Archive for the ‘Publishing’ Category

Sometimes two heads are better than one!

Do you have 1 to 3 questions that need immediate attention?

This 30-minute live phone  session gives you the opportunity to resolve a writing, publishing or social media problem or just sample working with me without a long-term commitment. Audio recording and 30 days email follow up are included.

Purchase a consult by September 5 to be scheduled on the date of your choosing in September (subject to availability–these will book fast!)

Cost: Reg Price: $175

Only $87 (through 9/5/2010)

Instructions on how to submit your questions and schedule the call will be sent to you upon receipt of payment.

Other consulting packages here>>

Are you experiencing a heatwave where you live? We certainly are here in Asheville.   Although I do have to snicker just a bit. You see, after living in South Florida for 27 years and putting up with “heatwave conditions” daily from May through September, a few weeks of temps in the 90s and some moderate humidity seem like a minor inconvenience.

But, hot is hot. And here’s something else to heat you up…but in a good way! You can download the digital edition of 4Ps to Publishing Success, your step-by-step guide through the publishing process for F.R.E.E. right now.

I really mean “right now” because this fabulous opportunity comes with a deadline: August 15. So, not much more time. Do it now, before you forget and it’s too late.

See the big Sign Up arrow to your right? That’s the place to enter your name and email and get immediate access to the tips, tools and resources that thousands of writers have used on their way to publishing success. (See who needs this book here.)

Learn how to heat up the pages of your manuscript or the path of readers to your book. It’s all in 4Ps to Publishing Success ebook. You can’t beat this F.R.E.E. offer, even at twice the price ;-D

No, that’s not a misspelling. (Come on, I’ve been an editor for over 30 years.)

On July 4, America celebrates Independence Day. This year, VIP Authors can continue partying for the entire month when they take advantage of the new VIP Author Inner Circle 6-month membership program (July through December 2010).

The 2010 yearly membership is now closed, but savvy VIPs can hop on board the Inner Circle for only $75 for the rest of the year! (If you can’t wait to take advantage of this opportunity, join now and come back to read the rest of the post later.)

So why are we calling it Independents Day Month? Maybe you say you’re not an independent author—your book is already published by Simon & Schuster, or maybe you’re aspiring to get an agent and traditional publisher. Well, I say it doesn’t matter who your publisher is (you or HarperCollins). ALL authors are independent authors, because ultimately all authors are responsible for their own success.

You may have noticed that even the Big Publishers expect their authors to come ready with a platform, community of readers, blog and/or website, and marketing plan. So, indie authors and traditionally published authors have to do the same work…we’re all one.

In the spirit of the colonists overthrowing their tyrannical oppressors, break free of the stifling old attitudes and join forces with like-minded writers who are ready to take control of their  publishing success. The VIP Authors Inner Circle program provides education and support for all authors. See all membership benefits here>>

VIP Authors embrace independence! We rise to the challenge, eager to adapt the new technology and resources to our own advantage. VIP Authors don’t wait for permission, we’re too busy following our dreams IRL (in real life).

All we ask is your commitment–not for a year, but only 6 months! (And, at an insanely low price.) That’s why this offer is available during July only. Register this month, or be closed out for the rest of the year!

It’s not too late to turn those almost-forgotten 2010 New Year’s resolutions to get published this year into reality. Come January 2011, will you be where you are now…or will you be clinking your glass to celebrate your continued success in the new year?

VIP Authors choose NOW. What do you choose?

Good. Register here and start celebrating your independence in the VIP Authors Inner Circle program today.

BONUS OFFER: Register by July 10 and download all the VIP Author Talks and Open Coaching audio recordings from January through June 2010–an additional 6 months of value!! But act now, because on July 11, the material is being archived and will no longer be available!

Quick! Register now and start downloading! Remember, you must sign up by July 10 to get the extra goodies.

P.S. The new 6-month program is an opportunity for new members to join. If you are an Inner Circle member already, just pat yourself on the back and get ready to welcome new friends. If it’s time for you to renew, don’t worry…you’ll get a reminder email and you can get the special price, too.

