Doreen McGettigan

If you ever said, “I could write a book,” This book is for you! It also makes a great gift for the writer in your life.

Thank you for reading, reviewing and sharing,

Doreen

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Wednesday is the day I share what I’ve learned on my journey from writing, publication, marketing; and doing it all again, and again. The kind of information I wish someone shared with me when I started.

Have you ever stumbled for words when someone asks you what you do, what do you blog about, what is your book about? I have and it always leaves me feeling so unprofessional.

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Wednesday is the day I share what I’ve learned on my journey from writing, publication, marketing; and doing it all again, and again. The kind of information I wish someone shared with me when I started.

Does that statement take your breath away and leave you wanting to run back into your quiet, safe writing cave? I’m sorry but once the writing is finished, if you want someone to read the book you’re going to have to talk about it. My suggestion is to work on conquering your fear of public speaking as you write your book. Start slow.

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Have you written a book and are wondering what now? Having trouble finishing that book or even getting it started? Are you having trouble finding a literary agent? A publisher? Have no idea how it all works? Need help with marketing that book? Are you a business owner or professional interested in stepping up your credibility, client list, sales? Being the author of a book can do that for you, instantly. Let’s have a conversation, I may be able to help.

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WRITING WEDNESDAY

Wednesday is the day I like to share information, tips and inspiration with writers and bloggers. The kind of information that I wish someone would have shared with me back then.

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WRITING WEDNESDAY

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.

 Author Marketing Plans

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Writing Wednesday

On Wednesdays I like to share information I picked up on my journey to being published, marketing my first book, 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’s the first Wednesday of the month so 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.

Our awesome co-hosts today are Julie Flanders, Murees Dupé, Dolorah at Book Lover, Christine Rains, and Heather Gardner!

For more information, A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and to sign up…

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

Professional Editing

You have created an outline, a proposal, plotted your story, developed your characters, and written your first draft, edited, revised and ended up with a second draft. You had that draft read and critiqued and wrote your third draft. You are sure that in this draft:

You have used few if any adverbs

Removed the word ‘very’ from the entire MS

Taken out every word, sentence or phrase that is not relevant to the story and your critique partner says the story flows nicely, the points are clear and concise and the story is interesting. You have polished and feel confident (even if just a teeny bit because writers are not known to be the most confident type.) Congratulations you are ready to hire a professional editor!

Do I need a professional editor? Yes you do.

I can’t afford a professional editor? If you want to make writing your career then you must treat it like a business. When starting any new business financial investment is necessary for success. It is the same in the book business.

Where do you find a professional book editor? Ask your Facebook or other social media friends, do a Google search or ask other writers. Once you receive a couple of referrals they will probably ask you for a few chapters of your MS to do a sample edit for you. They will return it with suggestions and offer you a contract or they will pass. Before signing a contract make sure it includes time frame (both ways,) charges and how they are calculated and the editor’s method.

How much will it cost? If you are a starving, new writer you may be able to find a starving new editor who will be more than willing to negotiate a great price for you and do a great job for you in exchange for a reference. The average rate is $30-$65 an hour (10 pages per hour, a page being 250 words.) Well established editors with a client list of best sellers will charge much more. This is why you want your MS in the best shape you can get it before it goes to the editor. The fewer changes needed equal less time and that means less money out of your pocket.

What exactly does an editor do? Besides suggesting corrections for grammar, punctuation, technical elements and spelling your editor will organize your MS for the greatest impact and clarity. They will make sure all of your conclusions are supported and that you did not overuse certain words. A good editor knows what publishers are looking for, what readers expect and is able to balance that with what the author wants to say. A good editor will enhance your work and challenge you as a writer.

Your path from writer to successful author will be much shorter with a good editor in your tribe.

Happy Writing,

Doreen

Write Drunk, Edit Sober.~Earnest Hemingway

WRITING WEDNESDAY

On Wednesdays 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.

As much as I intend to stay in the moment and enjoy every single second left of summer it is time to plan for the fall, winter and spring.

