisher. Your ad will appear in the next issue and the publisher will send you full details on becoming a co-publisher.

As a co-publisher, you generally get your future ads placed at one-half the published rate; 50% commission on ads you obtain; 50% on subscriptions received; 50% on products advertised in the publications that are to be ordered through you, the Co-Publisher, and from 20 to 100 or so publications, for your own mailings. You simply stamp your name and address as co-publisher, and mail out! If your ads don't pull, you may still come out ahead from orders that come to you as the co-publisher.

When you receive orders, retain 50% (or whatever amount is the agreed commission) and forward the balance with the order, to the Prime Publisher... He will take it from there... It's that simple. Nothing difficult, deep, dark or mysterious about Co-Publishing. The Prime Publisher's name and address does not usually appear on the publication. Orders are directed to you.

The number of orders you receive will depend on who you mail them to. If you mail to other Co-Publishers, orders obtained will usually be for small one-inch ads. They will reserve expenditures for large ads, until they become Co-Publishers of the publication themselves thus getting their advertising at one-half rates!

If your mailings are directed to mailorder beginners, opportunity seekers, or direct to the consumer, orders you receive will probably be for books or products offered under Order From Co-Publisher ads. Your own ad, of course, gets full circulation based on the total published and distributed for that particular issue.

You must receive sufficient response to pay for your ads and for the expense of mailing out the publications, plus a reasonable profit.

There are many fine trade magazines and adsheets in the mailorder business that you may co-publish. As you progress and gain knowledge you will probably receive free copies of a number of the better ones to use for your business requirements.

These kind of publications are In Print quickly with no long waiting for your ad to appear. They reach an amazing number of small homeworkers and opportunity seekers. If your product or service appeals to these readers and the rates are right, you should get good response. The prime reasons for using these magazines and adsheets are:

1. You get the agreed discount on your advertising after the first time in exchange for mailing a few copies.

2. You earn a specified commission on all new co-publishers and advertisers you get for the publisher.

3. You will receive a discount on all future advertising as long as you continue to co-publish.

4. Of course, you should get some business from your own ads as well.

Include a copy of the magazine or adsheet in orders you fill and in your mails, or advertise that you send them free for payment of the postage cost. Using these methods, your postage cost to mail your copies is zero.

Another reason for co-publishing various magazines is that many of them do not require camera-ready copy. Some do an excellent job of typesetting and offer this service free. Items selling in these publications generally sell for $15.00 or less.

How to Make Money Even When Your Ads Don't Pull!

This is a little more information on the Riskless Ad Method for the Co-publisher.

Step 1:

Advertise in mail order magazines and ad sheets that you offer Co-publishing. As mentioned earlier the price you have to pay for your ad is usually the full scheduled price for the first time, then 50% discount thereafter as long as you continue to Co-publish the magazine or mailorder adsheet.

Step 2:

You generally receive 50% commission on ads, subscriptions, etc., that are placed through you, so with the copies you receive and mail you can make money, as long as you stay with top quality publications carrying many articles of interest to mailorder dealers and money-seeking enthusiasts, and which offer good products or services at reasonable price.

Step 3

Distribute you magazine to people who are likely to place ads, etc. Check for firms who advertise in one co-publisher magazine and not in another. Send them a copy of the magazine they are not currently co-publishing or advertising. Since the publisher's name is not printed on the magazines, readers will have to order through you. When they order you make 50% and sometimes more. Go through all the literature and information you receive, from your various ads and contacts, with a fine tooth comb. You have paid for it all and somewhere within the pages of the publications you receive you will find the good programs to fit your individual business plans. YES! By Co-publishing you can make money from both your ads and from mailing copies. If you want to advertise through Internet, there are a number of ways to do co-op: ezine co-op, JV partners, swap solo ads... and more. You are welcome to visit http://www.best-internet-businesses.com to get more advertising ideas.

