Somewhere, in a fearful thick forest, a voice of a child erupted in a sharp and loud tone, and then died out at once.
The country-side beautiful hills with their singing green trees hummed a cool wave – so cool that it slowly spread to the rest of Mapipa village in a simultaneous sweet chorus.
Natives at the left ridge could think the cool breeze that came with the wave was the harbinger of a wizard they had known for long to do errands in Mapipa during the evenings.
The dream of a little matador he had seen at a cultural ceremony came to Boy’s head quickly, so quickly that it gave a sharp pain that spread like hot larva from his ears, to the rest of his head. The little matador was Boy’s hero — and on this day the hero was not there to save him.
He remembered and cried.
His heart thumped with fear for what could be its last time — and he felt a sharp knife enter his heart. He kicked his tied legs strongly — and he cried again.
The stories of child sacrifice were the last Boy wanted to hear his teacher untie Mega talk about in class. He loved writing prose for his teacher, talk to friends, and sing ‘we are God’s doves, so innocent and happy in Jesus…’

Author: lifevestpublishing

The world of children’s book publishing firms is quite an exciting one. For authors of children’s book, they far and away represent the number one prospective source for publication. It goes without saying that one’s chances of publication improve dramatically when one seeks out a publisher whose needs match the product that one is trying to sell. Therefore, those who attempt to publish children’s story books with mainstream publishers might find themselves fighting a needlessly difficult battle. Instead of tilting at windmills like this, many have turned down the less trodden path of pursuing deals with specialty children’s book publishing services, with the end result being that they’re able to get their works in print faster, with a greater degree of attention given to their individual works… as well as their contract.

For those who intend to submit their works to a children’s book publishing house, there are quite a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost is that not all children’s literature is made the same way. There are lavishly illustrated picture books for young children that hardly contain any text at all. There are books for slightly older children with more complex stories, and young adult novels that begin to incorporate meaningful, and sometimes dark, social themes about the situations that they will deal with as an individual growing up in today’s society. Then again, there are those works which are equally appealing to both an adult and a children’s audience such as the recent Lemony Snicket books, or Roald Dahl’s famous classics. Whatever the case, each children’s book publisher in the market tends to focus on at least one type of children’s book to the exclusion of the others, and for this reason it pays to do research. If one submits their work to the most appropriate candidate, it seems obvious that their chances for publication will increase accordingly.

For those others who are still asking, “Where can I find someone to print my children’s book?”, there’s another point that they might well be overlooking: submission guidelines. The reality of the publishing industry is that it receives millions of submissions each and every year. Therefore, a manuscript not only has to be of astonishing quality in order to stand out – it also has to follow submission guidelines. Imagine that you were an editor and your guidelines stated that you accepted only typewritten, double-spaced submissions, printed on one side of the paper. Now, imagine that you receive two manuscripts. The first follows all of your specifications to the tee. The other, however, is handwritten in crayon on both sides of the paper, with the words jumbled so closely together that it gives you a headache to read them.

Which of these two are you more likely to throw on the top of the slush pile without even bothering to read it?

As we’ve said, the world of children’s book publishing is very competitive and intense. However, there are certain fundamental techniques that can be employed to improve one’s chances of publication, and many of them are just plain common sense. Authors ignore them at their own risk.

About the Author:

Author bio:-LifeVest Publishing, Inc. is a Worldwide Independent Publisher, currently publishing in four countries and in four languages. They are a book publishing company specializing in Christian publishing and youth book publishing. LifeVest Publishing, Inc. provides quality, affordable children’s book publishing to the writer seeking a high-caliber print publisher.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Children’s Book Publishing

Author: Ruth Barringham

There is a big difference between writing a book and getting it published. When you first begin to write a book it seems like such a mammoth task, but trying to get a publisher or agent interested in your work is much harder.

So when you finish writing your first book you then have a choice.

You can begin with the time consuming, and quite costly job, of sending out your manuscript to as many literary agents and publishers as possible. This takes a lot of time to do and it can easily stretch into months, or even years, before anyone even takes the slightest bit of interest in your manuscript.

And the sad thing about it, is that most new authors are turned down by the major publishing companies. Most publishers prefer to publish books of writers they already know because they feel that unknown authors are too much of a financial risk.

