101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 016: Host Your Fellow Writers

This is my blog. It's all about me. You came here to read about me. You want to know what I have to say! Right? Hello?

Well, sure. To an extent. But you're probably also here because you like science fiction or just books in general. You might be here (and reading this) because you're an author yourself. So if all I did was talk about me and my books, well, unless I have a new release or other special announcement, chances are you've already heard it.

So how do I keep you coming back? How do I get you to keep visiting and seeing that list over to the right of all the wonderful books I have available for purchase? Occasionally, I suppose I'll have to blog about something other than me and my books. It's... it's a great burden, but it must be done.

One thing I like to do in particular is host book features for other authors. Unlike writing reviews or conducting interviews, these are really, really easy. In about five minutes you can have a new blog post about another author's book, helping them out, but also increasing the value of your blog's content. Readers get to see something new and, even while they're reading about someone else's book, your name and book titles are right there for them to glance over at (like in the sidebar). Plus, that other author is going to drive traffic to your blog. I've even seen people land on my blog while Google searching for information about the books I've hosted.

I don't mean for this to sound so blatantly self-serving. I really do like helping out other authors, and as solitary an act writing is, once you've been doing it for a while, you'll come to realize just how valuable the connections you've made with your fellow writers really is. We have strength in numbers, and any opportunity to help each other out should not be passed up. But for those of you who, for whatever reason, don't do much of it, I'm just trying to give you a little extra incentive.

So, since people love numbered lists, here's what you need for a quick, easy book feature which will add value to your blog and keep readers coming back for more:

1. The book blurb.

2. Links to the book and the author's website/blog.

3. An image of the book cover.

4. An image of the author (optional)

And that's it. You can organize it in any way you find aesthetically pleasing. If you have read and enjoyed the book, it's a nice touch to add a comment at the beginning saying so.

Also keep in mind that if someone does post a book feature for you, offer to reciprocate. And don't forget to share the post on Facebook, Twitter, etc., whether you're the host or are being hosted. If someone's hosted you, it's especially important to share it far and wide as thanks. But it's good for you, too. Sometimes a reader just needs to see your book presented in a different context to get interested in it. 

So go find an author you like and send them a message offering to host a book feature! I want a 500-word essay on my desk by the end of the week about how mutually beneficial it turned out to be. (That's a joke. Please don't send me essays.)

Until next time,

Michael K. Rose

***

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.

101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 015: Your Book is Not Static

I recently changed the covers for several of my books. I had been unhappy with a few of them for a while, and lagging sales prompted me to finally do something about the lackluster appearance of those books.

So far, I have received many great comments about the new covers and I believe the updated look had led to a boost in sales.

While I was updating the covers, I also took the opportunity to upload new eBook files with updated "Also Available" sections with hyperlinks directly to each book's Amazon page. The "About the Author" section also received an update.

It is important to remember in this digital age that your book is not a static entity. Uploading a new eBook takes only a few minutes, and with print on demand technology, even print copies can be easily updated, and there's no reason you shouldn't make those updates when you need to. (Note: minor changes do not require a new edition with a different ISBN number, but if you do a major revision, you should produce a second edition.)

If you do decide to give your books a bit of a makeover, here is a list of several things to consider:

1. Make sure your list of available works is up to date. If you release a new book, it should be fairly easy to go back and add it to the lists in all your other books. Remember that these days most people are reading on tablets, so hyperlinking to a web page about the book or even the Amazon product page is a good way to encourage readers to go for the next one.

2. Check that your author bio is up to date. If you've released the fourth book of a series but the bio only mentions three, or if you've received an award or made it onto a bestseller list, you can mention these things in your updated bio.

3. Some authors like to include quotes from reviews or other authors at the front of their books. If you do this, be sure to add any really good quotes that have come in since you first published. Once your book has been out for a while, you'll have a lot more quotes to choose from.

4. Re-check for formatting errors. There's always a chance something slipped through the first time, so giving your book a page-by-page check is never a bad idea. Look for proper indentation, chapter/section breaks and, in the case of print copies, page numbers, margins and proper spacing.

5. Fix any spelling/grammatical errors. When I re-did the covers for The Sullivan Saga, I did a complete read-through of each book. If you have the time, this is not a bad idea--plus, if you're writing an ongoing series, doing this can remind you of characters or plot points that you can still build upon. Also look for repetition of words in the same paragraph, awkwardly written passages and anything that may cause confusion. Even small changes in this area can greatly improve the reading experience. If you don't want to do a complete read-through, there's still a possibility someone has sent along a few typos they noticed. Don't forget to find and fix them.

6. Make sure the organization and formatting of each book in a series is the same. For example, if chapter numbers are left justified in one book but centered in another, standardize them. In print editions, make sure you use the same fonts throughout.

***

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.

101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 014: The Writer as Demiurge

I think a lot of writers have at least a suspicion that what they produce doesn't come from them, that it comes
from somewhere--something--else. Maybe it's just superstition, maybe it's a conceit that we engage in, but I've heard or read enough writers express this idea that I felt it was worth exploring.