If you are like me, achieving your writing goals is nearly impossible during the summer. Having a book to market, a new one coming out this fall and writing another has kept me busy and I didn’t quite meet my goals so of now I am in panicked catch-up mode.

How did you do with your writing goals over the summer?

I have a few author events coming up and I need to start preparing for them so I thought I would share what I’ve figured out with you.

Preparing for Author Events

I’ve been reading a lot lately about authors that no longer want to do book signings because they have no luck with them. While I agree that there are times when no matter what you do to prepare for the event people just don’t show up and other times there can be a line out the door.

What I have learned is there are things you can do to improve your chances for a successful event. The fact is publishers are not doing much these days to market and or promote their authors. Book stores depend on the author to bring the crowd to their store. It is up to us to advertise; market and promote ourselves.

Two months before the event:

Contact the community relations manager (CRM) and ask if they have ordered your books from their distributor or if they need you to supply them. Ask if he/she sends out press releases and if they do provide them with your bio, high definition book cover and author photos. I always send my own press releases too.

Most newspapers have an event calendar online that you can add your information to. Place a series of ads in your local newspaper or magazine advertising the event. Ads can be pricey so ask about specials or discounts and check the rates of large and small publications. You don’t want the ads to run sooner than two-weeks before the event but they may have to be ordered weeks in advance.

Create and order postcards. I use Vista Print and use my book cover, author photo and the bookstore’s logo or a photo of the front of their store. Ask the CRM if they will put the postcards on their counters.

Create a Facebook event. I always mention that I have a gift for the first ten people that buy the book. I get ten gift bags from a dollar store and pens, candy, small notebooks, bookmarkers and other small items from Sam’s or BJ’s. It doesn’t have to be much and the ten small bags with bows look nice on your table.

Send pitches to your local TV and radio show producers.

Six weeks before the event:

Send out an announcement to your e-mail list. Add the event to your website/blog and check with local bloggers to see if they will do an ad for you on their blog. These can be as inexpensive as $15.00 a month. Some will offer to do a write up and a review as well.

Mail postcards to everyone you know, friends, family and co-workers. Ask them to spread the word.

One Month before the event:

Think about how you will set your table up. You may want to bring a table cloth that matches your book cover, business cards, bookmarkers, a stand to put your book or poster on and a big bowl of candy. I put a sign up on my table that says ‘Meet the Author.’ Believe it or not sometimes people just have no idea what you are doing there.

Attend one or two author events at the store and network while you are there.

If you can afford to hire a professional photographer to take photos during the event it can create a lot of interest in you and your book.

Write an announcement for the store to use. I write three so they aren’t repetitive.

Two weeks before the event:

Follow up with whoever you invited. Place reminder calls. Create social media posts. Do not post about the event more than once a day. It can annoy people. Two or three times a week is plenty.

What are you going to wear? Whatever you decide on it should be business casual.

The Event:

Plan to arrive ½ hour early so you have plenty of time to set up your table and deliver the announcement you wrote to the person who will be doing the announcing.

Bring a small gift for the CRM. One of the small gift bags is fine.

Get out from behind your table and mingle. Always have a book in your hand. If someone ask you what the book is about hand them the book with the back cover up and invite them to read the synopsis.

No matter how many people show up, have fun. I once had a signing and only two people showed up. One of them was the host of a radio show, she invited me on her show and I sold dozens of books because of that appearance.

Ask the CRM if you can sign a few books to leave in the store. Post on social media that you left signed copies at the store.

After the event:

Send a thank you card to the CRM and let him/her know that you are available for future events, author panels etc.

