Month: February 2016

February 29, 2016

How to Optimize Your Amazon Author Central Page…

Reblogged on WordPress.com

Source: How to Optimize Your Amazon Author Central Page…

February 23, 2016

Some Useful Tips from IBP’s Editor

self-editing

There are a few things for authors to do before sending manuscripts to an editor.

If you have your manuscript ready and wanting to it edited by a professional editor, you might want to read this post further to see if your manuscript is really ready  to be sent to an editor because there are certain things you, as the author, should do before you seek an editor’s help. 

We asked our editor to share some useful tips for authors so that they could double check their work before sending it out to an editor. 

1) The biggest mistake comes in the form of commas. People don’t know how to use them. They should read this page before deciding their manuscript is ready for review:
2) Put the manuscript away for 2 weeks, then proofread it again. Their brain will be fresh and able to better see mistakes and the odd word here and there that the spell-checker missed.
3) Numbers seem to be confusing, also. Never start a sentence with a written number. 0-9. It takes the brain a moment to see a number after getting used to letters. It puts a bump in the reader’s attention.
4) Ages written out with letters or numbers have dashes.
Two-years-old / 2-years-old
not
two years old / 2 years old
5) Research any information given as facts. A detective cannot work outside his/her jurisdiction without permission from local PD. Someone coming from L.A. cannot just walk into Chicago and arrest someone. Call a police station in the area to be worked and ask to talk with someone in media relations. Let them know you are writing a fictional story and you need clarification on protocols. Explain what your character is doing. Ask if their city allows the action. If you know you will have more questions later on, ask for someone’s name and direct number so you can contact them again.
6) Weapons -research your weapon. An AK-47 does not use buckshot.
7) Never use the Tab button to indent the start of a paragraph. Set up your paragraphs from the Paragraph Dialog Box. YouTube has lots of how-to videos for different types of writing programs. Go to YouTube and search ‘paragraph dialog box’ and find one for the program you use. It’s very easy to use these boxes.
February 21, 2016

More Votes for Book Trailers

video-marketing-for-authors

As you may know, International Book Promotion focuses on video marketing to promote books and author Justin Bienvenue tells us all why book trailers should be one of your marketing tools.

Read about them here:

Why Are Book Trailers Underrated?
6 Ways to Generate Book Trailer Views
The Importance of Book Trailers
The Right Music for Book Trailers
On a random thought, how many of you who are having great trailers, sharing them for promotions regularly? Acquiring book trailers and not using them wisely would only be a sheer waste of money.
February 19, 2016

#NewBook Amber Wake by PS Bartlett (@PSB

#NewBook Amber Wake by PS Bartlett (@PSBartlett) and Ronovan Hester (@RonovanWrites) Pirates, collaborations and more.

Source: #NewBook Amber Wake by PS Bartlett (@PSB

February 19, 2016

Dictating a Book? Tips for Editing the First Draft

To read this informative article by Corina Koch MacLeod and Carla Douglas, Click on the link or their photo below: dictating-a-book-tips-for-editing-the-first-draft/

Source: Dictating a Book? Tips for Editing the First Draft

February 15, 2016

How Not To Ask For A Free Review – From A Top 1000 Amazon Reviewer

From the Editor-in-Chief at Self-Publishing Review Click on the link or Cate’s photo below to see what turns Reviewers off: How Not To Ask For A Free Review – From A Top 1000 Amazon Reviewer

Source: How Not To Ask For A Free Review – From A Top 1000 Amazon Reviewer

February 12, 2016

Shared from WordPress

10 Things Writers Don’t Know About The Woods… – http://wp.me/p3mGq7-bw4

February 12, 2016

IBP’s Goals for 2016

goals-2016-resized-1080x675

Sharing our goals with you, writers and readers.

Hi everyone! This is Jasveena from IBP. It has a been a long, busy journey since I founded IBP in 2013. It has been a little over 2 years now and we have come a long way from where we began and it has been a tough yet exhilarating process of understanding the world of writers and the publishing industry.