We are all familiar with the idea of the muses: goddesses in Greek mythology who inspire humans to create great art. I find it interesting, however, that there were muses not only for the arts but for the sciences. Greek scientists may have believed that their discoveries were divinely inspired, discoveries that laid the groundwork for the advancement of science which, ultimately, would come to reject such superstition.

A lot of writers get asked, "Where do you get your ideas?" My stock answer is "Everywhere." Every experience I have, every person I meet, every book I read gets thrown into the stew of creative juices inside my head. Every once in a while I scoop out a ladel-ful, add some seasonings and turn it into a story.

So are the muses simply experience filtered through the mind? Do ideas seem to come from nowhere, from some divine source, because we cannot fully comprehend how memory works and so the end product seems somewhat more mystical in origin that we realize?

A Possible Depiction of the Gnostic
Demiurge (Source)

Or is there really some greater force at work? Are we essentially the literary equivalent of the Gnostic Demiurge, toiling away in ignorance and believing that the worlds we create truly are of our own making? Is there a true source for "ideas" upon which we all draw? Is there something that sets off the creative spark, just as some people believe a divine spark was required to turn simple organic compounds into life?

If you believe in a soul or in a creator, this idea is not so far-fetched. In fact, there may be evidence of such a thing occurring on a massive scale. Around 50,000 years ago, human beings were more or less physically identical to us. Technologically, however, they were indistinguishable from earlier hominids. But something remarkable seems to have happened. There was a rather rapid development of technology. Existing tools and weapons were improved upon. But something else appears in the archaeological record, something that had never before been seen on this scale: the development of art. Cave paintings, ornaments, sculptures. And before this, humans had lived in isolated groups. Now evidence of trade networks appears. Humans also begin to spread out into previously uninhabited areas. This is the emergence of what anthropologists call "behaviorally modern humans." In essence, it is the first time humans, Homo sapiens, began acting like humans rather than earlier hominids.

There is some evidence for human culture prior to this, but what explains the cognitive explosion that occurred? Why did humans--seemingly suddenly--develop this awareness? Was it simply the result of gradual cultural and biological change coming to a head? Has the archaeological evidence showing the slow development of culture simply not yet been found? Or was art--consciousness--given to us by some force beyond our comprehension?

In Christian Gnostic belief, the Demiurge, the creator god, was ignorant of the true god. He believed he was solely responsible for the creation of the Earth. Because of this ignorance, his creation was flawed. Because of it, evil was allowed to exist. Traditional Christians, the Gnostics believed, worshiped this false god. The Gnostics, however, had the knowledge, the gnosis, of the true god.

So is the writer a demiurge? Could we somehow tap into pure inspiration if we only knew the truth about where our ideas come from? Does our ego get in the way?

I can only answer the last question with any certainty: yes. Ego is the writer's greatest enemy. When we write to satisfy ego, when we serve it rather than the story, our craft suffers. Like the Demiurge, we let our ego flaw our creations. We worry about what others will think, we worry about marketability. We try to emulate the styles of popular writers, we follow literary formulas. None of these things are necessarily bad or wrong, but we must be aware of the fact that they get in between the inspiration and the story.

Wherever that inspiration comes from--whether from us or from some unknown source--be true to it. Write not only from the mind but from the heart. Honor the act of creation and recognize it for the miraculous event that it truly is.

Best,

Michael K. Rose

***

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.

You might also be interested in my eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

The 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing Contest!

Hello, all! Yesterday, I wrote about swag and how everybody loves it. In the spirit of that article, I'm running a giveaway, and the prizes will include swag packs featuring my books Sullivan's War and Short Stories. To be entered, leave a comment below with the following information:

1. Your name (first name only is fine)

2. A way I can contact you (either an email address or a link to a Twitter or Facebook profile)

3. A topic you'd like you see me write about in my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing series

If you do not provide all three pieces of information, your entry cannot be considered. To see the topics I've covered in the series so far, click here. That will give you an idea of what I'm looking for.

Here's what the winners will get:

1. A Sullivan's War or Short Stories Swag Pack (winner's choice). The swag packs include a signed 4" x 6" card featuring the book cover as well as three bookmarks.

2. An eBook copy of my guide Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch.

3. An eBook copy of any one of my full-length books (select from Sullivan's War, Sullivan's Wrath, Chrysopteron, Darkridge Hall or Short Stories). If you've read them all, you can instead choose to receive a copy of Sullivan's Watch when it sees release in a couple of months.

I will select three winners based on the topics I find most interesting and that I feel qualified to write about. The contest will be open through October 11th, and I'll select and announce the winners on the 12th or 13th.

EBooks will be sent as either mobi (for Kindle) or epub (for Nook and most other eReaders) files.

I look forward to your entries!

Best,

Michael K. Rose

101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 013: Everybody Loves Swag!

In this digital world in which we're living, much of the promotion a writer does requires nothing more than a computer and an internet connection. It is the best way to reach a worldwide audience, especially since with eBooks, anyone who is online can instantly buy and start reading your work.

But as I mentioned in my post about putting your book in print, having something physical to send out, something people will keep in their homes to be reminded of you, something they can show others, should not be underestimated. Books, however, are expensive to just be giving them out left and right. Plus, it defeats the point of trying to get people to actually buy your books. Assuming that is what you want to happen, read on!