P.P.S. Photo ©Joe Gemignani. All rights reserved. See more like this>>

I’m back from Book Expo America in New York and recovered from the metro-sized cold I brought home–so I’m finally able to tell you all about what’s really going on in the trenches of publishing straight from the trendsetters’ mouths.

In addition to trolling the Expo main exhibit floor, I focused much of my time at the small panel-size discussions held on the Javitz Center’s lower levels–that’s where the real action was happening, IMO. I attended these sessions:

• e-Strategy for Authors: A Publisher & Agency Perspective
• Are e-Books Good for Authors?
• How the Digital Book Cloud Works for Publishers & Users (sponsored by Google)
• Maximize Your Sales Potential (sponsored by Amazon)

These are some of the sessions I missed due to scheduling conflicts and time constraints:

• Bring Your Authors to the Social Media Party…and Getting Them to Stay
• Building Online Reader Communities with an Eye on ROI
• When Gutenberg Meets Zuckerberg
• Mobile Apps: A Publisher Roadmap for Creation & Use
• Who’s Reading e-Books?
• The Creative & Business Questions Surrounding Enhanced e-Books
• Community Social Networking
• The Next Decade in Book Culture (Guess what they were slated to talk about)

Are you starting to see where the future of publishing is headed?

The primary reason I attended this conference was to explore and experience firsthand the true pulse of the industry–not just read about it via someone else’s viewpoint in articles and blogs. When developing social media strategies for myself and my clients, I want to be absolutely certain that I know about the most up-to-date technologies and have a clear vision of how to apply them in this quickly evolving publishing environment.

I want to share what I learned with you and tell you about a program I designed to help you implement this new knowledge to launch or skyrocket your publishing success. Please join me for a free tele-class with an open Q&A session at the end so you can get your questions answered. Here are the details:

Topic: Using Social Media & Digital Publishing to Skyrocket Your Publishing Success

Date: Thursday, June 10, 2010

Time: 7:00pm Eastern (6pm Central, 5pm Mountain, 4pm Pacific)

Call-In Details: Dial (712) 432-0075, Enter access code 622330#

I’m expecting a big turnout (the last social media call went to capacity on the conference line), so call in at least 5 minutes early!

P.S. The cool photo at the top of this post is used with permission of the photographer, Joe Gemignani. All rights reserved. (Since he’s my hubby, you can imagine what would happen if he didn’t give me permission.) See more like this here>>

Remember the “do over” rule from childhood? In my neighborhood, that was the universally accepted back-up provision for when you messed up while playing a game. Missed the ball while tying your shoelace? “Do over!” Timing off while jumping rope? “Do over!” Not crazy about the cards you were dealt? “Do over!” And, most of the time it worked, unless you cried “do over” too often;-)

As adults, we still need “do overs” from time to time. Like when your audio recording of an event fails or gets erased, or when you simply missed an event and want to catch it on the rebound.

Well, luck is with you this fine spring day! You have two opportunities for a “Do over!”

Do Over #1

Here’s your second chance to attend the free live teleclass “How to Succeed in the New Publishing Environment” on the Women’s Writing & Publishing Series. Heidi Richards Mooney, Founder and president of WECAI (Women’s E-Commerce Association International), will be interviewing me. The original teleclass recording was accidentally erased and we’re having a “Do over!” Even if you were on the first call, listen in again because we’ll be covering some new material. (I dumped my notes after the first call, so this will not just be a repeat performance!) This is not-for-women-only event and there’s a live Q&A, so don’t miss it again!

Here’s the class info:

Topic: How to Succeed in the New Publishing Environment

Day: Today, Monday, April 5, 2010

Time: 4:00 pm ET (3pm CT, 2pm MT, 1pm PT)

Call Details: 641) 715-3840, Access Code: 361467#

Do Over #2

Have you missed any (or all) of the VIP Author Talk interview series from 2009-2010? These teleclasses feature conversations with best-selling authors and top publishing professionals on topics ranging from manuscript preparation to digital publishing to social media. Now’s your chance to catch up with any one that you missed or all of them because for the next week, we having a half price sale on the series. Read all about it here>>

Photo ©Gemignani. All rights reserved.

