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Print On Demand/Self-Publishing Service Reviews [Self-Publishing Linkup]

February 3rd, 2012 by Toni

Have an awesome idea for a post that’s not related to self-publishing service reviews? Consider entering it in our Self-Publishing Writing Contest for a chance to win Amazon.com gift cards and much more!

Thanks to everyone who participated in our previous Self-Publishing Linkups on New Year’s Resolutions/Goal-Setting and Social Media Resources (note: you can still add your link at any time).

For those who missed it, here’s the what, why and how of the Self-Publishing Linkup:

Indie authors share a ton of knowledge and experience through their blogs, and sometimes we feel like we can’t keep up.

Shannon and I were discussing how great it would be to have all of the posts centered around a given topic gathered in one place — voila! The Self-Publishing Linkup was born!

This week’s topic is “Print On Demand/Self-Publishing Service Reviews.” This can be any post that you’ve read or written reviewing an experience with any Print on Demand/Self-Publishing Service (such as Smashwords, iUniverse, Lulu, Lightning Source, CreateSpace, etc). Here’s how to participate:

1. Leave a comment on this post with the following information:

The post can be on any blog – yours or someone else’s. If you find (or write) a great post, share it!

2. Let others know you particpated in the linkup! Share a link to this post (or your post) with the hashtag #selfpublinkup on Twitter. Here’s an example:

  • Just shared my review of CreateSpace on the #SelfPubLinkup: http://ow.ly/8K9Ev

The more authors who participate, the more information and resources that will be shared! Get started by leaving your link in the comments below!

 

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What book made you want to become an writer? [February 2012 Prompt #1]

February 2nd, 2012 by Shannon

On a recent binge to find creative inspiration from some of my favorite Southern authors (both old and new), I dug around for a little bit of background info on a journalist I’ve taken a liking to named Wright Thompson. A native of Mississippi, Thompson is a senior sports writer for ESPN the Magazine and my favorite blog, Grantland.

(Quick sidenote: Not all of his stories are about sports, in fact the first few stories of his that I read and fell in love with discussed bourbon, William Faulkner’s niece and a hot dog joint Birmingham, Ala.)

A quick Google search turned up several interesting interviews with Thompson. In every interview I could find, Thompson found a way to work in a note about how he was first inspired to write by Willie Morris’ North Toward Home which Thompson read while recovering from a bout with mono as a kid. Here’s how Thompson describes the life-altering experience:

“Aha’ moments only really happen in movies, except that was an actual ‘aha’ moment. I started a book and didn’t know what I wanted to do, and finished a book and did. Almost every decision I’ve made since then has been toward that end.”

I thought it was so interesting to think that a single book could set someone’s path in life, yet when I looked back at my own path I found there was a book marking the point at which I decided to become a writer way back in the third grade. For me, it was The Lion’s Paw by Rob White. My teacher at the time, Mrs. Baldauff, read the book aloud to the class over several weeks (it was one of those unthinkably long chapter books!) detailing the journey of Penny, Ben and Nick as they traversed the state of Florida in a sailboat via narrow canals and one exciting trip across Lake Okeechobee. By the end of the book I knew that I wanted to use words create worlds where people could experience fantastic adventures.

So that leads us to this week’s prompt–the first in our series of weekly blog prompts. Take a moment to write about a book that turned you on to the world of writing and post a link to your blog in the comments below so we can all take a peek!

Don’t forget that next week’s topic is a creative writing piece inspired by this line, “…she stepped across the threshold and took the first breath of her new life…”

Later days,

- Shannon

 

 

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Dictation: I’m a Story Teller, Not a Story Typer [Guest Post]

February 1st, 2012 by Guest Poster

The following is a guest post from Eric Kent Edstrom and an entry in February’s Self-Publishing Writing Contest. Voting for the winner will begin on Thursday, February 9th. Want to help out your fellow indie authors? Consider entering March’s contest!

It’s November 1st, 2010 when I sit down to write my first novel. I open Scrivener, pop a can of Diet Coke, crack my knuckles, and start typing.

I pound out 10,000 words the first day.

The next day I decide to reread what I’d written. You know, to get a running start. I notice some things that need tweaking, so I take a second to fix them. In the process of fixing them, I realize that chapter two doesn’t quite make sense. I go back and … and end day two with a net -2300 words. Yes, minus. In the days that follow, I soldier on. But I keep going backwards, or sideways, writing a lot but making no real progress.

Flash ahead a few months. I’m in Salt Lake City at the Superstars Writing Seminar, put on by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta. One day, Kevin does a little segment on productivity. And there it is, the revelation of the century: you can dictate prose!

I have the same reaction that many others in the audience have: “That would never work for me.” And yet … it intrigues me.

