Doreen McGettigan

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The first Wednesday of every month is officially:

Insecure Writer’s Support Group day #IWSG

Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your writing doubts and the fears you have or have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time.

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WRITING WEDNESDAY- Rerun

On Wednesday’s I like to share information I picked up on my path to publishing, marketing and preparing to publish again. Information that I wish someone would have shared with me, back then.

SELF PUBLISHING

I am not an expert in Self-Publishing but I know a lot of self-published authors and I am planning to self-publish myself, in the future so I have been taking notes.

There are a lot of advantages to Self-Publishing:

• The Author has total control
• The time frame. Your book can be published in a few months vs. 18 months-2 years
• Royalties of 20-80% vs. 5-15%

The disadvantages of Self-Publishing are evaporating quickly. The success stories are mounting. Like any business venture (yes writing is a passion but publishing is a business) it will take research, investment, hard work and most importantly a great product to have any chance at success. No matter which publishing choice you make it will be difficult at times and will take time and patience but it will be so worth it. I cannot even describe how amazing it feels to hold your first book in your hands.

Once your manuscript has been critiqued and professionally edited by a literary editor and you are planning to self-publish on your own, you will need an ISBN number [International – Standard Book Number] for your book. This is a social security number for the book. There are a lot of company’s out there that will be happy to sell you an ISBN # but BOWKER is the International clearing house for these numbers so you might as well skip the middleman and get it from them. The cost is $125.00. If you are using a company to assist you with self-publishing they may offer to get the ISBN# for you. Deep discounts are offered to companies that buy multiple #’s so they may offer it to you for less or include it in their package. If they charge more than $125.00 you can easily apply for it yourself.

You will need a business plan/proposal or an outline for fiction

If you are planning to self-publish 100% than Amazon is the place for you. Smashwords is One of the Amazon companies for e-books and Create-Space is used for print books.

If you use Amazon for publishing your book will never be available in an actual book store. This is because Amazon Publishers will not process returns. You will have to design all of your marketing around online booksellers. Amazon offers a KDP (Kindle Direct Program) a program that offers some marketing opportunities.

Lightening Source is a company you can use if you want your book to be available in book stores. They process returns, for a charge. All publishers, even traditional ones charge you for your returns.

To have any chance at having your book in a book store, your publisher has to be willing to offer your book to them at a wholesale discount price of at least 55% off the cover price. The books must be returnable if they do not sell within the stores allotted time-frame.

All print books are delivered through a book distribution center. The two major distributors are Ingram and Baker & Taylor. If the publisher you are planning to use does not use one or both of these distributors, move on from that publisher.

Here is a list of random Self Publishing Boutiques that offer a variety of packages to authors and come with some good references. As always never sign a contract unless you have had it reviewed by an attorney.

• Blue Lobster Book Company
• She Writes Press
• Book Locker
• Turning Stone
• Lucky Bat Books
• Assisted Publishing

Tate Publishing and Enterprises- Tate offers a publishing package that includes editing, formatting, cover design, ISBN#, copyrighting, marketing assistance and they handle returns. They deal with Ingram so your book will be available to any store, school or library that wants to stock it or make it available for order. Once your book sells 1000 copies, Tate refunds your investment. They basically operate like an Independent publisher. There are many other companies out there like this one and new ones are being started every day.

I cannot stress enough for you to have any contract reviewed by an attorney and ask for and check references. It is also a good idea to order books from several authors of any company you are considering, so you can check the quality of the printing etc…

A good book to read is Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur/ Guy Kawasaki

*FYI-Tuesday is the only day of the week that new books are released

Traditional Publishers make their money selling 100’s of copies of only several titles verses other publishers that make their money selling 100 copies of thousands of titles.

If you have any experience with self publishing it would be great if you could leave tips in the comments. Did you work with a company that you were thrilled with, please share.

If you have any questions please leave those in the comments and I will do my best to answer or find someone who can.

Happy Writing,

Doreen

This Saturday August 1, 2015 (Can you believe it is almost August?) I will be at The Big Blue Marble Bookstore (7pm) with author friends, Maria Casale and Dylaan Rhea. We will be reading from our books and talking about writing and women under pressure. We are bringing snacks…

551 Carpenter Lane /Philadelphia, PA 19119

I am SO excited and such a nervous wreck because I am going to be co-hosting (for the first time) The Insecure Writers Support Group for August! Next Wednesday right here!