Are you thinking about self-publishing? Find out what you need to know and the questions you should be asking when working with Print on Demand (POD) publishers to avoid rip offs and scams.

Don’t miss this informative free tele-class when VIP Authors founder and publishing consultant Shelley Lieber reveals:

• How to pick a POD publisher
• Two questions POD publishers don’t want you to ask, and why you MUST know this information

This class can help you save hours of time and thousands of dollars. Here’s how to get on the call:

Free Class*: ”Don’t Get Ripped Off: How to Make Informed Decisions when Self-Publishing

When: Wednesday, May 6, 2008 at 2 pm ET (1pm CT, 12pm MT, 11am PT)

Call Info: Dial (641) 715-3300. Enter Access Code: 171279#

* The class is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply.

Sending your work out for review by agents and editors is a big and important step in the publishing process. Many times, what you send is the only basis for the big decision that has to be made. In most cases, the person on the other end doesn’t know you and can only judge your work by the contents of the package.  So, how do you make a good first impression? Review this handy checklist before you send out your work.

• Believe in your work. Be able to sum it up succinctly and passionately. If you’re not enthusiastic and confident about your project, you’re not ready to submit.
• Prepare your manuscript professionally. That includes using good paper, printer and standard formatting. Then package it per submission guidelines. Send only what is requested.
• Perfect your pitch/query letter.
  • Don’t try to sum up whole book in the letter. For fiction, describe your character, setting and obstacle. For nonfiction, present the problem and how your book offers a solution or new information.
  • Why you are uniquely qualified to write this book? What is your training, education and related experience?
  • Who is your audience? (Tip: Anyone who can fog a mirror is not the right answer.) Be as specific as possible.
  • Why have you selected this agent or editor? Do not send out submissions en masse with the same letter to everyone.
• Understand what an agent does and does not do. Understand publishing is a business, and the agent makes a business, not a personal, decision.
• Know the industry lingo: platform, competing books, audience/climate.

Demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the publishing process. Contacting agents is more than writing a letter. You are expected to know how to format your letter and all the parts of the submission package.

Remember, the agent is not responsible for coaching you in the basics of the industry. The job of the agent is to sell your manuscript to a publisher and then negotiate the best possible rights and deal for you. If you can make the agent’s job easier by sending the material he or she needs to get that job done, you will increase your chances of acceptance.

You’ll find detailed instructions on how to write a query letter and prepare a submission package in 4Ps to Publishing Success: Get Your Manuscript Off Your Desk & Into Print. Available as a workbook or ebook, 4Ps to Publishing Success is a complete step-by-step guide to getting published. Or, you can purchase only the information you need in Chapter 7 of 4Ps Buy the Chapter.  Get a full description of all the 4Ps Products here>>>

I’ll admit to using the title question as a play on words. The “one sheet” I’m referring to is a marketing tool, not a single page of manuscript. Speakers have been using one sheets for years, but it’s a relatively new item for writers who traditionally have relied on bios, summaries, reviews and press releases to promote their work. If you’re not getting the results you want from your promotional efforts, you may want to try a new format for presenting your material.

A one sheet can actually be two-sided, but essentially it’s a brief summary that encapsules the essence of the author, book and topic or message. It’s a handy-dandy item that can be faxed (least desirable), emailed or downloaded from your website. You can mail or email one sheets to introduce yourself to the media, bookstores and/or any audience that you want target.

The content you include in your one sheet will vary according to your specific purpose, but it should contain the following:

1. Book cover image, ISBN number, retail price and ordering information.
2. Short synopsis or summary of the book.
3. Your photo, brief bio relevant to the book and contact information (website, email, phone number, publicist’s or agent’s info, etc)
4. Quotes or excerpts from reviews, testimonials or endorsements.