When I return home, I buy a cheap digital recorder, print out a section of my outline, and go for a walk on a nearby bike path. Dictating feels weird at first. I’m self conscious, very aware of my voice, aware of long pauses as I try to figure out what is going on in my story. But after a half-hour or so I’ve forgotten all that. I’m deep into my story. I’m moving forward. I’m acting out the dialogue and having fun. I walk for two hours and come home with the first draft of four chapters done. Somewhere between 4000-6000 words. Yes, in two hours. (The six miles I covered also burned a bunch of calories, BTW.)

I’m a convert. From a productivity standpoint dictating can’t be beat. And speaking my story gives it energy and helps me capture my true voice. There’s less friction because the story doesn’t have to pass through my fingers on the way out.

If you want to try dictating fiction, here are some tips:

  1. Make sure your recording device is on and in record mode. Check to see the seconds ticking by. If there is a red light that’s supposed to be on, make sure it’s on. There’s nothing worse than thinking you’ve got a chapter in the can and finding out you’ve got nothing.
  2. To get over self-consciousness, dictate where no one can hear you. I like to go for a walk. If it feels silly, make it sillier by doing a funny voice.
  3. Don’t worry about grammar, passive voice, dialogue tags, or any other stylistic concern. Just tell the story. You’ll likely be surprised by how readable your dictation turns out to be.
  4. If you think you’ve committed a continuity problem, just say “Note to self, check that one chapter where he sees the gun on the mantle. I can’t remember what kind it was.”
  5. Don’t transcribe the recordings yourself. Have your spouse, your aunt or that lady from church who used to be a teacher do it. You can also a hire transcription services on the web. I use wescribeit.com, but I know there are others.
  6. Walk while you talk. It’s good exercise and it gives the dictation more energy.
  7. Go ahead and make up different voices for your characters. Just make sure your words are clear enough for the transcriptionist to understand.
  8. If you’re writing science fiction or fantasy where you have a lot of unusual names, create a document for the transcriptionist to refer to. If you remember, you can spell it out right there on the spot.
  9. Don’t listen to the recordings.
  10. If you’re outside, consider getting a wearable mic (like a hands free device). Keeping the mic closer to your mouth will provide clearer recording and less background noise.

About the Author: Eric is the author of Undermountain, a YA adventure. He’s also a songwriter and guitar player. He lives in Wisconsin with his daughter, wife and his wife’s feeble cat.

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Do You Still Enjoy Writing? (And What to Do if You Don’t) [Guest Post]

February 1st, 2012 by Guest Poster

The following is a guest post from Michael W. Roberts and an entry in February’s Self-Publishing Writing Contest. Voting for the winner will begin on Thursday, February 9th. Want to help out your fellow indie authors? Consider entering March’s contest!

Why do you write?

What is it that gets you out of bed in the morning or keeps you up all too late to get your story written?

Is it the love of the craft? Is it the thrill of a finished project?

Would you still write if there was no way you could ever get paid for it?

I have to make a confession. I’m terribly ruthless when it comes to deciding how I spend my time. If I pursue an artistic endeavor such as writing, I’m always thinking of how I can capitalize on it. (If I can make money from it, then clearly I’m not wasting my time. Right?)

  • Maybe I can write a short story and sell it.
  • Maybe I can write an ebook and become an internet sensation.
  • Maybe, just maybe, I could become a professional author.

In short, I bleed the fun out of the craft by primarily focusing on the end benefits of the art. Wanting success isn’t wrong. But when it’s all you want, there’s a problem.

You know, I might be able to make it work for a while. I tell myself I’m focused on my goals, so it’s okay if I’m not enjoying writing. It’s okay that I constantly envy the success of other writers. It’s okay if I take another week off from writing as I consider my next strategy to “make it big.”

And then, one day, I realize I’ve lost touch with my craft entirely. I don’t want to think about a single character or plot point. I pack it all up and move on to the next artistic endeavor.

Thankfully, this hasn’t happened to me with writing, but I can name off several other pursuits that did fizzle.

What about You?

Are you writing because you enjoy it? We should definitely have goals and word counts and all of those other fantastic motivators. But are you passionate about the craft?

We all have “lows” in our enthusiasm. That’s part of the artistic process: the natural ebb and flow of our emotions. If you’re honest with yourself, though, you might see a lot more “ebbing” in your creativity than flowing.

If this is the case, you need to take a break from goal setting. Not from writing. Just the goal setting. Give yourself a pass for a few weeks, and just write.

Use writing prompts. Use stream of consciousness writing. Try out one of the character generator tools from Duolit and write a story about that person. Try writing a screenplay or poetry or anything new.

However you do it, discover what made you passionate in the first place.