So what is swag? It is literally anything with your name or book title on it that you can order at a low enough per item price to give out for free. Bookmarks, postcards, pens, key chains, thumb drives, coffee mugs, t-shirts, posters... do an online search for custom printing, and you'll find websites with hundreds of products that can be emblazoned with your face, book cover, whatever you want.

And everybody loves swag. It's free! It's cool! It's made in China!

So as writers, what sorts of products do we want to give out to our fans? For me, the #1 swag item for writers is bookmarks. It just makes sense, after all. Plus, they're cheap, they're light enough to mail in an envelope with standard postage, you can carry a stack around with you without too much trouble, you can sign them, you can leave them in library books, you can have a stack of them on the table when you do signings... bookmarks are an incredibly versatile promotional tool.

You also have all sorts of design options. A bookmark could promote a single book, a series or you as a writer in general.

My #2  swag item for writers is a postcard. I personally don't mail them as postcards, although you can if you design it that way. I like postcards that feature the covers of books. For a standard 4" by 6" postcard, the dimensions are going to be close enough to your book cover that you shouldn't have too much trouble converting your cover image. The back of the postcard can have the description of the book, quotes from readers or other authors, where to buy it, etc. They have the added bonus of being mailable and are a neat way to send your autograph out to fans.

Here's a helpful tip: If you're in the US, I've discovered that you can send out one 4" x 6" postcard and three 2" x 8" bookmarks for the price of a single stamp. You might be able to cram an extra bookmark in there, but the weight of your envelope, stamps, and other factors could put it over the 1 ounce weight limit, so have it weighed at the post office if you're in doubt. I and several of my author friends have used GotPrint, and we have all been pleased with the price and quality.

Another tip: you can sign items like bookmarks and postcards, but if they have the gloss coating with UV protection (which I do recommend, because it makes them look nice and flashy!) I'd suggest using a metallic Sharpie. The ink in the non-metallic Sharpies is not as thick and will looks streaky. It's also more likely to rub off over time.

No matter what kind of swag you decide on, there are a few things you should have on it. First, your name. Second, your book or series name, if applicable. Finally, your web address. As I mention in my article on building a website, it helps to have an easy-to-read/easy-to-remember web address, like www.MichaelKRose.com, for example. Quotes from readers are always good if you have the room and it will work with the design.

Any graphics on your swag can be adapted from your book cover. On my bookmark below, you can see I used a detail of the fighter jet from the cover of Sullivan's War.

I had my bookmarks printed in batches of 1,000, as it was the cheapest option. However, unless you have a big event to attend, or several events, you'll be sitting on stock for a long time. In retrospect, I should have ordered fewer bookmarks of one kind and instead opted for more variety. For future bookmark orders, I'll do this. If you do run out, you can usually reorder from the same company without too much trouble.

As a reader, what kind of swag do you like? Let me know in the comments below!

Best,

Michael K. Rose

***

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.

You might also be interested in my eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 012: Stagger eBook and Print Releases

Last time, I talked about the importance of putting your book out in print as well as digitally. However, deciding on book dimensions, getting the cover and interior formatting right, going through your proof copy... all of this can take a great deal of time. And it is definitely worth spending the time to get it right. It's frustrating to find an error in a print edition after you've ordered thirty copies.

I would therefore recommend that if your eBook is ready but your print edition is not, go ahead and put out the eBook. As a self-published writer, it's likely that most of your income will come from eBook sales, and there is no reason to delay release if it's ready to go. I haven't done the research to know for sure that staggering the releases is better than having them both ready on the same date, but I don't think it's worth rushing the print edition and risking mistakes.

In fact, staggering the releases of the eBook and print editions could be to your benefit. Marketing works best when you have new content to share with your audience. Talking about the same book release over and over will yield diminishing results over time. By staggering, you essentially get to have two release events, two "new" bits of information to share with readers, potentially doubling exposure for the book. You're still repeating the same basic message--"Buy this book!"--but the new information about the print release makes it seem fresh. You should, of course, also link to the eBook during the print release event, and hopefully by the time the print edition is out, you'll have built up a few reviews to help entice readers.

Until Next Time!

Michael K. Rose

***

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.

You might also be interested in my eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 011: Put It In Print

The eBook revolution really is a wonderful thing. It has not only made self-publishing finally viable for most people, but for readers, it has opened up an entire new world of possibilities. 

But this also means that as eReaders become more popular and affordable, people will buy fewer and fewer print books. I know a lot of people lament this fact and worry about the possible extinction of print, but I don't think that will happen.

Humans will always have a need to surround themselves with things, and for readers, those things will include books. I see eBooks and print books having a relationship similar to the current relationship between hardcovers and mass market paperbacks.

Hardcovers (or nicer, larger-sized trade paperbacks) are the books you buy to keep, the books from your favorite authors, the ones you display on your shelves. The mass market paperbacks are meant to be read then sold, traded, left on airplanes, packed away in boxes, etc. If you're at all like me, you've discovered a favorite book via mass market paperback that you then wanted to buy a nicer copy of, a copy to keep, a copy to admire on the shelf.