Coming Soon!!

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day.

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

                                                            Wednesday is also, Writing Wednesday

April was a crazy busy writing month and personally. I am thrilled to report that I survived another A-to-Z Challenge! Now it’s May and it is time to get back to business, at least for a month before the lazy days of summer…

The Stranger in My Recliner is well into production. Editing is done and the art department promised me several covers to choose from by the end of the month. I am hoping the conceptual editors will be finished then too.

I received two early reviews, they were good, actually great and that was such a relief. I know I am not the only writer that gets stressed out asking for, waiting for and receiving reviews. Talk about neurotic.

I never asked for reviews of my first book, not even from my family. I had no idea you were supposed to ask. This time my publicist said eight weeks before the release date he will ask me for a list of reviewers.

So I am preparing that list. If you are interested in reviewing, The Stranger in My Recliner, doing an interview, cover reveal, blog post or whatever you can think of please e-mail me and let me know if you prefer a paperback or e copy and your address. Thank you so much in advance.

[doreenb8@verizon.net]

Getting Reviews for your Book

If an author has 25 Amazon reviews posted the day their book is released the critics will notice. Once thought to be meaningless, amateur reviews on Amazon are not only credible but relevant.

Look for potential reviewers on Amazon’s Top Reviewers list — which you will find at http://www.amazon.com/review/top-reviewers — and target the people who regularly post reviews of books similar to yours.

With every review copy you send out you should also send a cover letter and a press release.

It is a good idea to keep track of your review requests using a spread sheet or something similar. Ask your reviewers to post their review on your release date. Send a reminder e-mail 30 days and then again a week before the release date.

Did you know that if your book is available for sale in brick and mortar stores you can request a New York Times Review? Chances may be slim but hey, if you don’t try…

New York Times Book Review

620 Eigth Avenue, 5th Floor

New York, New York

The web site for the Midwest Book Review has a ton of great information on how too and where to ask for reviews.

How do you feel about paying for reviews? Personally it does not sound like a good idea to me.

Most of the books I read these days I’ve read about on blogs, and honestly they have all been good. How do you choose the books you read?

 http://www.midwestbookreview.com

Keep writing,

Doreen

The awesome co-hosts for the the May 6 posting of the IWSG will be Eva Solar, Melanie Schulz, Lisa-Buie Collard, and Stephen Tremp!

Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG

http://www.twitter.com/doreenb8

I’m so happy to introduce you to Ruth Curran. Of the bloggers I look forward to meeting in real life she is definitely in my top five. Ruth and I have a few things in common, one of which is we both shared a traumatic brain injury in an automobile accident.

Wait till you see the view from her writing space…

Please join me in congratulating Ruth on the release of her book, Being Brain Healthy.

The Author:

 Ruth drew on her experience successfully overcoming a traumatic brain injury suffered in an automobile accident to become an expert on maximizing brain health and function through lifestyle modification and “turning up the noise on life.” Curran is passionate about the connection between the brain and daily functioning and believes everyone—regardless of age or stage of life—has the ability to use neuroplasticity to live a richer, deeper, more fully engaged life. She has created a series of photo-based thinking puzzles, games, and apps that help players work on cognitive abilities such as attention, memory, and executive functioning. Curran has a master’s degree in cognitive psychology as well as more than 28 years of experience as a strategist, business development executive, and organizational behaviorist.

Back of the book:

 The journey to wellness when coming back from a brain injury can be a long one. It is one author Ruth Curran knows well. Faced with myriad cognitive challenges after her own traumatic brain injury resulting from an automobile accident, Curran decided to “turn up the volume” on the things that she loved in order to expedite the healing of her brain. She found ways to work through the discomfort and discouragement that can plague those suffering from traumatic brain injury as well as other conditions, chronic illnesses, and age-related changes that affect cognition and brain health.

In Being Brain Healthy, Curran shares her 18-month path to recovery along with the techniques she used—and continues to use—to amplify her everyday experiences with the goal of maximizing brain health and function. Her book is one of hope, not only for those whose brains have been compromised through injury or illness, but also for anyone who wants to think better and improve their cognitive abilities.

Curran has the unique ability to share her insights on brain health and healing in a manner that makes complex neuroscience matters make sense to even those taking their first frustrating steps toward recovery. Convinced that everyone can build better thinking skills and work their way out of what she calls “the fog” regardless of its cause, Curran shares how she did exactly that and made her entire life more fulfilling.