Once you find that passion again, take time to re-align your goals. Becoming a full-time writer may not be the way for you to get the most out of life. The inspiration and experiences of your current daily activities may provide exactly the right fuel for your writing.

No matter what your future may hold for your career or writing pursuits, concentrate on finding your passions today.

About the Author: After some false starts, Michael recently rediscovered one of his true passions: helping others express their creativity. With thoughts about the creative process and directly applicable tips for writing, ReviveYourCreativity.com is meant to kick your art into high gear.

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The Long Game of Self-Publishing [Guest Post]

February 1st, 2012 by Guest Poster

The following is a guest post from Merry Farmer and the first entry in February’s Self-Publishing Writing Contest. Voting for the winner will begin on Thursday, February 9th. Want to help out your fellow indie authors? Consider entering March’s contest!

Photo: CompujerameyI once took a train trip from Orlando to Philadelphia. I was moving back home after attending the University of Central Florida and I’d always wanted to make a long voyage by train. The trip was 24 hours as opposed to a two and a half hour flight. I reserved my own little roomette that had a huge window. What unfolded was one of the most enjoyable travel experiences I’ve ever had. I got to see the landscape gradually change from tropical to Southern to Mid-Atlantic. The changing view of America flashed by my window to the steady cha-chunk-cha-chunk-cha-chunk of the train speeding across the tracks. It was literally hypnotizing. And it was also the best night’s sleep of my life.

I’ve been a writer since I was ten years old and realized one day that I didn’t have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. But traditional publishing never appealed to me. Imagine my joy then last year when the world of Indie Publishing blew wide open. Suddenly it’s possible to write what you love and take it directly to the readers. No agents, no endless waiting, and the only rejection is from the readers themselves not buying your book. It’s a kinder, gentler rejection. But I still write my books, I still revise and have them professionally edited, and I still set them free into the world on my own terms and watch them fly.

So far my first two novels have soared out of my hands … and up into a nearby tree to sit there and roost a while … enjoying the view … hanging out … taking a nap.

Indie Publishing is like taking the train from Orlando to Philadelphia. It’s not a quick trip. No one is going to self-publish their first novel one day and have millions of dollars in sales tomorrow. It takes a lot of work to sell your baby to more than just your friends and family. And it takes planning. You have to be in it for the long game.

I have a strategy. My debut novel, The Loyal Heart, the first in a trilogy, hit the eBook markets on September 30th of 2011. I smiled and told all my friends … and now I’m waiting. What am I waiting for? The second book in the trilogy, The Faithful Heart, was published December 24th of 2011. And then I went on a massive media blitz and spammed everybody on Twitter and Facebook and Goodreads and shouted from the rooftops, right? Nope. I’m still waiting.

When the third book in the trilogy, The Courageous Heart, comes out sometime this Spring, then I’ll act. Then I’ll trumpet the entire trilogy. Then I’ll have postcards printed up to send to everyone I know, to take to as many writer’s and reader’s conferences as I can sign up for, and then I’ll be bugging you all to do guest posts on your blogs.

And then do you know what I’ll do? I’ll go write something else. It’s all about the writing. Always writing.

The beauty of eBooks, even more than the accessibility they give us as authors, is that they don’t go away. They never go out of print. They never get yanked off of shelves for not selling enough and they never have unsold copies mailed back to the publisher, doomed to feed a hungry shredder. I’m not entirely convinced that they’re immortal, but the whole indie publishing format gives us something that traditional publishing only offers to the top few. It give us the ability to plan long-term strategy. Time and again I’ve heard the advice that if you want to be truly successful as an Indie Published Author you need to be marketing multiple books at the same time. You need to have series.

Great, I say. Bring it on! I fall in love with my characters anyhow, so why not write as much about them as I can? Where my strategy diverges from some of the loudest advice givers is that I don’t see a problem in doing the actual book-by-book publishing now and marketing later. I will have multiple books for sale someday, five by the end of 2012 if I stay on target. In the meantime, I’ve got The Loyal Heart, The Faithful Heart, and a plan.

Self-publishing is a journey by train. It takes a long time. There are a lot of stops along the way, you might spend long hours staring at nothing, senses numb as it feels like the world is passing you by. You might wonder why you’re taking the scenic route. But every mile brings some new wonder. Every step is an adventure. And in the end if you hang in there you’ll reach your destination.

About the Author: Merry Farmer is an award-winning author of Historical Romance and Romantic Science Fiction. Her debut novel, The Loyal Heart, a swashbuckling medieval romance with a modern kick, is now available. She also loves writing about History and hot guys for her blog and lives near Philadelphia with her two cats who keep pestering her to write them into her novels…or maybe they just want to be fed.

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