I think eBooks will eventually replace the cheap, mass market paperbacks, but not books altogether. Our casual and exploratory reading will happen digitally, and the books we love we will seek out in print.

This is why I think it's a good idea to put your books out in print. If your experience is similar to that of most self-published authors, the lion's share of your sales will be in eBooks. But if you use a service like Amazon's CreateSpace, you will see some sales of your print books. They may be slow, but they'll add up over time. Plus, signed print copies are great gifts for your fans and are a crowd-pleasing prize for contests. You can also sell signed copies from your website and boost profits a bit that way.

Keep in mind that formatting for print can be a bit tricky, but if you don't have the time or patience to learn how to do it yourself, there are people who will provide the service for a fee. You also have to design (or have designed) a wrap for the back cover and spine. I think the time (or money) is worth it, however. In addition to having something available for your die-hard fans, there's really no experience quite like ripping open a box and seeing your book in print. It exciting to see your eBook go live, but it simply cannot compare to holding your work in your own two hands.

Until Next Time!

Michael K. Rose

***

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.

You might also be interested in my new eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 010: Write Everything Down

The other night, I went to bed and, as usual, lay there thinking for a while. An idea for a story entered my head and, as I was nearly asleep, I didn't really want to get up and write it down. But I did. I forced myself.

The next morning, I saw the piece of paper I'd written on laying by my bed and knew I'd written something on it, but I simply couldn't remember what. If I hadn't written it down, it could have possibly been lost forever.

In retrospect, I don't know if the idea I wrote down will work the way I want it to. But that's not the point. The next one I force myself to get out of bed and jot down could be my next novel. It could become my most successful novel.

I know every writer has experienced this sort of thing. In fact, there are ideas I've lost because I thought I would be able to remember them. Sometimes they'll come back to me later on, but often they won't. I also know that every writer has heard this before and knows they should write things down. But that doesn't stop us from trying to rely on our memories every once in a while, does it?

So here are a few tips so you never get caught trying to remember that brilliant idea you just knew would make for an awesome story.

1. Use your phone/device/etc. If you're out and about and find yourself without a pen and paper, you can use the note-taking program on your mobile device to jot it down. You can also email it to yourself if you want to be sure a copy gets safely to your computer.

2. Keep a pen and loose paper by your bed. I recommend loose paper rather than a journal because it cuts out the step of flipping through the book to find a blank page. At three in the morning, there's a risk of losing that idea-inspiring dream if you have to do too many things before writing it down. I like to use index cards, since their rigidity makes it easier to write on them without a desk or other solid surface present. Make sure the pen and stack of paper or cards are dedicated to your bedside. Don't move them during the day as you might forget to put them back later on.

3. Keep an idea file on your computer. Scraps of paper and napkins can easily get lost. When you get home (or get up, if you've written something during the night) copy your notes into your idea file so they'll all be in one place.

4. Keep your loose notes. Sometimes flipping through pages of physical notes can inspire you in ways reading on a screen can't. You can take them out and rearrange them to see how different ideas will work together. Plus, you'll have your original notes in case your computer crashes and you lose your idea file. But this won't happen, because your regularly back up your files, right? Right?

5. Write more than just story ideas. Sometimes the behavior of a stranger will inspire a character trait you can use. You might also find yourself in an unusual location or hear an amusing snippet of conversation. Write these things down, too. You never know what will inspire you, and anything that you take notice of could also be the sort of thing to make readers take notice and get them more involved in your story.

Do you have any other ways to make sure you never lose your ideas? I'd love to hear about them in the comments below!

***

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.

You might also be interested in my new eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

Best,

Michael K. Rose

101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 009: Don’t Be Political… Unless That’s Your Thing

If you're at all active on social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), you've no doubt encountered people who seemingly use it for the sole purpose of political commentary. And if that's your thing, if you write politically charged books, that's fine. But if that's not your thing, if you don't get into politics in your books or you approach it tangentially, my advice would be to avoid getting political when engaging potential readers.

Why?

I don't mean to imply you shouldn't express your views if you want to. Of course you can. But like with most other things, it's best to take a step back and spend a few minutes in quiet reflection before posting something that is political. Ask yourself a few questions:

1. Is this a point/issue I feel is essential to my online identity and therefore want to express it?

2. If I do decide to post, am I phrasing it in the most productive way?

3. Is my desire to post a political commentary worth alienating a current or potential reader?

Regarding point one: My online identity is as a speculative fiction writer. I post things relating to science fiction, books, writing, publishing, etc. I will occasionally post things not related to writing, things I find interesting, things that express my other interests, but these are in keeping with my online identity. Personally, I don't post intimate details about my life or my family. It's not part of my public persona, and not the sort of thing people who follow me as a speculative fiction writer are interested in reading about. Point one is really all about creating a line between your public persona and your private persona.

Regarding point two: If you decide to get political, I would encourage you to word your statements positively rather than negatively. Saying something like, "All people who believe this are stupid!" isn't going to win you many fans. Expressing support for something you strongly believe in is a much safer way to approach political commentary. There will still be people who disagree with you, but at least you haven't gone out of your way to antagonize them.