---------------------------------------------------------
Julia Tang publishes Smart Online Business Tips, a fresh
and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people
like you! To find out the best online business opportunities,
and to discover hundreds more proven and practical internet
marketing secrets, plus FREE internet marketing products
worth over $200, visit: http://www.best-internet-businesses.com
----------------------------------------------------------

Note:You may use this article in your ezine or on your site as long as the article and resource box remain unchanged

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JuliaTang
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Co-Publish-For-Profits!&id=4334

The Profitable World of Self Publishing

The Profitable World of Self Publishing
By Mike Moore

Five years ago I was a professional speaker desperately in need of my own book. After each presentation members of my audience would approach me and ask if had a book or a tape for sale. The need was obvious. The market existed. All I needed to do was write a book and bring it to my audiences. This is how my first book was born.

I wrote nonstop for two months and finally had it written and illustrated with my own original cartoons. The question facing me now was who would be chosen from among thousands of publishers to bring my masterpiece to the waiting, eager multitudes. After many submissions to numerous publishing houses and many rejection slips, I finally found one who agreed to publish my book. The problem was that they couldnt get around to it for about a year and a half. I would receive 20% of the retail cost of each copy sold and would have to do most of the promotion myself.

This arrangement just wasnt satisfactory. I needed the book as soon as possible and I wanted to receive more than 20% of each copy sold. It was then that I decided to enter the world of self publishing and started Lifeline Publications.

Five hundred copies of were printed as a test run and I sold them all within the year as back of the room items at my speeches and seminars. Since I wasnt on the road speaking 365 days of the year I wanted to have my book available for purchase seven days a week whether I was speaking or not. I had my webmaster create a store for me and connect it to my speaking website. I was in business.

With well chosen and well directed advertising online and off I began to receive orders in my mailbox and by email. As sales increased so did the number of published items in my store. At present I have a total of nine information products, manuals, books, tapes, and special reports available for purchase.

In my first year as a publishing tycoon I sold 300 copies of my products online alone and another 100 offline. Add these sales to those at my talks and you can see that I was off and running as a self publisher. The orders seem to increase in number each month.

Writers are no longer dependent on the acceptance and approval of editors and publishers. Using the internet as well as offline classified ads in popular magazines you can bring your writing directly to a wide and eager market. People are always seeking how to information. In fact the most sought after items on the internet are information products. So if you research peoples needs, wants and interests then write to satisfy them you are going to sell effectively..

Self publishing is simple and cost effective especially if you print on demand. You dont print a copy of your product until you get an order for that product. By doing this you avoid the cost of having 500 copies printed plus having to find storage space in your already cluttered basement.

If you have the writing bug and have received enough rejection slips to wallpaper a bedroom, try self publishing. When that first order comes in you will feel great satisfaction and a surge of self confidence which will, inevitably, result in more sales. You will be on your way to conquering the world of self publishing. GOOD LUCK!

Mike Moore is an international speaker and writer on humor and human potential. You can take a look at Mikes books, manuals, tapes and reports at http://motivationalplus.com/cgi/a/t.cgi?mpstore

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=MikeMoore
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Profitable-World-of-Self-Publishing&id=105707

8 Tips to Get Publishers to Notice You

8 Tips to Get Publishers to Notice You
By Brandie King

If your articles aren't getting published very often, or you just want to increase the chances of them being published, then you will benefit from the tips in this article.

1. Article Length

You should always keep you article 500 to 800 words long. If you can't fit what you want to say into that amount of space, then break your article up into more than one part.

2. Resource Box Length

When writing your resource box, keep it 5 to 6 lines long. In a resource box you are simply trying to get people to request more information, not sell them something. If you want a longer ad, buy one!

3. Line Length

The lines in both your article and your resource box should be formatted to 60 to 65 characters per line. One of the consequences of not doing so is that, in some email programs, your article may appear with every line at a different length.

You can get your article formatted, as well as learning its character, line, and word count, at the following website for free. http://www.fwointl.com/FWOFormatter.html

4. Is Your Article Actually An Article?

Publishers want to provide their readers with actually useful information and you should want the same. If you write an article that is just a sales letter or press release it will be rejected 99 percent of the time.

5. Inactive Links

Before you even think about publishing or submitting your article check that all links within it are active and working. Nothing is more irritating than to click on a link for a site you're interested in only to find out that it no longer exists.

6. Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar

If you submit your article and it's full of errors it will be thrown into the trash folder so fast that your head will spin. Submitting articles with these types of errors not only makes you look extremely unprofessional, but it shows disrespect for both the publisher and their readers.

7. S*AM Triggers

As a courtesy, you should run your article through a program that will check it for triggers that could possibly get it rejected by filters. This isn't a necessary step but it will definitely impress publishers and increase the chances of your article being published.

You can check your article for free at http://www.lyris.com/contentchecker.

8. Publisher Guidelines

This should be understood without having to say it, but it is still important enough to mention. Always, always, always follow the publisher's guidelines when submitting an article to them. Not doing so will get your article rejected quicker than anything else.

Read this list, print it out, and keep it by you when you are writing an article. Read each tip and make sure that you are following it.

Making the above mistakes will insult the intelligence of both the publishers and their readers, as well as wasting your time and theirs.

About The Author

Brandie King is a writer and author who teaches other writers how to write, as well as promote, using articles. She is currently looking for a wide variety of articles on a wide variety of topics for her article directory. You can submit absolutely free. http://www.articlesubmission.com

You are free to reprint this article in your ezine or ebook, or on your website, as long as the contents in the article and the resource box are not changed.

owner@articlesubmission.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=BrandieKing
http://EzineArticles.com/?8-Tips-to-Get-Publishers-to-Notice-You&id=31557

The Publishing War

The Publishing War
By Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Looking for a publisher? In North America, there are hundreds of thousands of people who dream of becoming a published author. They write in their spare time, on their days off and well into the night. Most of them, however, are reluctant to step into the 'war zone' that is the publishing world. Do I self-publish? Can I get Random House to take me seriously? Should I use a Print-On-Demand publisher? The war is on!

There is a 'war' going on in the publishing industry. Some people believe a writer should only approach publishing houses like Harper, Bantam or TOR. Other people believe that smaller, independent or POD publishers are the way to go. One thing is for sure; there are many aspects to contemplate when looking for the right publisher. First, what is right for one person may not be right for another. In order to make a well-informed decision you must consider the differences between the three main types of publishing.

Traditional publishing is the writer's dream. A 'big house' publisher contacts you and loves your manuscript. You sign a contract a few months later. Approximately two to three years later, your book is in print and on the shelves. If you self-publish (or use a vanity press), you invest a hefty sum of money―usually $10,000 or more. You must store hundreds of books in your basement or pay for warehousing. Your book is in print and usually on the shelves in less than six months. If you use a Print-On-Demand publisher (POD), you invest a minimal amount―usually less than $2000.00. You receive 2 - 40 FREE books to do with as you please, and your book is in print in about two months.

Traditional Publishing:
With traditional publishing, a writer must abide by strict guidelines and every publisher has their own specific preferences. Some of the 'big houses' such as Berkley, and Random House will not even consider looking at an author if the writer does not have an agent. Most will not accept unsolicited work (which means simply that they have to request to see your manuscript, whether through an agent or as a result of your query letter).

The most important step is the query letter, and there is one rule to follow. The same rule applies to any piece of work you write, and is what I call The Three Firsts first sentence, first paragraph and first page. The first sentence must grab your audience (even a potential publisher) and should contain the title of your work. It must give them a reason to read further and 'hook' them into wanting to read more. The first paragraph must give an even stronger hook; otherwise, your query will be filedin the trashcan. The first and ONLY page in a query letter should answer the 5 W's (who, what, where, when, why) and how. Who will buy and read your work? What is the plot? Where does the story take place and where do you see it going? When will it be finished? Why will the public be interested and why should that publisher invest their time and money in you and your work? And how are you going to help promote your work after it's finished?

Once you've sent a query letter, you may be required to wait up to 6 months for an answer. If you have not already been published, or if your query letter did not grab their attention, you will receive a standard form letter, a.k.a. the rejection letter. If the publisher is interested, he may ask you to submit a proposal or plot summary and a few sample chapters. This may sit on his desk for months before he digs through the slush-pile of submissions he receives daily. During the editing stage, the editor assigned to you will ruthlessly cut, shred and tighten your story, to their satisfaction. Sometimes you may agree with their editorial scissoring, and other times you may not. Some editors will work with you and help you churn out a top-notch novel. Others may wield their power over you until you feel someone else has written your story.