Being Brain Healthy combines the most cutting-edge research with what works in practice and fits in daily life. Curran helps readers understand how the brain and body work together and how the partnership between the two can be utilized to create a more healthy brain. Curran outlines how the newest science, activities, and exercises can help those with thinking challenges make the most of every day. Her “being” brain healthy methods—and book sections—include Be Active, Be Social, Be Engaged, Be Purposeful, and Be Complicated.

Also included in the book are personal stories from individuals on their process recovering from brain challenges. Their accounts along with insight and information from Curran will inspire readers to amplify their experiences and take their own brain functionality to the next level.

The Interview:

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Hammond, IN, one block away from the IN / IL state line – a short train ride from Downtown Chicago.

Did you grow up in a home that promoted reading or writing?

My mom was a teacher and preached the value of books, good grammar, and an ample vocabulary. She shared her love of reading with my brother (a recently retired English teacher) and me. It seemed as if my mom always had at least three books on her night stand, a newspaper in her lap, and a stack of New Yorkers waiting for her. As I got older, books were my escape. When I was a teenager my aunt got me into reading mysteries. We picked authors (and their detectives) and followed them from start to finish. I waded my way through bogs, pubs and smoke filled interrogation rooms, and strolled along the streets of so many foreign cities courtesy of amazing mystery writers – ones that took me somewhere I had never been and seamlessly planted me right in the middle of daily life. I am always reading something, listening to at least one audio book, and have a stack of publications calling me.

Do you have a dedicated writing space?

Have you always wanted to write a book or were you compelled to write this one for personal reasons?

I remember the day that my freshman English teacher, Mrs. Chang, told me I was good writer. I was shocked. My handwriting and spelling were (and still are) horrendous so I was used to pages filled with red marks and comments about the benefits of taking my time and neatness – nothing beyond the surface and certainly nothing about the quality of my writing. Enter Watergate and Woodward and Bernstein and my passion for writing took another turn. I was going to be a great investigative reporter. Life, as it does, eventually led me in a different direction but every job I had involved some kind of writing.  I don’t think I ever saw myself writing a book until recently. This book got in my head a couple years ago and it was not letting go. I started out writing a much expanded version of my blog on brain health, brain healthy lifestyles, and that connection between how we act and how we think. It was good information with great practical, everyday application but it was not relevant. With great prompting from a dear friend, I saw that I had to tell the story of how I got here and to own the fact that the value of my journey was being lost – especially if I just kept it locked up in a safe in my head.

Other than physical damage to the brain due to injury or illness, what psychological or sociological factors might affect one’s brain health?

The two biggest issues are stress and social isolation. Prolonged stress or periods of isolation – physical, psychological, or sociological –can change how your brain works and how well you adapt to future situations. Both of these conditions can re-wire your brain in the long run.

What is the number one thing people should do daily to boost their brain health?

Smile. Your brain and your body are programmed to reward those things that make you feel good. Smiling is the fastest route to feeling good.

What are some common misconceptions people have about brain health?

There are two misconceptions about the brain that make me absolutely crazy. First, we are born with a certain number of brain cells and there is nothing we can do to make more. That is so wrong. We can absolutely encourage our bodies to grow new neurons and, beyond that, we can encourage our neurons to form new connections. Second, older brains don’t perform as well as younger brains. That too is untrue. Older brains may perform differently but definitely not worse.

The Links:

 The website/blog

 Ruth shares her insights and proven techniques for amplifying everyday experiences at

http://www.craniumcrunches.com

To buy the book:

 http://www.amazon.com/Being-Brain-Healthy-Ruth-Curran/dp/069239995X

 Twitter:

 http://www.twitter.com/@CaptCruncher

 http://www.midlifeboulevard.com

The first Wednesday of every month I participate in The Insecure Writer’s Support Group. This is one AMAZING group of talented, beginners, and professional authors. One of the many things we all have in common is our moments of extreme insecurity about our craft. Another is our gratitude and our pay it forward attitudes when our confidence is soaring.

To find out more about the #IWSG or to join us, visit:

This month we are supposed to introduce ourselves, so here is my bio:

I am a freelance journalist, blogger, content writer, ghostwriter and an author. She works part-time as a caregiver for the elderly most of whom are in Hospice Care.