But if, per chance, you were very lucky to get your book published with a publishing company, it could still be years before it actually is published and even then, you’d have to do all your own marketing and book promotions and all at your own cost.

The alternative to all this is to self publish your own books.

Some authors think that books that are self published won’t sell. But any good book will make sales if it’s marketed correctly and consistently.

The beauty of self publishing is that you can publish one book or several books and it will just keep getting easier. You see, once you’ve been through the publishing process and published one book, it’s easier to repeat the process with your next book, and your next.

If you wanted to you could even set up your own publishing company and publish as many books as you write. And the best thing about publishing your own books is that you get to stay completely in control of your own work. You get to choose the book design, the cover, the price AND you get to keep all the profits.

And when it comes to marketing, it doesn’t take much more time to market one book or a dozen books. You can send out a flyer to promote one book or a whole catalogue to promote them all.

Writing and publishing books gives you a passive income which means you don’t have to work yourself to death. You just write something once, publish it and then get paid over and over again.

And self publishing is so easy and it doesn’t cost a lot. To publish a book and sell it through online book stores, you don’t even have to leave your home. You can work from anywhere in the world, set your own hours and just keep writing and publishing.

Why not give it a try? Unless, of course, you’re not serious about being a published author…

About the Author:

Learn more about self publishing at SelfPublishWorldwide.com. Sign up for regular monthly self publishing updates and download your free self publishing report from the home page.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Self Publishing a Book is so Easy Now

Author: Michael McCain

Like any other author who has also had given up on ever seeking traditional publisher’s attention, Lisa Genova rose to the occasion and technically did the entire publishing process herself. Of course, by self-publishing her book, she actually heralded a success story that became everyone’s favorite.

Lisa, the proud author of her self-published book Still Alice, is very much happy with how it all turned out. Before starting on her book publishing experience, she also harbored hopes on being picked up by a publishing house.

For a year, she did the inevitable: blogs, campaigns, queries and all that book publishing jazz until she reached quite a substantial audience. An agent in time chanced upon her crusade and finally got her to sign up on a contract.

Ten months was all it took for her book to be finally at the hands of an agent who sold the rights to Pocket Books. The newly edited book of hers was released January of this year by Pocket Books publishing house.

When interviewed about her views on self-publishing, Lisa explained that the reason she self-published her book was because she couldn’t make any headway on the conventional road to a book deal. Her self-publishing goal was to get an enthusiastic and sizable audience for Still Alice. If creating a buzz was entirely her aim, she definitely came to the right place for self-publishing companies do more than stir a crowd.

Lisa gives this advice for everyone who has already self-published their book: “Get a website. Network online. Write your own press release and post it free at www.pr.com. If you can start to feel the vibration of a buzz and you have the money, you might want to consider hiring a book publicist to assist you in your efforts. Say yes whenever possible. Be tenacious. This is likely to be a marathon, not a sprint. Be sincerely grateful to everyone who helps you on your journey, because it will take a village to raise a self-published book. And remember to enjoy it all!”

Lisa Genova did it with Still Alice. So why not get started on that book now? What is your book’s name?

About Xlibris
Xlibris was founded in 1997 and, as the leading publishing services provider for authors, has helped to publish more than 20,000 titles. Xlibris is based in Philadelphia, PA and provides authors with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound, and full-color formats.

For more information, please visit http://www.xlibris.com/requestkit/index.asp?src=apr&key=kr , e-mail pressrelease@xlibris.com or call at 1-888-795-4247, to receive a free publishing guide.

About the Author:

Xlibris is a book publisher founded in 1997 and, as the leading publishing services provider for authors, has helped to publish more than 20,000 titles. Xlibris is based in Philadelphia, PA and provides authors with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound, and full-color formats.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Still Alice Book Author Advocates Self Publishing

Author: Brian Scott

You’ve spent many nights working on your book. You’ve rewritten it, edited it, and you used a professional proofreader to proof it. Your book is done – finally — and you’re ready to send your precious manuscript off to a publisher, thinking that writing it was the hardest part.

In reality, getting your blood, sweat and tears published may be the hardest part of the whole process. You’ll need to decide if your book requires a publisher, or if you’d rather self-publish your book. Both venues have pros and cons, some of which I discuss below.