With a traditional publisher your book could take years before it sees the bookstore shelves. In the process, the publisher will determine the cover design (you may have some input, but usually the publisher makes the final decision). In most cases, you will make less than a dollar per book sold.

There are, however, undeniable benefits to being published by a traditional publisher. These books are accepted and found on most bookstore shelves. These books are returnable; this is an advantage for the customer but a disadvantage for the author as a large percentage of traditionally published books are returned or damaged. A 'big house' publisher will spend money on promoting you and your work; they will often arrange for interviews, appearances and booksignings. Your work will qualify for more contests, be considered more readily for movie options and, in general, you will be regarded as a professional author.

Self-Publishing:
You can self-publish your book by taking your files to a printer, having them do a large run of copies, and finding a bookbinder to bind the cover or using a vanity press self-publisher to do everything. Years ago I self-published three books. I hired a layout editor, a printer and a bookbinder to publish my children's books. By the time I was finished, I had paid $150.00 for 18 hardcover, picture book prototypes―$150.00 each! My childcare directories were cheaper to publish (they cost about $5.00 each for about 100 copies) They sold for $5.99 so I made very little from them. (I still have unsold copies sitting in my basement.)

With self-publishing the biggest drawback is that you will usually have to invest thousands of dollars to publish a large print run of your book. You can print off smaller runs of your book but that will affect your retail cost and profit. Some people have invested $10,000 to $20,000 (especially with vanity presses) for thousands of copies of their book, as this reduces the individual copy price drastically. This means that when you sell your book, the profit margin is greatly higher than what you would receive from a traditional publisher.

The downside to this is that these thousands of books must be packaged (usually shrink-wrapped and boxed) and then stored. This leads to additional costs and often to a basement loaded with boxes of books. Some authors who chose this method are still wading through the boxes of unsold books, after years of trying to market their work.

When you self-publish you must constantly find ways to market your own books. This means either hiring someone or spending hours per day organizing booksignings and trying to get your book onto a book distributor's list. Most distributors will not even look at self-published books. Then there are the constant trips to the local bookstores, where even they will not look at you unless you are listed with a traditional publisher or a recognized POD publisher.

The advantages of self-publishing are that you have complete control over every aspect of your product―your book. You can design your own cover, layout the pages exactly the way you want, have the end product the size that you desire and market it wherever and however you feel. You can hire a publicist to help you, advertise any way and anywhere you want and schedule booksignings on your own schedule.

POD Publishing:
Print-On-Demand is becoming the wave of the future in the book publishing industry. POD publishers are sprouting up all over the world because there is a huge demand for publishing companies that will take anything the public can crank out. Consequently, anyone who wishes to be published CAN be published. While this is terrific for the person who simply wants to write his memoirs and keep it in the family, or for the grandmother who wants to leave behind a collection of family recipes, this method of publishing has its drawbacks for the serious author.

For a Canadian author, POD publishing requires a payment amount that ranges between $500.00 to $3500.00. This will usually pay for a specific package. Every POD is different in what they offer in their packages, and you must be careful of POD's that do not disclose all fees up front. Many POD's will charge for every process: ISBN numbers, printing costs, cover design, layout services, listing services, and internet or regular marketing services. A few companies actually give you your money's worth―Trafford Publishing is one.

With Trafford Publishing, the largest POD company in Canada, they offer comprehensive packages, and even allow you to upgrade later by paying the difference. They promise to deliver a completed product in four to six weeks. I have personally used Trafford Publishing twice and have found their services beyond compare. There were no hidden charges, no waiting for email responses, and no issues with the finished products. In fact, both books were comparative to anything you'd find published by a 'big house' publisher.

Trafford was recently featured in PROFIT: Your Guide to Business Success and ranked 5th in the Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Canada. Over 4000 authors (representing 5500 titles) from more than 75 countries use Trafford's service. 2% of all new titles published in North America, and about 250 new titles every month, come from Trafford Publishing.

