Although clichés may express truth or convey information, they do so in a way that has been overused to the point of becoming trite: Beauty is only skin deep Cool as a cucumber Blood is thicker than water Raining cats and dogs Free as a bird Reinventing the wheel Neat as a pin Take the…
Author Archives:
When to Use ‘I’ or ‘Me’
One of the hardest grammar questions for many people is whether to use “I” or “me” in a sentence. And what about using “myself” instead of (or in addition to) “I” or “me”? The grammar rule is that you should use “I” when the word you are using is the subject of the sentence and…
Book Cover Design – Choosing the Right Designer for Your Book
Getting the right book cover design is critical to the success of your book, and choosing the right designer is critical to getting a great book cover. There are hundreds (thousands?) of book cover designers out there, so how do you choose the best one? First of all, there are probably many designers who could…
How to Write a Book Outline
In my recent article, “I Want to Write a Book!,” I mentioned the importance of writing with an outline. That caused some people to ask about the best way to write a book outline. Here are a few techniques that have worked for me and others. Your outline may be created on your computer or…
“I Want to Write a Book!”
How long have you been saying that you want to write a book? The truth is that you don’t want to write a book, you want to have written one! But the only way to get to the point where you are the author of a book is to write it (or hire a ghostwriter,…
Free Subscription to Book Business Magazine
As a small publisher, I like to keep up with news about the publishing industry and trends in printing, distribution, marketing, epublishing and more that affect my business. Book Business magazine keeps me informed with information I can use. The most recent issue includes features on: The Future of the Industry: Whose Hands Is It…
Who Will Be the New Oprah?
Oprah Winfrey has announced that she will end her long-running talk show in 2011, and there is a lot of speculation about who—if anyone—will be able to fill her shoes. Authors love Oprah. A single mention by Oprah is considered enough to launch a book on the best seller lists, and most authors dream of…
How to Promote Your Book Signing
Once you have scheduled a book signing at a local book store or other venue, the real work begins. You may think that as the author your only job is to show up, greet your adoring fans, and sign some books; however, the success of the book signing is on your shoulders, so you had…
Investing in Books About Publishing
New small and self-publishers often ask how to learn more about publishing. When various books on self-publishing are recommended to them, the response is often something such as, “I will look for these books at my library.” Now, I am a big believer in using the library system. However, I also believe that when it…
Selling Fiction Like Non-Fiction
Marketing a novel can be more challenging than a non-fiction book. You can make it easier by adopting some of the techniques used by non-fiction writers. Yes, they work for novels, too. If you have a good hook, a press release can get you coverage in the media. Also, distributing press releases online allows you…