Good luck and happy writing,

Doreen

Writing Wednesday

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

Publishing Choices

The publishing business has changed so dramatically over the past few years and there doesn’t seem to be any slow- down in sight. It is still so unclear who the winner will be in this evolutionary process and that can cause more than a bit of anxiety for new as well as established authors. The good news is if you want to be published, you have choices…

This is a brief overview of the different Publishing Choices available and the pros and cons for each:

Traditional Publishing

Traditional Publishing is still number one through six in sales, in publications and in best -selling titles, in the world. Those top six companies (not in order) are:

Hatchette Book Group

Harper Collins

McMillan

Penguin Group

Random House

Simon and Shuster (name owned by CBS)

Each of these companies also own dozens of smaller companies known as imprints. An imprint may be used when publishing in a narrow field such as sci-fi or fantasy.

How it works:

Traditional publishers in most cases will only work with literary agents. If you want to be traditionally published you will first need an agent.

Submit your query and then if requested submit your finished, professionally edited manuscript to an agent that specializes in your genre.

If they decide to sign you they will have you go through another round of edits

They will try to sell your manuscript to a publisher

They will negotiate a contract on your behalf

They will receive a percentage of your sales

Once they have sold your manuscript to a publisher:

You will go through yet another round of editing

A cover will be designed and a title will be decided on

Conceptual editing will be done (styling)

The Advantages of Traditional Publishing:

They put up the front money for editing, copyrighting, distribution, listing with vendors,   ISBN number, some marketing and advertising. They may even provide an advance.

Chances are much better for international sales

The big Publishers have connections w/ T.V., radio, Magazines etc…

Your book will be released in Hardcover and then 8 months to a year later it will be re- released in paperback.

Prestige and credibility

Disadvantages of Traditional Publishing:

Lack of control over everything involving your book including style, title, where it is sold, how it is marketed etc…

Earnings- You do not get paid until your advance is paid back (if you received one), royalties tend to be paid at lower percentages than other publishing choices.

The process tends to be impersonal.

If the Publisher does not make their initial investment back in two-years they may drop you.

The time frame from signing to publication can take up to two-years.

Independent Publishing

Independent Publishers tend to be smaller companies and can be imprints of a larger company. Most of them operate ‘under one roof’ meaning they have editing, marketing etc…in house.

There are hundreds of Independent Publishing companies with new ones starting every day. Just a few examples in no particular order are:

Publishing Genius Press

Akashic Books

Coffee House Press

Black Balloon

A Strange Object (new)

Tin House

Gray Wolf Press

Advantages of publishing with an Independent Publisher:

They may or may not require you to be represented by an agent

Offer better royalties

More individual author attention

Prestige and credibility

Time from signing to publication can be as quick as one year

More willing to work with new authors

Disadvantages:

Less opportunity for international sales. Not impossible but unlikely

You will need to do most of the marketing

Your book may be released as an e-book prior to paperback release. It may not be released in hardcover.

Subsidy, Vanity, Print on Demand and Assisted Self- Publishing Companies

This is where the publishing water gets very murky. These companies charge fees for services. Some of them are very good companies that do exactly what they say they will do and some of them are very bad companies. Some of them are extremely choosy over what they accept for publication and others will print anything. If you choose this route for publishing you must research the company. Have any contract looked at by a literary attorney, request author references and order a few books that the company published to check the quality.

These companies may offer different publishing packages ranging in price from $10,000 for complete preparation to release services, $5,000 for less services and $600 or less for assistance with self-publishing such as ISBN number (your books social security number) copyrighting and formatting for Amazon and Barnes & Noble listings.

Advantages to these types of Publishing:

More control artistically

The highest royalties paid

A good option for special interest, regional, self-help, speakers, cookbooks and celebrities

Quick turnaround time, a year sometimes less.

Disadvantages:

Some of these disadvantages are changing, rapidly. The stigma surrounding self -publishing is eroding. To break through these barriers, write a good book and make sure it is professionally edited.

Some libraries and book stores, still will not stock these books.

Perceived Lack of credibility.

Some professional reviewers still will not review these books.

Some authors self-publish poorly edited or not edited at all books and it hurts all self-published authors.

Again, this is changing rapidly!

Companies to avoid at all cost (This list is not complete. Always research, check references and have a literary attorney read any contract.)