Regarding point three: No matter how carefully you word your statement, there will be people who will unfriend/unfollow you and swear off ever reading your books simply because you expressed an opinion they strongly disagree with. Unfortunately, most of the political discourse in America (I can't speak for other countries) had devolved into this kind of behavior. I don't like it, but I can't see any way to change it.

Now, if you decide you don't want fans like that anyway, go ahead and post. But just remember that such a potential reader could become a devoted fan or friend and be a great person who you have much in common with outside of politics. And by the same token, don't be a reactionary if someone posts something you don't like. People are so much more than their political affiliations, and it would be wise to remember that when dealing with someone who has been vocal about controversial issues.

I will make one final point. You might be familiar with established authors who are highly political and unabashedly so. They have large, built-in fan bases and in many cases have made politics part of their public personas, whether or not their writing has to do with it. As with many things, those who are "established" can get away with breaking or bending the rules a lot more easily than the rest of us. Keep this in mind if you are thinking of modeling yourself on someone who is outspoken in that way. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Do you agree with me that writers are generally better off by keeping their politics private? Are there any other issues you think it is unwise for a writer to be vocal about?

***

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.

You might also be interested in my new eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

Best,

Michael K. Rose

101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 008: Aspiring Writers: Stop Aspiring!

I am writing this post for all you "aspiring" or "wannabe" writers out there. I see the phrase "aspiring writer" used by a lot of people who follow me on Twitter, and I know where you're coming from. I've been writing on and off for well over a decade now, but it wasn't until I stopped saying things like, "I'd like to be a writer someday" or, "I'd like to write a book someday" that I finally did it. It took an active change in perspective to go from, "Oh, I have this idea" to, "I wrote this book." I embraced the fact that I was a writer. No matter what else I did to earn a living, I was, and I will always be, a writer. I had to claim the title before anything could happen. Now, less than two years later, I have three novels and a short story collection published and at least two more projects in the works for release later this year.

So if you call yourself an "aspiring writer," what do you mean by that? Do you mean you're an aspiring writer because you have a day job? Most non-bestsellers do. Do you mean you're aspiring because you haven't been published yet? So what! That doesn't mean all the work you've put into your writing doesn't count. So if you have the words "aspiring writer" or "wannabe writer" anywhere on your Twitter or Facebook profiles or on your blog, remove the offending adjective.

Being a writer does not mean you are successful. It does not mean you are published. It doesn't even mean you've ever finished a novel. Being a writer means that you have stories to tell, and you are telling them. It means that you can't help but tell those stories. It means that you will finish that novel. It means you will hold a copy of it in your hands and know that it exists because of you. Don't let the word "aspiring" trick you into thinking that being a writer is something you will do in the future, that it is something that has not yet come to pass. Do it now. Be it now. You are a writer, and until you decide otherwise, nothing and no one can take that away from you.

***

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.

You might also be interested in my eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

Best,

Michael K. Rose

Note: This article was previously posted here. I have updated and re-posted it so I could make it a part of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing series.

Did you like this post? Tweet it! Just copy and paste the following to your Twitter account:

Check out the 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing series by @MichaelKRose! Pt. 8 - Aspiring Writers: Stop Aspiring! http://myriadspheres.blogspot.com/2013/06/101-thoughts-on-self-publishing-008.html

101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 007: You Are Already a Success

This is for all the writers out there who've finished a book, maybe more than one, but feel like failures because of poor sales, reviews, what-have-you. Remember that no matter what happens after your book is released into the world, you will have succeeded in doing something so many aspiring writers never do. How many people say they want to write a book then spend years mulling over ideas, writing outlines, getting the first fifty pages of a story down then losing interest or moving on to something else? Tens of millions? Hundreds of millions?

But you're not one of them.

And since these are 101 thoughts on self-publishing, not tips, tricks or advice, my thought is that if you've had the passion and the drive to finish your book, revise it, and--if you've been so inclined--have it published, then you are already a success.

Now as much as we might insist that we write for the love of writing, that it is about having a story to tell, we must acknowledge that having a little jingle in our pockets in return for all our effort is definitely desirable. But as I said in my last post, you cannot control sales. You cannot control how your work will be received.

Unfortunately, the world is filled with people who will want to bring you down, criticize you, tell you that you're no good, tell you that you're a failure. But don't let others define your success. You will only be a failure if you see yourself as one.

This is a tough business, and I know that sometimes it seems like all your hard work is producing few results. But play for the endgame. Keep reminding yourself that you've already achieved your primary goal: you are a writer.

And when you do find yourself feeling down about sales, about reviews, remember that the work itself is the reward. Claim that reward and congratulate yourself for that accomplishment. As long as you know you've put your all into your work, no thing and no one will ever be able to take that away from you.

***

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.

You might also be interested in my eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

Best,

Michael K. Rose

101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 005: Play for the Endgame

As an independent writer, you may sometimes feel like you're doing an incredible amount of work for very limited results. In addition to writing your books, revising them, coming up with cover ideas and seeing that your work is properly edited, you also have to constantly promote yourself. If the many hours you spend on this each week are amounting to only a handful of sales, it can seem like you'll never get anywhere.