Additionally, you can tailor the one sheet to represent your other functions. Are you a coach, speaker or consultant? Add a section with the titles and descriptions of services, seminars or presentations you offer.

One sheets can be created in Microsoft Word or in graphic programs such as Adobe Photoshop or InDesign. The final document must be converted to pdf so it can be easily be read online, downloaded or emailed. Making a pdf also preserves your fonts so that even when the document is opened on someone else’s computer, it will still look the same as you intended. (A pdf is read online in Adobe Reader, a program that anyone can download for free and most people already have installed on their computers.)

Adair Cates, author of Live Your Intention: Ten Steps to Creating the Life of Your Dreams, has three one-sheets, each tailored to a specific audience. Adair has become a master at promotion on a shoe-string budget, doing much of the work herself. It’s paid off in a big way for her and the response she has garnered has paved the way to creating a video featuring her book and speaking. She has also posted video clip and photos from the many media interviews she has arranged.

Adair is not trained as a graphic designer or media specialist, so she invested the time to find out what other successful authors and speakers were doing and then did what she needed to do to get the same results. More often than not, publishing success requires learning new skills, stepping out of comfort zones and experimenting with new strategies. If you need assistance with the graphic presentation, hire a graphic designer to help you produce a document with a professional flair.

So, spice up your presentation with a new look. One sheets are a simple, inexpensive and effective way to transmit your message. And you may find that the new approach can make a big difference in the response you receive.

Who doesn’t like to hear the story of an individual succeeding in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds? Some like to call it The American Dream, but truly such accomplishments are examples of The Universal Dream, because the spirit that enables unlikely dreams to come true knows no geographical boundaries.

Next to author interviews, my favorite articles to clip and save (although today it’s more like print and save–or bookmark and save) are author success stories. I have real-time and virtual folders stuffed full of great things that have happened to writers and literature lovers.

Sometimes I flip through the articles and wonder, “Why them?” or “How are they different?” as I try to find the common denominator for success. I know from years of writing advertising and marketing copy that the key to success is tied to making yourself or your work stand out in the crowd.

One way to stand out is to start believing in your dream. Most people give up before they even begin. Don’t buy into the naysayer “wisdom” and “facts” that run rampant in publishing. Learn the difference between facts and truth.

Facts: Less people are reading books. Less people are buying books. Newspapers are eliminating book review sections. Small, independent booksellers are being swallowed up by the chains.

Truth: This is the best time to open an independent book store. As reported in The New York Times, Jessica Stockton Bagnulo graduated with an English degree from New York University in 2001 and went to work for a publishing company. Not feeling the joy she hoped the publishing position would bring, she went back to work part-time at an indie bookstore in the West Village where she had worked during college. Realizing that she was happier there than in her full-time position, Jessica decided to open her own bookstore.

But, in addition to all the facts stated above, Jessica also had no funds or connections that could help her raise the money she would need. So she took a class from the Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation. While researching how to write business plans at the Brooklyn Public Library, Jessica saw a Citibank-sponsored contest for business plans. She entered and took first prize–$15,000.

Unbeknownst to Jessica, a business group in another part of Brooklyn surveyed their residents and discovered what people wanted most in their neighborhood was a bookstore. When the group read of Jessica’s contest win in The Daily News, they contacted her and the meeting led to a fundraising party in the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Food and drink were donated by local merchants and the party was staffed by volunteers from the neighborhood as well as celebrities who read about the event and wanted to offer support. During the celebration, Jessica announced that she had a new business partner, a sales rep for Random House, who was making a sizable personal donation to the cause.

Perhaps Jessica was referring to “the facts” when she said, “Maybe I’m an optimist, but I see the other side of it. Which is that only a bookstore can inspire this kind of passion.”

Why does everyone love a bookstore? Because it’s filled with good stories! Love stories, adventure stories, how-to stories, fantasy stories, life stories and success stories. Support your local bookstore. Attend a book signing and buy the book. Then go home and write. Read in your genre and take time to learn about publishing. And if you believe (remember Tinker Bell), before long I’ll be cutting out the article about you and putting it my success folder.