There are other POD companies, as mentioned above. 1st Books, iUniverse, XLibris, and many more use the Print-On-Demand technology. You should always compare services. And there are things to look for before deciding which one to use. How long has this company been in business? This is a very important factor, especially with all the 'fly-by-night' POD's that have come and gone. In general, you should not even consider a company unless it has a track record of at least 5 years.

The best way to find out how a company rates is to go directly to the source. Read testimonials from other authors that have used their services. Then ask the publisher for three names and email addresses not on the testimonial list. If the publisher will not release that information, check their site. Research their authors, find email addresses and contact them. It's amazing what you will learn about a company by talking to the people who actually use their services. You will find out if the company is slow, if they return emails promptly, if there are unusual contract clauses, and if that company is worth your investment.

You should also thoroughly research the publisher online. Look for complaints or articles about the company and look especially for the publisher's site. Warning: If the publisher does not have his own .com, .net or .ca website―STAY AWAY. Never deal with a publisher who uses a sub-site address. A serious, respectable publisher will always invest in a proper website! Otherwise you will be using Joe-Blows service or Grandma Mae's In-Home Publishing. If a POD publisher expects to be taken seriously, they will invest in a professional site, hi-tech equipment and experienced staff.

Remember to ask the 5 W's and How:
Who owns the company? Are they experienced as a publisher? Do they have the contacts to promote you? How many years have they published books?

What have they published so far? Do they have hundreds of satisfied customersor two or three? Some 'publishers' have advertised their services when they have only self-published their own work. What technology do they use for their printing, or do they hire out?

Where will your books be promoted? Will you be listed with book distributors? Will your book appear on Amazon.com and other prestigious websites?

When will you have a complete final product in your hands? Some POD's take up to six months before you have a finished product.

Why should you trust this company? What do they offer that is over and above the other POD's? What are their policies? Ask for a copy of the agreement or contract ahead of time. Take it to a lawyer if you must.

How much is their service going to cost? What is the total cost involved from beginning to end? Are there any hidden charges? Is it a safe risk and a realistic investment?

The advantages with a POD publisher are varied, depending on the company and their package deals. By choosing Print-On-Demand, you'll be helping the environment and saving thousands of trees. Your book will be printed as each order comes in; therefore, less waste. With a POD publisher, you can supply your own cover or hire someone to design a cover for you. You are free to promote yourself and your books any way you want. You can walk into a bookstore, speak with a manager and arrange for your book to appear on their shelves. A professional POD company will be on all the right 'lists', so you will not be as limited in what you can do with your book.

Of course, for an author the best reason to go with a POD publisher is that you will not get a rejection letter, your book will finally be published and will be available to the public in less than six months, and you can finally call yourself a published author.

So, you want to be a published author. Do you have talent and can you actually write something worth reading? Have you researched your market and target audience? Do you have the wisdom to have all your work edited by at least three other pair of eyes? Are you willing to 'shamelessly promote' yourself? If you have answered 'yes' to all of these questions, you can be published. With today's technology and new outlook on the world of publishing, 'getting published' is easy! Choosing the right method of publishing is the difficult part. Trafford was 'right' for me, but it may not be 'right' for you. The war continues―the publishing war.

Note: This article reflects the viewpoint of the writer. It is a culmination of years of research and various publishing experiences (either the author's or those she interviewed). It is up to you, the reader, to glean what advice you can, to research on your own and to make your own informed decision. Although Trafford Publishing is highlighted in this article, there are other professional, well-respected POD publishers in all areas of publishing. And there are certainly pros and cons to all three types of publishing. ~ CKT

2004 Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Cheryl Kaye Tardif is the author of Divine Intervention, the 'psi-fi' suspense thriller that was compared to Nora Roberts/J.D. Robbs In Death series. She also wrote Whale Song, an emotional mystery novel suitable for all ages. Whale Song is being considered by a leading Canadian film producer.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif was featured in The Edmonton Examiner, and appeared on Shaw TV Red Deer, RDTV, and Shaw TV Edmonton. In November 2004, she was a guest on CJSR's Liquid Chatter Talk Radio. Cheryl Kaye Tardif was recently featured in Real Estate Weekly (Edmonton). According to photojournalist, Heather Andrews Miller, who interviewed Tardif for the REW article, Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a gem in the literary world. She appeared on Global News Morning Edition on December 22, 2004. She will be in an upcoming issue of Edmonton Woman Magazine, a review of Whale Song will appear in Alberta Native News, and she will guest on New Age Radio.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif ~ Author