If this is you, as it has been me many times in the past, I find that looking at what you're doing form a different perspective can sometimes help. If you've read my books, you may have picked up on the fact that I am a chess enthusiast. A chess game is divided into three parts: the opening, the middlegame and the endgame. Depending on where you are in your career, you may be in any of these stages. But chess players know that your ultimate goal is to play so that you enter the endgame in a strong position.

So how can this help you as a writer? Well, of the possible twenty first moves in a chess game, sixteen of them are simply advancing a pawn. Pawns are the weakest piece in the game, and amateur players will often see them as merely an impediment to getting their more powerful pieces out into the center of the board. But at the highest levels of play, the loss of a single pawn can lose the game.

When you are just starting out as a writer, the seemingly simple and inconsequential things you are doing--the things that don't seem to be producing any results--are your opening pawn moves: building up your Twitter followers, writing interesting blog articles that get people to your site, befriending established independent authors. Even before you publish your first book, you have to lay the groundwork that will carry you beyond the opening and into the middle game and, ultimately, the endgame.

In both chess and a career as an independent writer, there are both bad and good moves. These articles I'm writing, as well as the articles written by many other authors more successful than I, are designed to help you make the right moves. I know that it can be hard spending your days working yourself to exhaustion while watching your sales remain stagnant, but remember that you are still making your opening moves.

So when do you enter the middlegame? When do you begin making moves that have more immediate results? Well, I now have three novels and a short story collection published, and I feel that I am only now entering my middlegame. My books are my rooks and knights and bishops. Just as I have slowly been developing my pawn base over the past year and a half, now I must carefully position my more valuable pieces. I do that by making sure they are well-edited and professional in appearance. Don't send your novel off into danger by putting it out there before it is ready. It is at this stage that you must be even more careful; now the stakes are higher. A poorly-received novel could be a major setback at this stage, just as losing a piece to a foolish move can lose your chess game.

Fortunately, writing is more forgiving than chess. Many is the chess game I've won or lost due to a single mistake. As a writer, you can recover from an early setback; there is no game-ending move. But there's no reason you should have to suffer that setback if you make the right moves.

Novice chess players will often develop their pieces too soon, sending them off into enemy territory to threaten the opponent's pieces. If the opponent has carefully protected his pieces, these are wasted moves and gives the other player what is called tempo. Basically, he now has the freedom to move and make you respond to him. As an author, you can keep the tempo fairly easily: be active in the community, try to produce new work--even if they are just short stories--regularly, keep writing interesting blog articles, run sales and promotions. I find that it's a good idea to always have something going on, something that keeps people thinking about you.

Eventually, you will get to the endgame. It may take years, but if you've positioned your pieces carefully, you will enter it in a strong position to achieve your goal: in chess, checkmate. In writing, a successful career. The important thing is to keep that goal in mind from the very beginning. Don't let the loss of a piece, or a month of poor sales, divert your attention from that goal. You will constantly face hardships, your position will always be under attack. But when you move that final piece that wins you the game, you will know that everything you've done up to that point helped contribute to your victory. Don't let short-term mistakes or losses discourage you, and don't give up, no matter how long you have to fight for it. Play for the endgame.

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.

You might also be interested in my eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

Best,

Michael K. Rose

Did you like this post? Tweet it! Just copy and past the following to your Twitter account:

How is writing like a game of chess? Read Pt. 5 of the 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing series by @MichaelKRose! http://myriadspheres.blogspot.com/2013/03/101-thoughts-on-self-publishing-005.html

101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 004: Build a Website

In Thought 002, I recommended that you write a blog. Your blog is where you write articles to stay connected with your audience, announce new releases, hold contests, etc. However, I would also recommend an "official" website. The information on your website will be more static that your blog and will, first and foremost, showcase your books and provide easy-to-find links where a reader can buy them. It's a good idea to have this information on your blog, too, but your website will be your professional web presence.

Let's begin with a domain name. If it is available, get a .com domain name with the name you publish under. My domain name is MichaelKRose.com. If your name is already taken, try to get something that represents you and your work and, most importantly, is easy to remember and easy to type.

Once you get your domain name, you'll want to create an engaging home page. Have a look at my website here. Right away you'll see my major works prominently displayed with banners. There are many ways you can organize the information on your website's home page, but I would strongly recommend that the information be visual, as with my banners, or with the full covers of your books. Let readers be compelled not just by the words but by the images as well.

You'll also notice that I have visible, accessible links to my social media outlets: Facebook, Twitter and my blog. Give readers an easy way to not only click over to your books but stay connected with you as well. I've seen some author websites with very confusing or limited links. On some I could not find direct links to Amazon product pages, on others I could not find any way to contact or connect with the author. Make it easy for your readers. Make sure links are clearly distinguishable from the rest of the text by making them a different color. Use the widely-recognized Facebook and Twitter icons to draw your readers' attention toward them.

Finally, you'll see a list of products available in my web store. If your website package has the capability, I'd recommend setting up a store. Lots of readers like signed copies; give them the option to put a permanent, physical reminder of you and your work in their homes.