To work with a book publisher, you’ll need to send out query letters and/or a book proposal. This is a letter or a few pages briefly describing your text, why your book is unique, characteristics of your target market, and how you can help market your book. Most publishers don’t accept unsolicited manuscripts, so you’ll need to convince them to read yours, or find a literary agent to represent you. If a book publisher requests that you forward your entire manuscript, you have one foot in the door. Be prepared to send more than one query and don’t expect a response next week. An excellent software program to help format your manuscript and create a book proposal is called Wizards For Word at http://www.wizardsforword.com

Publishers look for three things: platform, hook, and execution. This means a writer should have a built-in audience (ideally, a national platform such as a radio or TV show or a column in a major publication), an interesting hook, and strong writing skills.

The problem if you’re an unagented author is that most publishers won’t take your call or read your proposal. Then even if they do, you’ll have a tough time creating a bidding war or running an auction to get the best offer, and you also won’t have leverage negotiating the important deal points, such as ancillary rights and royalties.

There are writer’s guides that serve as excellent resources to find publishers and literary agents who specialize in your particular genre. These guides list the percentage of new authors published as well as the percentage of sales they pay. You may find pay rates ranging from 5-10% of sales. Some pay on wholesale sales and others on the retail amount. Do the math. Perhaps your book will retail for $14.95 and the publisher will pay 6% on retail. This means you will earn 90 cents per book sold. Of course don’t forget that the publisher is doing all the printing, distributing, and marketing of your text.

Another route you may want to consider is self-publishing. Self-publishing requires you to print, distribute and market your book using your money, but you will also retain all profits. There are book printing companies as well as companies that specialize in assisting self-publishers through every step along the way.

Many authors debate which method is better, using a publishing company or self publishing your own book. You know your situation and you know what will work best for you. You’ll want to consider how much time or money you have to invest in the project. That should give you an idea which route to take. Using a publisher takes less time on your part, but you’ll forfeit some of the royalties by using this method. If you self publish, you’ll have to pay “up front costs” and do the initial legwork to begin generating sales for your book. Either way, publishing is your call. With persistence and hard work you can get your book in the marketplace.

About the Author:
Learn how to become a published book author! Download Brian’s free e-book, Book Writing for Fun and Profit, at www.BookCatcher.com. Visit Brian’s blog, Book Publishing News.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Should I Self-publish Or Pitch My Book To A Publisher?

Author: Dee Power

Is it getting easier or more difficult for an unpublished writer to get their first book commercially published? We asked nearly 60 literary agents about the outlook for the next generation of authors. Their comments are in quotes.

Agents do not envision a great deal of change on the horizon. They are mildly negative about the next 12 to 24 months. When asked the reasons behind their forecast, the most common responses were:

Industry Consolidation, Changes Within the Publishing Industry Itself
Changes in Book Retailing
Publishers are Becoming More Risk Averse
The Pessimists
The Optimists
The Impact of the National Economy

Industry Consolidation, Changes Within the Publishing Industry Itself

“Editors no longer rely on their instincts and passions as selection criteria; instead they go by such formulas as, Bad Numbers, Author has no Platform etc.”

“Continuing consolidation and conglomeration of industry.”

“For non-fiction works, in particular, publishers need credentialed writers, which leaves out the many individuals who have great ideas but nothing to back it up. With fiction, they are more likely to take a chance on an unpublished writer IF it is in an area (genre) they are seeking at the time and the writing is passable enough.”

Changes in Book Retailing

“Because of the pressure of the chain buyers, publishers are increasingly locked into publishing only the brand new authors with no record, and best selling authors.”

“Because as long as the retail market continues to consolidate in the hands of fewer and fewer retailers, the entire industry becomes dependent on the taste of a small handful of ‘buyers’ who choose which books get shelf space.”

Publishers are Becoming More Risk Averse

“It just seems like it’s getting harder and harder to get people to take a chance on an unknown.”

“Editors are buying fewer books, they are reluctant to take chances.”

“What does keep projects from being bought is the fact that lists are shrinking, and in a marketplace in which it’s terribly hard to win anyone’s attention, from buyers all the way to customers, everyone up the editorial chain is anxious about making the wrong bet more often than not. No is a safe answer.”