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Why Publish Your Writing In A Printed Book

Why Publish Your Writing In A Printed Book
By Kay Stoner

Like it or not, a lot of people still prefer printed books to eBooks. They like -- no, they love -- the feel of a printed copy in their hands. It gives them a sense of well-being and solidity, to have a physical work they can carry with them and put on their bookshelves. They're old school and they like it that way. Or, they just never warmed up to eBooks or digital media.

I had a conversation with an international television reporter about one of my books that was coming out soon -- I didn't yet have the printed version in my hands, but I had a PDF eBook I could send him. He said many times over that he hated to read eBooks, but that was all I had at the time, and so I sent it to him. It would have been a whole lot better if I could have sent him a printed copy, instead. Of course, I made do with what I had, but if only...

Now, there's a very good reason some people like printed books better than eBooks -- they can read them anywhere, anytime, without needing a computer to do it. For all the talk about portable media, these days, a book is really the ultimate in portable media! It fits in your hand, it doesn't require batteries, and there are no complicated instructions to figure out! As advanced as our technology may be, there's nothing like a book to truly ransport information quickly and efficiently, across the bounds of time and space.

Ironic, isn't it, that the ultimate medium for portable, instantaneous information sharing is just the thing that a lot of us thought was on its way out, with the advent of the internet!

Books are not eserved for the technologically gifted. They're not available only to people with a computer and a broadband connection. They're easy to use, easy to transport, and -- unlike some of the cutting-edge entertainment technology available today -- everybody understands what they're all about.

When you publish a printed book, you level the playing field for potential customers, and you make it possible for a wider variety of people to access and enjoy your work.

Another reason to create a printed book, is for credibility. With a printed book in hand -- especially one with an ISBN -- you can approach magazines and newspapers and radio and television hosts and have something in hand to talk about with them. You can mail your book to reviewers and reporters, and you can hold up your creation for the camera, when it comes time to tell the audience what all the excitement is about. And when members of your audience go to their local bookstore to see if they carry your book (depending on what service you use to publish your book), they can put in a request for the book from the bookstore, and potentially help you get it stocked on the bookshelf stores. (Though you may already be convinced, like many other infopreneurs, that bookstores are not the place to sell books, still, it doesn't hurt to see your book on the shelves of a brick-and-mortar store.)

Probably my favorite reason to publish in print, is how it can take your ideas to a whole new level and get you the kind of exposure once reserved only for the connected elite. Having a book in print has a way of instantly establishing you as an expert, in ways that producing (even getting rich from) digital information products can't, in the eal world offline. When people hear you've written a book, and they see that book in your hands, a connection kicks in, somewhere inside their heads, that says you must be pretty smart. Chances are, it's true -- you are! But the perception of others that you must be one smart cookie, since you've written this book, usually doesn't get so far as to delve into the nature of your book, if it's any good, or if your work is widely accepted and respected in academic or commercial circles.

Everyday folks have an innate respect for people who can write down enough coherent thought, and organize it completely enough, to produce a book. An awful lot of people never get that far. Some may think about it, but never do it. As a published author, as far as a lot of folks are concerned, you're in a league of your own. And that's a pretty good feeling!

I've gotten a bit of practice having that feeling. To my friends and family, I'm just Kay and that's fine with me. All that fame business just kind of gets in the way, when it comes to my personal relationships. But to people who read the international press in the areas I publish in (technology and cross-cultural concerns), I have a somewhat different persona -- I'm a published author who has caught the attention of folks from Asia and Europe with a controversial and rabble-rousing work that hit the presses in the fall of 2006. It's pretty cool, to come across people from far away, who have read reviews of my books in magazines and newspapers I've never heard of. And I've got some pretty cool clippings of articles that mention me -- and my book -- exclusively, or in passing. That was all possible, because I published a printed book. It doesn't matter that I have eBook versions of my works available for instant download. Most of the time, that's not even on the radar of the mainstream international press. In fact, if anything, they kind of turn up their noses when I mention my eBook. But my printed version of that same book... well, that's another story.