Let's look a little more at my website. If you click on any of the banners on my website's homepage, you'll be taken directly to a page dedicated to that book. Here is the page for Sullivan's War. Again, you will see that I have put something visually interesting--the book cover--on the page. I have also included the official book description that you will find on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble product pages as well as easy-to-click buy buttons. Finally, I have included some quotes from reviews of Sullivan's War. When you do this, I think it is important to link to the actual review so readers can see the rest of it. If the review appeared on Amazon or Barnes & Noble, this has the added benefit of taking readers to a site where they can buy the book.

The rest of my site has what you would expect: An "About" section with a brief bio and links to some interviews I've given, plus a page dedicated to reviews of my work. I need to update the interviews and reviews section, but you can look at them and get an idea.

Now, I'm far from being an expert on web design, and I'll reiterate that these are self-publishing thoughts, not tips. Still, I think that if your website has these basic elements, it'll give you a solid, professional-looking home on the internet. What else do you think should be included on an author's website? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Just leave a comment below.

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.

You might also be interested in my eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

All the Best,

Michael K. Rose

101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 003: Write Short Stories

I do have to admit that this "thought" is somewhat self-serving. You see, I love short stories. I love writing them, I love reading them. And I think that while a lot of writers may dabble in them (don't most of us start off with short stories, after all?) they know that what the reading public wants is novel-length fiction.

Up until recently, it looked like the short story was slowly fading from public awareness. No, I don't mean people would forget they ever existed, but when one thought about "reading," one would immediately think about a novel. I understand. Readers like to get caught up in a story, in a world that the author has created. When you've become emotionally tied to a character, you want to be with that character as long as possible. This is why series are so popular.

But there are things you can do with short stories that you cannot (or would not) do with novels. You can be highly experimental, for one. You can take risks knowing that if it doesn't work, the time lost is measured in hours, not in weeks or months. It is also a good way to develop your skills. Writing short stories allows you to write many more different characters and situations than you would if you only wrote novels; you can explore personalities, environments and occurrences. You can dabble in genres that are outside of your comfort zone.

Now, this is all from a writer's perspective. But what about from an economic/publishing perspective? ePublishing has made selling short stories much easier than it was in the past. Even if you were self-published, they are too short to justify the expense of releasing them in print. You'd have to gather a dozen of them together to put out a collection. With that much work, many writers would rather put out a novel, which would most likely be a better seller. And if you didn't self-publish, you had to submit them to fiction magazines, most of which are highly competitive. But now with eBooks, the print costs are completely optional. You can get your short stories out to the public instantly and release them as stand-alone eBooks, as you write them. Just browse Amazon and you will see many short stories, novelettes and novellas being offered up for sale. For one who loves shorter-form fiction (me), this is truly a bonanza.

As a writer, you can use short stories to introduce yourself to the public. I began my career by publishing short stories, and I think it did me a lot of good. "Who the hell is this guy?" people would ask. "I don't know if I want to spend the time and money on a novel from a nobody." They'd scroll through my titles, scowling. "Wait a second," they'd say. "Here is a short story. Ninety-nine cents? I guess I can do that." Twenty minutes later: "That was the greatest thing I've ever read! I'm going to buy all his books and tell all my friends!"

Well, maybe it doesn't happen quite like that, but you get the idea. Just as short stories let you take risks as a writer, they let readers take a risk on you. There is also the idea that the more eBooks you have available, the more channels there are for readers to find you. Half a dozen short stories in addition to your novels will give you a much larger presence in online stores like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. From there, it's very easy for readers to find your other books. It's all about exposure, and despite what that cop in Provo told me, exposure is a good thing. Yes, I know I used that joke before, but it's hilarious, so you're getting it again.

Until Next Time!
Michael K. Rose

P.S.: If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here. 

You might also be interested in my eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

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101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 002: Write a Blog

Last time I talked about why being active on social media is important for writers. That's all well and good, but it won't benefit you a whole lot if you don't have anywhere to send people. Sure, you can give them links to your product pages on Amazon, B&N, etc., but that doesn't do much to build relationships or help them get to know and love you. And an "official" website is important--I'll write about that in the future--but a blog is even more important for staying connected with your potential readership. Why?

Well, people like content. People want to be informed and they want to be entertained. And if you're a writer, making regular blog posts will not only do that for your audience, it will help you hone your skills as well.

So what should you write about? The answer is fairly simple: anything. Be wise, be funny, be profound. Some posts completely unrelated to reading, writing, books, etc. are fine, but you do want to tailor the majority of posts to your audience. If they like science fiction, write about science fiction. Give your thoughts on books you've read, film adaptations of novels, writers to watch, etc. Keep readers up to date on your work in progress or give them insights into how you developed the books you already have out. Some writers post short stories to their blog or excerpts from their novels. I also like to do interviews with other writers and even open up my blog for guest posts from time to time.

Blogs are meant to be fluid. They're meant to be updated regularly. But don't write a blog post if you really don't have anything to write about. Remember, a blog is intended to get potential readers interested in your books by informing or entertaining them. If it does neither, they're likely to move on. I also personally feel it's a mistake to write too many highly-controversial blog posts. Making people uncomfortable or angry is never good when you want them to consider buying something from you.