The Pessimists

“I base this on the number of rejection letters publishers have sent for well-written, well-plotted novels by new authors that would have sold if given the chance.”

“I don’t see the market picking up much, and if the current trends continue, it will only decline.”

The Optimists

“Because I don’t agree that the publishing industry is either for or against unpublished writers. They are FOR unpublished writers who have a brilliant first novel to offer or a nonfiction platform. They are AGAINST unpublished writers who are bad writers or (in the case of nonfiction, are not credentialed in their field, have a new original, high concept idea etc.)”

“The Industry is not a monolithic thing. Some genres (nonfiction especially, which more and more requires the author to have a major platform for promotion and media attention) will continue to become more difficult; some genres (upmarket fiction) exalt first-time writers. The “first novel” for literary fiction represents a unique marketing opportunity for the publisher; it’s the second and third novels that tend to be far more difficult to publish well if the first novel doesn’t take off.”

“Some trends favor new writers and new voices, however the money is often discouragingly small, so there is not the sense of a career being launched.”

The Impact of the National Economy

“Publishing is an increasingly tough biz in tough times–fewer people read.”

So What Can a Debut Author Do?

1) Study the elements of a good query letter.

2) Make your contact letter succinct, positive, but not obnoxious. Stress that you understand the market for your book and how to address that market.

3) Learn what types of manuscripts individual agents are looking for and send yours out to the agents that match up the best with your topic or genre.

4) Don’t give up.

About the Author:

Dee Power is the author of several commercially published books. Find out more about her at her website or read her blog

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Get a Book Published? The Road to Publication Might be Getting a Little Rougher

Author: Elodie

Most writers claim that ‘writing’ is the painless part of being a writer- the real challenge begins when you attempt to publish your masterpiece. The book industry can be a really hard one to crack, especially if you’re a newbie. No need to panic though – if you’re reading this, all your publishing problems are nearly over!

This guide explores; Publishing thorough an Agency, Mainstream Publication, Self Publishing, Local Publishing Companies and eBook Publication. It furthers to explore life after your book has been published. So whether your interests lie in large international exposure for you book, or self publishing, simply read on for a detailed tour of the publishing industry.

Option 1) Publishing through an Agency

The Process

The first step to saving time whilst publishing is making sure that you avoid writing something that will never be read! My advice to anyone who aspires to publish something is to find a literary agent . This is a great time saver as, when you have an agent, you will never again waste time writing something that may be defined as ‘unmarketable’. To further explain – the literary network is very closely knit i.e. in order to have your book published; you would need to go through specific channels. A strict system has been designed to maintain a sense of order in the realm of literature.

Now, an agent can help you weave your way through the system – especially if you are a first timer. An agent is an individual who is able to help you through much of the information filtering process. A recommendation from an agent almost guarantees that your manuscript will be read by a publishing house. Essentially, the role of an agent is to read and approve your manuscript or any ideas that you may have i.e. queries and proposals.

The agent will then decide whether your venture could be successful. If so, the agent will further to draw up a contract with you. Contracts of this nature usually express the agent’s promise to use his/her best efforts to get your manuscript into a publishing house – the exchange is usually about 15% of the entire deal. Your new agent will then work extremely hard to sell your idea.

Agent Hunting

There are usually 2 types of agents – those who work with fiction and those who work with non-fiction. The easiest way to find your match is by paging through a publishing guide/directory, which lists the functions of a variety of agents in great detail i.e. ‘Guide to Literary Agents’. It is important to take note of any previous books that have been published by the agent/s that you are interested in – usually an agent will take interest in a particular theme, and stick to working with ideas along its lines.

Contacting an Agent

Once you have compiled a list of potential agents, feel free to start contacting them. The best way to do this is via a query letter. In essence, a query letter a short introduction of yourself and your idea – it should feed the agent enough information to arouse interest, but not too much to bore him/her. This is a suggested letter structure:

• The Teaser

  Your introduction is usually the aspect of the letter sells you – so make it an attention grabber. Ideally, you would want to describe the compelling fit between the person that you are and your idea for a book.