Publishing a printed book widens the reach of your ideas in ways that digital media can't quite do. You open up your ideas to a whole different audience, and you get the chance to make even more of an impact with your concepts and your unique ake on the world... taking a position of true thought leadership in a hurting world that's sorely in need of fresh, new ideas. In fact, now is really the perfect time to be stepping out as a innovative new author in the print publishing world. The old formulas and the old ways of seeing the world and talking about it and conceptualizing it and relating to it, are pretty tired and worn out. We need fresh new ideas, brilliant new insights, and innovative ways of thinking about our world. You may have distilled everything you know and popped it into an eBook, but the print world offers you yet another medium (or channel, if you prefer marketing lingo) for your ideas.

My favorite reason of all for publishing a printed book, is the profound satisfaction that comes from holding a real, honest-to-goodness tangible book in your hands. I've been a book reader for over 30 years, and I've never lost my love for the sight of words on a printed page. All the better, when those words are mine! Some would call it vanity, but I call it doing my talents justice... and having something to show for all my work, all those live-long years of writing, writing, and writing some more, against all odds, hope against hope. I'm a very tactile person, when it comes to words, too, so I like to have something to hang onto. Digital is great -- it's my medium of choice, these days -- but I can't flip through the pages of a PDF quite the same way I can thumb through a book.

It really is an incredibly exciting time to be a writer and independent publisher! I'm so deeply grateful to have been born at this point in history, with my love of language and books -- and the ability to put that love into manifest product. The possibilities really are endless... provided, of course, you know how to explore them. And that's what this guide is about -- getting you, an infopreneur or digital product creator, the tools and the skills and the orientation you need, to turn your digital content into print format, so you can reach a wider audience and more firmly establish yourself in your own niche of thought leadership.

Kay Stoner is a writer and independent publisher who has over 15 books in print today. Her books range from self-help to technical how-to guides. Her website The Indie Publisher Fast Track (http://www.ipubfasttrack.com) provides resources to independent publishers.

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Article Marketing Don't Mean a Thing If It Don't Get Published

Article Marketing Don't Mean a Thing If It Don't Get Published
By Daryl Campbell

You probably know the benefits of article marketing already.

a. More web traffic
b. Backlinks to your site thereby growing your link popularity
c. A built in marketing viral campaign
d. Establishing yourself as a expert.

And countless others. Even with all the new tools like video and bookmark social, article marketing remains one of the best and most cost effective ways to reach people online and profit your internet business. But it don't mean a thing if you don't get published.

True different article directories have different criteria and some for whatever reason are pickier than others. The point is there are things within your control that can increase the chances of your articles being accepted and published on a regular basis.

1. Check it and then check it again.

All of us would love to turn out the perfect article the first time every time but writing is rewriting. Not just throwing out what you don't need but also proofreading for any spelling and grammatical errors. Even if you happen to get published, the refusal to check your own work makes you look unprofessional in the eyes of your readers. That is very detrimental since one of the perks of article marketing is to be recognized as an expert. Read the article out loud or let someone else read it. Using any type of word processor can help considerably.

2. They don't want a sales page

Article marketing is an incredible form of free advertisement. The mistake comes when some writers confuse providing useful quality content with a sales page. If you want a guaranteed rejection email from an article publisher then write a sales letter masquerading as an article. Leave the advertising to your resource box. If you have given the reader quality information than it stands the reason they will want to find out more by clicking the link in your byline. Most publishers allow a 4 to 5 line resource box. It may not seem like much but a well crafted byline can be a very powerful advertising tool. Keep it brief while still urging your readers to take action.