And some people approach blogging like diary writing. In this day and age, it's become common for people in the public eye to share far too much information. I don't mind slice of life moments in blog posts at all, but understand when you've crossed the line from warmly conversational to hotly intimate. There are many times when it might feel good to share, get things off your chest, but that is what friends are for, not strangers on the internet.

I would also suggest making sure readers can easily link to your books from your blog. They may like what you've written, but if you don't have a prominent link, they're probably not going to search out your work on their own volition. Visual links are best, like the little banners I have in the sidebar to the right. You'll also see I have a "Connect" section so readers can seek me out on Facebook and Twitter as well as visit my "official" website. With everything you put out to the public, always give people an easy way to find you and your books. Your readers may like a good mystery, but not when the mystery is how to buy your novel.

Finally, you can give readers an easy way to stay connected. If you look again at my sidebar, you'll see that you can follow my blog via email. This means you'll get an email update every time I post something. Go ahead and enter your email address there so you can see how it works. :o)

Ultimately, your blog will be what you make of it. Don't waste readers' time and don't insult them. Make your blog a place they want to visit. Give them articles that will make them want to come back to see what you're up to. As a writer, you're trying to sell people on your written word. Let your blog reflect the care and attention you put into your books.

If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here.

You might also be interested in my new eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

All the Best,

Michael K. Rose

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101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 001: Get Active on Social Media

I was toying around with the idea of making a series of articles called "101 Self-Publishing Tips." I dutifully began compiling a list of tips, but after the first few dozen, I realized that a lot of them were not tips so much as thoughts, but still things that I felt were important to mention to those interested in self-publishing. Besides, I don't know if I am really the one to be giving people tips. That would imply I know what the hell I'm doing. Also note that these thoughts reflect my personal experiences. Your own experiences may differ.

So here, presented one at a time as they occur to me and as I have the time to write them, are my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing. They will be presented in no particular order, but I'll try to keep related thoughts flowing in a logical manner. I'll try to do two or three a week, but I'm not making any promises just now.

001: Get Active on Social Media

If you've found this blog, chances are you came across it on social media. Why is this important? Well, you now know my name, and if you look to the right of this page you know the titles of my books.  Even if someone who finds you the way you found me isn't initially inspired to buy your books, that name recognition builds valuable word-of-mouth potential. When a friend recommends a book, having heard of the author provides an addition "authority"--nebulous as it may be--and a reader is more likely to act on that perceived authority. Even if they're just scanning titles on Amazon, your book will stand out if the readers thinks, "Oh yeah, I've heard of him/her!"

Social social media is great for two things: getting your name out to the public and building relationships, both with other authors and potential readers.

Now, social media can either be a blast or a pain in the ass. It can either be valuable time spent marketing and networking, or it can be a black hole into which all your hopes and dreams are relentlessly sucked. But for a self-published (and even trad-published) author, it is an essential part of getting your books in front of eyes.

I am personally active on Twitter and Facebook.

With Twitter, you can do a lot of things in 140 characters: greet new followers, share jokes and random thoughts, compliment and congratulate other writers on their books, etc. Even so, I find the format annoyingly limited. It's difficult to have a true, relationship-building conversation on Twitter. But it's great for making connections that one can later pursue on Facebook or via email, and I have met some wonderful friends that way. Promoting your book on Twitter is important, but be sure you spend at least as much time posting things not so obviously self-serving. Triberr is a great program by which you can post links to others' blog posts and they in turn will post yours. It keeps your content varied and ensures that you're posting a lot of information that is not directly leading back to you. Just be sure to limit the number of groups (called Tribes) that you participate in, or Followers can get overwhelmed by your constant Tweeting. More on Triberr in a future post.

Facebook is great for building on the relationships you've formed on Twitter. Since you can get across a lot more information than you can on Twitter, it's also best for sharing quotes from reviews, updates about your releases, or even just sharing the things that are going on in your life. You can also make a "page" on Facebook for people to like if you don't want your private Facebook account to be public. This does, however, limit the flow of conversation as you won't see the posts of people who have liked your page; you can't engage with them by commenting on the things they post.

I've met some authors on Facebook or Twitter who had one but not the other. By not using both, you are unnecessarily limiting your potential reach. There are certainly other social media sites, but I recommend all self-published authors get active on these two, at the very least. 

There are also book-specific sites such as Goodreads. I'm not as active there as I could be, but just by having an account, I get tons of friend requests. As mentioned above, those are people who are learning my name and the titles of my books, and that has powerful potential. You can also announce events such as book giveaways, contests, new releases, personal appearances, etc. Even if you don't do a lot on Goodreads, I recommend keeping your account up to date by adding all new releases. It's just one more place for people to see your books.

If you enjoyed today's thoughts, look to the sidebar on the right and you can follow by email to receive notices when I have new posts and also join the site with Google Friend Connect. If you have additional thoughts or observations, I'd love to hear them! Just leave a comment below.

All the Best,

Michael K. Rose

Edit: If you would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing here.

You might also be interested in my new eBook, Building a Promotional Package: How to Prepare for Your Successful Book Launch. Details about it can be found here.

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