My first book, Bristol boyz Stomp is the true story of the random road rage murder of my brother, musician David Albert.

My second book, The Stranger In My Recliner will be out later this year. It is the true story of a homeless woman, Sophie, that my husband brought home one night. She stayed with us for 2+ years.

An active member of and sit on the board of The Press Club of Pa.,(w/National Press Club affiliation), the chairperson and facilitator of the Press Club Professional Development Workshop Series, a member of the Military Writers Society of America, the Nonfiction Authors Association, Lower Bucks Creative Writers, Hot Penz (a pool of authors, speakers, experts for radio and T.V. appearances,) Bucks County Speaker’s Bureau and an instructor at Delaware County Community College (Marketing, Social Media, Writing, Publishing)

I am co-owner of a marketing company, Intrepid Marketing, Inc.

I am an outspoken advocate for the elderly who are often victimized and too embarrassed to report the crime, an advocate for all victims of crime (former board member for the Network of Victims Assistance [NOVA,] Pennsylvania’s largest comprehensive victim service organization. I do my best to raise awareness of and to end the stigma surrounding mental illness, suicide and homelessness.

I live in Delaware County, Pa. just south of Philadelphia with my husband John.

We have 5 grown children (2 more in heaven) and 13 grand children (our own little cult).

My life is not ever boring.

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

Writing Wednesday

Every Wednesday I share some of the things I have found that worked well for me and some that didn’t work so well on my journey to publication, marketing and publishing again.  The sort of stuff I wish somebody would have told me back then…

Book Reviews

What is a book review, how do you get them and why is it important to you and your book?

A book review is a form of criticism based on story originality, writing style and the ‘taste’ of the reviewer. Good reviews done by reputable reviewers, immediately add credibility to your book and to you as an author.

How do you get reviews? It can be time consuming so I suggest starting with a plan. Professional reviewers are busy so it is important that they receive your request along with a galley copy at least four months prior to your release date. 

Create a list of possible reviewers.

Keep track of your requests, their responses and scheduled review dates.

Why not start at the top! Every author dreams of a good review in the New York Times.

To have your book considered for review by the New York Times it must be published in the United States and it must be available for sale in general interest, brick and mortar bookstores. All publishers are welcome to send galleys for consideration but they only review a small portion of the books they receive. Before sending your request, familiarize yourself with the types of books they review. Chances of having yours accepted are slim but not impossible.

Galleys cannot be returned and they will not respond to queries regarding the status of a review being considered or not considered.

Editor The New York Times Book Review 620 Eighth Avenue, 5th Floor New York, NY 10018

If you are sending a children’s book, please send it to the attention of the Children’s Book Editor.

[The best seller list is based on the sales at 4000 bookstores and wholesalers that serve 50,000 other retailers, gift stores, department stores, newsstands etc… that are weighted to represent all outlets nationwide.]

Amazon Reviews: research Amazon’s top reviewer list and pitch the ones that are right for your book.

Goodreads: offers a giveaway program where in exchange for a free book, the winners are encouraged to post reviews.

Book Bloggers: Do a Google search for book bloggers that review your genre. If they accept your book for review, request that they also post their review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Newspapers: most newspapers have eliminated reviews. Start with your local publications, read them and get to know which reporters write about your topic. I will share more on pitching the media in an upcoming post.

It’s also a good idea for you to read and review books.

Waiting for reviews can be uncomfortable, just more fuel for our insecurities. Good reviews are like gold but bad reviews can be devastating to our confidence.

Do you read reviews before choosing a book?

Next week: Bad Reviews

Happy writing,

Doreen

Writing Wednesday

On Wednesdays I like to share information I picked up on my journey to being published, marketing, editing and preparing to be published again. Information that I wish someone would have shared with me, back then…

If you like the information I hope you will share it!

It is also the first Wednesday of the month so it is time for our monthly gathering of:

The Insecure Writers Support Group #IWSG

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

The awesome co-hosts for today are Sarah Foster, Joylene Nowell Butler, Lily Eva, and Rhonda Albom!

September 3 marks the three year anniversary of the IWSG monthly posting. (And October 1 will mark the one year anniversary of this site and the Facebook group.)

No matter where you are in your writing journey chances are you occasionally have feelings of insecurity. No worry’s, link up and find all of the support you could possibly ask for. If you are in a good place perhaps you have some inspiration to share let’s face it we all feel the need for a bit of support from our friends. Follow the link to learn more about this amazing group of talented, dedicated and supportive writers from beginning writers to best-selling authors and the group’s creator. While you are there, add your link. You will be so happy you did.

