Tag: publishing
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How do you know when it’s time to start writing your book?
At this time of year, our farmers’ market is held inside an old Nissen hut, rather than outside. I visited the market on Saturday and made a beeline for my farmer at his table full of leafy greens and root vegetables. “You’ll be happy to know,” I told Graham, speaking through my mask, “that I’m […]
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How to ace your book page
Here’s how to create a book page that will dazzle your readers. It’s key to own your piece of the internet when it comes to promoting your book. Even if you have publicity and marketing support from your publisher, you still need to drive your own marketing. A book page is a place to collect […]
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How to finish strong this year and ace your writing goals
In sailing, there’s an action called “anchor watch.” Once you reach your destination and drop anchor, you need to keep an eye on potential drift. If you notice your vessel has moved a lot in say twenty minutes, your anchor isn’t secure in the seabed. You need to haul up and try again. At this […]
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How to pick beta readers
Sure, you can close your eyes, cross your fingers, release your book into the marketplace, and hope it works. You can wait for positive reviews and media hits. But there’s an easier way. Securing beta readers is an essential part of any publishing strategy. Beta readers are those who read an early version of the […]
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The missing ingredient in your book proposal
I often see a main element missing from book proposals. A book proposal is a business plan for your book. It helps you convince the publisher to take a chance on you. In a traditional publishing arrangement, the publisher is essentially offering you a loan (called an advance) so you can finish your book, and […]
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Should you submit your essays now, or build your collection?
I’m working with a client who has about ten personal essays in various stages of completion. She’d like to publish some of them in journals, but her bigger dream is to compile a collection of essays as a book. On the surface, a book seems like a great goal. The essays are linked thematically, so […]
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Three Ways to Build an Editing Mindset
Cultivating an editing mindset can be one of the most supportive things you can do for yourself as a writer. Editing gives you another shot at expressing yourself in a clearer way. In this way, editing can be a deep act of self-care. When you embrace an editing mindset, you know that you won’t get […]
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Want to write a business book? Read this first.
When you’re writing a business book, you need to be clear on your unique offering for the reader. Do you have years of experience in sales, or are you presenting a new approach by blending two disciplines? Do you have a method for the reader to follow? One of the main problems I see with […]
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5 Ways to Get Your Writerly House in Order
In the northern hemisphere, autumn is now officially upon us. We’re experiencing a rare run of dry, sunny weeks in the Pacific Northwest, but soon the rains will be upon us. “Novembruary” means the rains start in October/November and don’t let up until February (or more often, May). So right now is a great time […]
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Publishing ecosystem
It’s no longer enough for your book to be “out there.” It needs to live in an ecosystem. Ecosystems are living, interdependent entitities—once your book exists in the world, it starts to live in a world of its own. Readers are part of the ecosystem. You can’t rely on your publisher to do all the […]