• Develop Your Idea

  Use your next few sentences to explore your idea, explaining what it is that you want to write about. Feel free to add in a snip-bit of your writing that best exemplifies your idea.

• Self Description

  Your third paragraph should be based on you. Try to reiterate the connection between you as a person and your idea. You should also feel free to show-off your academic or intellectual achievements.

• Wrapping Up

  Be sure to personalize your concluding sentence- making the agent feel unique and valuable to you in your selection process. Conclude by sharing your contact details and preferred method of communication.

Remember, this letter is merely an ‘appetizer’ so keep it short and simple.

Proposal Preparation

After sending your initial query letter to an agent, he/she would normally follow up by requesting a proposal. Essentially, your proposal is a document that accurately outlines an idea for a book. Here’s idea of what your proposal should contain:

• The Overview

  The first 2 pages of your proposal should contain a broad summary of the book. Non-fiction: Explain your intentions in terms of contents and topics. Fiction: Provide a general outline of your plot.

• Target Market

  Your next 3 pages should contain a description of your prospective target market. You should define this in terms of; age, socio-economic, and educational characteristics of you potential audience.

• Market Threat and Competition

  This section allows you to define what type of threats your book may face in terms of competitors and other books that cover a similar topic. Be careful to do all your homework here, because this section is really important to an agent as it dictates your books marketability.

• Authorship

  Use this section to write up a brief description about yourself and your co-authors, if any. Take this opportunity to brag as much as possible, as this section will help your agent convince a publishing house to pay you for your idea.

• Summary of Chapters

  This should be the largest part of your proposal – it contains an outline of what you intend to cover in each chapter of your book. Non-fiction: Provide a minimum amount of information i.e. outlines. Fiction: Provide definite samples of your writing.

• Delivery

  This section is relatively small – it simply contains the number of words you think your finished book will contain and the approximate time you will take to write it.

Contracts

Happy Day! So your proposal finally earns you a thumbs up…now what? It’s time to get into some paper work. The best part about this section is that you are not bearing the work load anymore. Your new agent will now send you a contract. These contracts are usually short documents that you can probably work though on your own, so no need for an attorney.

You just need be careful about two things – firstly, that your agent is not looking to exclusively represent you for over 12 months, and secondly that you are not going to billed for the cost of office overhead if your book does not do well on the market.

Once the contract has been signed, your agent will send you a copy of your original proposal with a few editorial suggestions. As soon as you finalize your proposal’s contents, your agent will start pitching your idea to the ‘big boys’ i.e. publishing companies. Once you get the go-ahead as well as the funding, feel free to start writing…Microsoft Word will be your new home!

Option 2) Mainstream Publication

The Process

This option is slightly similar to the first; however the two do have a few minor differences. The primary difference is that the ‘middle man’ or agent is no longer involved i.e. the first step that you need to take in the field of mainstream publication, is directly locating a publisher. Once again, you can feel free to look through a publishing directory or make use of a search engine. This way, you can choose a publisher, that best suits you. As soon as you have made contact with a publishing house and managed to spark a bit of interest, you might be requested to ‘pitch’ your book to the company in person.

The Pitch & Self Marketing

Now if consider yourself to be a great public speaker, this could be your moment to shine – if not, just remember that you will only be speaking to a few suits! The pitch is almost a verbal explanation of everything you would express in a proposal – if you happen to be unfamiliar with the guidelines for a proposal, simply follow the outline mentioned in option 1.

If you choose to publish via mainstream publication, it is important to note that you must be able to market yourself. Even if you do get lucky and a publishing house chooses to publish your book, you will still have to do a major part of the marketing – keep that in mind when it comes to your budget as it will help to have some additional money to use for publicity.

Risks/Benefits

The obvious benefit of publishing via a mainstream company is the possible exposure that you and your book could attain. On a large scale, the scope of various mainstream publication houses extends from local to international. The greatest risk involved in using this method of publication, is the risk of rejection. You may even be rejected before publication as well as after. It is not often that a well-known publishing company would risk a dollar on an unknown author – so prepare yourself for possible rejection after your pitch. Even if your book does get accepted for publication, rejection is still a factor in terms of your book’s marketability and it is highly unlikely that your publisher will pick up the bill should your book not be successful.