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

I can finally see the top of the hill with the editing of The Stranger In My Recliner. A guy in one of my writing groups challenged us to 40,000 words in the month of August. Sort of catch up because we all slack off during the summer. That happened to be exactly the number of words I have left to edit. November is always a crazy month for me so I never get to participate in NANO so I thought why not? How am I doing so far? I’ve only gotten a little less than 3000 words edited over the weekend.  Not so good. I did receive some priceless research information that I pretty much gave up hope on finding and I did start incorporating that into Sophie’s  story. That should count as progress; right?

I hope if you are considering self-publishing these notes help…

Self Publishing Part 2:

Last week’s post on Self Publishing Part 1:

https://doreenmcgettigan.com/?p=5199

There is so much to Self Publishing one post just wasn’t enough so I put together another list things I thought you might like to know if you are considering self-publishing.

•  Traditional/Indy Publishers take well over a year to publish a title but in all reality you can self publish your book and have it for sale around the world on Amazon in a matter of minutes.
• The problem is still the same, no matter which publishing route you choose, how will the right audience for your book find it, know that it exists?
• Old school traditional publishers still have the advantage when it comes to editing, distribution and publicity all of which increase the chance of a books success.
• However; growing numbers of self-published authors are realizing the value in investing in professional editing and professional cover design.
• Self published authors that invest in professional editing and cover design earn at least 34% more on their books.
• If a book is published hastily and sloppy it will be mentioned in the books reviews, it will hurt your sales and taint your name as an author. Those reviews are impossible to remove.
• The most successful genres for self-published e-books are: erotica, fantasy, chick-lit, horror and crime thrillers.
• Self-published romance authors earn 170% more than their peers.
• The average age of a best- selling author is 50.5
• There is no profile for a successful author. They are seldom top graduates from prestigious university writing programs. Writing may be a second or third career for them. The industry and readers value authors that bring real-life experience to their work whether that work is fiction or non-fiction.
• The stigma of self-publishing is fading away being replaced with one success story after another.

A few reasons to publish on Amazon:

• It is the largest paid search engine in the world
• Amazon is dominant in the publishing industry, presently in the #7 slot of books sold per year.
• The review system is an authority. People read reviews on Amazon even if they are planning to buy a book elsewhere.
• Amazon is a marketing machine. Once you sell a certain number of copies, it will start referring your book at no cost to you.

Preparing to publish on Amazon:

•  When formatting for book for Kindle- you can try following the instructions and doing it entirely on your own- which I am sure gets easier with practice. If you are planning to continue writing and self-publishing e-books it probably is a good idea to learn the process.
•  Calibre is a program you can download for free. The program is used for formatting. While the program is free they do request donations.
• There are many companies and individuals out there that will do the formatting for you for a fee.
• You shouldn’t skimp on cover design. A professionally designed cover is an investment and will produce more sales.
• Look into 99 Designs and Crowdspring. Both are affordable options for cover design.Whoever you use to design your book cover they will need to create a JPEG file that is at least 2500 pixels on its longest side with a height/weight ratio of 1.6. (Amazons requirements)
• Double/Triple check, everything before you hit that publish button. It is nearly impossible to make corrections once your book has been published and that goes for all publishing not just Amazon.

Have you self-published? Do you have any tips to offer? Did you use a company you were thrilled with? Disappointed in? Please share in the comments.

*Next week’s Writing Wednesday will be on Marketing/Advertising and PR

I would love to hang out with you here too:

http://www.twitter.com/doreenb8

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bristol-boyzStomp/113804488656243 

http://www.katherinescorner.com

My Favorite Post this week

I can’t tell you when I started to like country music but I can tell you when I fell in love with it.

Back in 1975 on a highway somewhere between Chicago and Philadelphia, a little old van caught my eye. In the window was a poster of a Dixie flag and the word Wildcountry.

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http://www.halfpastkissentime.com

Welcome to my #300 Blog Post!  I am SO happy it landed on a Friday. Of course, I want to celebrate so I will pick randomly from the comments (2) and send you a little gift! Thank you to all of my readers and big ((HUGS))) to my Friday Fragments Friends and our lovely host Mrs. 4444 for being SO supportive and consistent.

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