As time passes, we are getting more focused on revamping our marketing efforts to truly reflect International effort of bringing books and authors much closer to authors across borders. To define where we would go in the next five years, we have constructed goals with time plans that would change the way we market books and reach audiences at large. What’s a New Year without goals anyway?

 We foresee to achieve the following missions in the next five years.

  1. Branding authors with book-related merchandises
  2. Connecting readers and authors through book signing events
  3. Bridging the gap between western writers and eastern readers through book reviewers across different countries.
  4. Making indie books available where there are demands by using print on demand method.

What are your writing-related goals?

February 7, 2016

Sexy Six Authors Q&A #10:When you hit a wall, how do you break through?

This post would be the continuation of Q&A session with the Sexy Six team and in case you’ve missed the 9th post, here is the link to it.

It’s a pleasure to interview the six sexy authors from the Sexy Six team. A warm welcome to our blog and we hope that you’ve enjoyed the interview session with us.

We’ve asked them a few questions and the answers for each question from all six of them will be published as a series. Let’s check out question #10

When you hit a wall, how do you break through?

Chris Lange 

I’ll let you know when it happens.

Leanore Elliott

I never have experienced a wall. Not in 35 novels.Time is the only blocker I struggle with.

Jennifer Theriot

It used to really bother me and stress me out. I found that the more I relax and wait until my characters speak to me, the better off I am. Sometimes, something as simple as hearing a song on the radio will inspire me and make the character speak.

Also, I’ve been known to be inspired with a glass of wine in hand (see picture below)

jt

 

Maggie Nash

I do timed writing sprints…or I do a writing retreat day with a writing buddy or three 😊
Morticia Knight

Sometimes, I just have to walk away and go do something completely different. I’ve also solved a lot of plot riddles while in the car on a long drive.

Sandy Wolters

Generally, the only time I hit a wall with a story is in the beginning while trying to develop it.  If I try too hard, the idea for a book just won’t come to me. I just can’t force the idea to come.  I have to slow down, take a deep breath, and the inspiration will come to me.

February 7, 2016

Sexy Six Authors Q&A #11:What is your writing process like?

This post would be the continuation of Q&A session with the Sexy Six team and in case you’ve missed the 10th post, here is the link to it.

It’s a pleasure to interview the six sexy authors from the Sexy Six team. A warm welcome to our blog and we hope that you’ve enjoyed the interview session with us.

We’ve asked them a few questions and the answers for each question from all six of them will be published as a series. Let’s check out question #11

What is your writing process like? Is it spontaneous or do you do a lot of planning in advance before you begin writing? 

Chris Lange 

I have no idea what tomorrow will bring. Maybe I’ll be hit by a bus, maybe I’ll meet the love of my life. My characters are the same. They live, struggle, deal and love one day at a time.

Leanore Elliott

Panster all the way. In fact, my characters take it. I am but a glorified editor of the story as they use my fingers to type.

Jennifer Theriot

Totally non-traditional – no order whatsoever ! It’s spontaneous – no outline, no planning. I’m probably the most unorganized writer, I hate to say. But it works for me. I admire writers who prepare an outline and are uber organized.

Not my style though. I fly by the seat of my pants.

Maggie Nash

A bit of both. I start spontaneously, but then I take a step back and plan the story out so I don’t end up with any plot holes.

Morticia Knight

On occasion, it’s spontaneous. However, it’s not super planned out either. It’s skeletal. I’ve written so many synopses over the years that bear little resemblance to the final product, that I’ve quit fretting over them and wasting precious writing time. Writing is very organic for me. I didn’t even do a series Bible for Hampton Road or Kiss of Leather until I was midway in. And that was only because – damn – there are a lot of characters and timeline changes !

Sandy Wolters

I can’t work from an outline.  For me, it is too confining and stifles my creativity.  The more spontaneous I am, the better the story and characters are.  Generally, I’ll just sit down in front of the computer and start writing without any idea the route the story is going to take.