Author House

Xlibris

Vantage Press

i universe (also known as Writers Club and Writers Showcase)

Trinity

Trident

Publish America now known as America Star

Whatever route you choose for publishing, if you write a great story and have it edited professionally, the readers will come! Just like anything worth having in life, you will need to make an investment to get a return.

Are you a published author? What Publishing choice did you make and why?

Are you a writer hoping to be published? Which publishing choice do you thing would be right for you?

Happy Writing,

Doreen

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…

 Publishing Choices

Traditional

Traditional Publishing is still number one through six in sales, in publications and in best -selling titles, in the world. Those top six companies are:

Hatchette Book Group

Harper Collins

McMillan

Penguin Group

Random House

Simon and Shuster (name owned by CBS)

Each of these companies also own dozens of smaller companies known as imprints. An imprint may be used when publishing in a narrow field such as sci-fi or fantasy. How it works:

Traditional publishers in most cases will only work with literary agents. If you want to be traditionally published you will first need an agent.

How it works:

Submit your finished, professionally edited manuscript to an agent

If they decide to sign you they will have you go through another round of edits

They will try to sell your manuscript to a publisher

They will negotiate a contract on your behalf

They will receive a percentage of your sales

Once they have sold your manuscript to a publisher:

You will go through yet another round of editing

A cover will be designed and a title will be decided on

Conceptual editing will be done (styling)

The Advantages of Traditional Publishing:

They put up the front money for editing, copyrighting, distribution, listing with vendors, ISBN number, marketing and advertising. They may even provide an advance. The big Publishers have connections w/ T.V., radio, Magazines etc… Prestige and credibility. Your book will be released in Hardcover and then 8 months to a year later it will be re-released in paperback. Chances are much better for international sales.

Disadvantages of Traditional Publishing: 

Lack of control over everything involving your book including style, title, where it is sold, how it is marketed etc…

Earnings- You do not get paid until your advance is paid back (if you received one), royalties tend to be paid at lower percentages than other types of companies

The process tends to be impersonal

If the Publisher does not make their initial investment back in two-years they may drop you

The time frame from signing to publication can take up to two-years

Independent Publishing

Independent Publishers tend to be smaller companies and can be imprints of a larger company. Most of them operate ‘under one roof’ meaning they have editing, marketing etc…in house.

There are hundreds of Independent Publishing companies with new ones starting up every day.

Advantages of publishing with an Independent Publisher:

They may or may not require you to be represented by an agent, More author attention, Time from signing to publication can be as quick as one year,  Prestige and credibility, better royalty agreement.

Disadvantages of publishing with an Independent Publisher:

Less opportunity for international sales, not impossible but unlikely

You will need to do most of the marketing

Your book may be released as an e-book prior to paperback release. It may not be released in hardcover.

Boutique, Hybrid, Subsidy, Vanity, Print on Demand and Assisted Self- Publishing Companies

This is where the publishing water gets very murky. These companies charge fees for services. Some of them are very good companies that do exactly what they say they will do and some of them are very bad companies. Some of them are extremely choosy over what they accept for publication and others will print anything. If you choose this route for publishing you must research the company, have any contract looked at by a literary attorney, request author references and order a few books that the company published to check the quality.

These companies may offer different publishing packages ranging in price from $10,000 for complete preparation to release services, $5,000 for less services and $600 or less for assistance with self-publishing such as ISBN number (your books social security number) copyrighting and formatting for Amazon and Barnes & Noble on line listings.

Advantages to this type of Publishing:

More control artistically, the highest royalties paid,  a good option for special interest, regional, self-help, speakers, cookbooks and celebrities, quicker to release (less than a year.)

Disadvantages: 

Some of these disadvantages are changing, rapidly. The stigma surrounding self publishing is eroding. To break through these barriers, write a good book and make sure it is professionally edited and professionally formatted.

Most libraries and book stores will not stock these books.

Lack of credibility.

Many professional reviewers will not review these books.

Some of these companies don’t handle returns and that is a distribution problem.

Keep Writing,

Doreen