3. So what are you saying?

If you are writing on a topic and you have five major points you want to make then write five different articles. When writing for an online article directory each article should have one theme presented in a clear, simple and direct manner. Even if your article is free of spelling and grammatical errors or blatant advertising, publishers can reject it on the grounds that they don't have a clue as to what you are talking about. Don't kid yourself. Many of the best directories have very strict standards that are enforced by people who actually read the articles. Try also to avoid making references that only a select few would appreciate but have the rest of us including the publishers scratching our heads. Remember you want as many people as possible to read (and understand) your article so: keep it simple, make it clear, and talk direct.

The goal is to build your own article marketing system that can turn out good content on a regular basis. Article publishers know exactly what they are looking for so stay focused on the 3 things we discussed. Keep publishers as well as your target audience happy and you are well on your way to more web site traffic and extra profits in your account.

Daryl Campbell is an online business owner and affiliate marketer. Get more free information including, tips, tools, video, step by step coaching and up to the minute news to prosper your internet business at Internet Marketing Guide

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7 Invaluable Tips: Getting Your Articles Published Online

7 Invaluable Tips: Getting Your Articles Published Online
By Linda Heibel

When you have to share what youve created, where do you begin? Have you ever just felt like the top of your head unhinged and poured its contents onto paper? Like a parent you protect every single word written just like you want to protect a baby. Your article is a masterpiece of expert personal knowledge sure to change the way the world thinks about your product or service. Now how do you make sure your articles are picked up and distributed across the Internet to publishers and ezines everywhere?

Google says there are over 8 billion people browsing the net. And you only want to be noticed by a few hundred thousand or more of those.

There are no standard guidelines for article submission to online publishers, but a few generalities do ring true. Dont get frustrated filling out those submission forms online only to find out your article is rejected because you didnt pay attention to your formatting for instance.

When I started submitting articles I learned a lot from publishers who were generous enough to help me. These experts are amazing resources who hold the keys to the publishing world. And even though they receive thousands of articles every day there are some who are happy help you today. I cant say that for sure tomorrow!

Initially I was in such a hurry that I didnt always read the rules and wasted a lot of time and energy. After you are accepted by the moderator of a site make sure that you are familiar with the site guidelines and you wont be sorry.

Articles must be properly formatted and submitted in plain text format. Remember that your articles must be single spaced.

Use a text editor program. I found that a simple text editor like WordPad is just fine and appreciated by the editors when submitting at the site. I personally use a little ezine editor called Ziney Pro from www.kndata.com. Text editors default 60-65 characters per line and thats pretty standard. What these little programs do is strip the bloated hidden text from your article so it appears nicer online. It will look more professional. Or you can use an ASCII file formatter (much quicker than the ruler approach) like 'Ezine Assistant'. Ezine Assistant is free and you can download it at: http://www.ezineassistant.com/.

Site guidelines are critical. Read them and the FAQs before submitting any article. Generally each site has a specific target audience. Some have special formatting needs. As an example, your article may be rejected if it contains links within the text and consider it spamming and will get you nowhere in a hurry.

Keep your bio box or Resource Box to 6-8 lines in length. Take advantage of your byline by promoting yourself and placing your link to your website here. Generally it is placed at the bottom of every article.

Dont include anything else in the subject line except the title. If emailing is allowed at all, cut and paste into the email message. Its a good rule of thumb to place your article title within your email subject but also keep it with your article. Just a note: Most publishers do not accept attachments.

Consider using HTML within your text so the end-product will look more professional after the cut and paste process. I recommend this article to improve the quality of your articles -- Essential HTML Skills for Article Authors - 7 Tips. Expert author Christopher Knight.

Follow up. This may seem so simple, but with websites changing ownership and focus anything can happen. For instance, I was getting ready to submit a business article to a site that had recently changed its focus from business to fantasy and erotic themes. Could I have been embarrassed?! And even when you do everything right, your article may not reach the editor or moderator with the ISPs and blocking present today. Find out what you need to do next by following up so you can resubmit if you need to. Its always a good idea to ask first if possible because you might need to do some editing before your article is accepted.

Linda Heibel helps busy entrepreneurs expand their office virtually without expanding their office. You can visit http://www.EssentialOutsourcing.Biz to discover how you can benefit from her services and run your own business instead of the other way around.

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