Option 3) Self Publishing – (POD) Print/Publish on Demand

The Process

This option refers to printing a book at the time of purchase. It is an innovative method of publishing books that saves money, time and supplies. The printing industry is ecstatic about this method of publication as it means that books no longer need to be warehoused until purchased.

This method of publication allows you to handle the design work of your book or opt for a service/package that offers cover design, formatting and editing. Various companies offer these services. These companies will assist you in the areas that you may need help – from the time that your book has been ordered to the delivery. The POD will actually help you list your book on Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com and other major bookstores by hooking you up with an ISBN. Here’s how the process works:

• Submit the final draft of your book to a company that offers POD. Make sure your draft is formatted in the way that you want it to look in its final publication.

• You will be requested to wait until your file has been added to the data system of that company.

• The printing company receives an order for your book according to its ISBN.

• An operator at the printing company accesses your file in their system. Ensuring all editing and formatting is correct; the book is released to the printer and binder system. Your book is printed in less than 5 minutes.

• Your book is then packaged and addressed to the customer. It is then sent directly to the customer. This entire process takes approximately 10 working days – thus your book can hit the market as soon as possible.

Budget

While this type of publishing has become increasingly popular in the industry, it is important to note that it requires you fork out a bit of your own money – each book will cost you approximately $5.

Risks/Benefits

This option has various benefits. Firstly, most of the companies involved will accept any type of work, no matter who you are – so rejection is not something that you will have to worry about. Secondly, if you are involved with the design and formatting personally, your book automatically will gain a unique edge. Finally, the POD handles distribution and order fulfilment. This means that when you book has been ordered; the POD will print a copy of your book, ship it and pay you a royalty of approximately 30% of the purchase price – leaving you with less grey hair! With regards to the risks involved, it is important to note that the owner of the ISBN also owns the book’s copyright, so be careful with that and make sure that you purchase your book’s ISBN under your name, not the vanity publisher.

Option 4) Local Publishing Companies

The Process

Local commercial printing companies use the same technology as PODs. Feel free to browse through a publishing directory or just your local directory for a list of companies that offer publishing services. Your next step is to contact the publishing house that you have chosen.

Budget

While prices may vary, expect to pay 3 cents per black and white page i.e. a 200-page book could cost you approximately $6.50.

Print Style Options

Your first choice in terms of printing style is between color printing and black & white printing. This will dictate the cost that you will need to budget for. Most companies offer digital printing, so you can choose the amount of copies that you want printed at the time of publication. In terms of cover design, you are only limited by your own creativity – once again you are free to take charge of your own design. Binding on the other hand, will be handled by the company and is included in the original price per page.

Risks/Benefits

When you publish through a local company, you must take note that the printer will print precisely what you send – this is without any revision or editing. It is crucial that your book is proofread before submission. Also with this option, you will still have to promote your book, fill and ship all orders.

Option 5) eBook Publication

What is an eBook?

An eBook is an electronic copy of your book that may be purchased, downloaded and read immediately online. It can serve a variety of purposes i.e. advertising, the gathering of potential customer’s information and the generation of interest. Not only does this option provide the media for a sample publication of you incomplete book, but it also allows for full publication of your book once it is complete – thus you can sell the electronic version of your book, as if it were a hard copy.

The Process

This option may be deemed the most convenient and economical way to publish a book. Here is a basic outline of the process:

• The Final Draft

  To prepare you book for eBook publication, you have to format it exactly the way that you want your readers to see it. This will be easy if you are using a word processor such as Microsoft Word.

• The Format

  Unless you know exactly what you want in terms of formatting, I suggest that you stick to a standardised type of book formatting – the outline of a manuscript format is included later on in this article.

• Proofreading

  Sorry to say, editing will be your worst nightmare – just when you think that it’s over, go back and proofread again and again. Also try and get others to read your final draft too. Don’t skimp on the quality of your writing simply because you are publishing electronically.

• Copyrighting

  Copyrighting your book is your next move. Don’t stress out too much about the ISBN, as you are actually the publisher now, so you will be in charge of the distribution and price setting.

• Designing the Cover

  If you happen to have an arty side, this is your chance to bring it out! Feel free to extend your creativity but remember to keep your design, appropriate with regards to your book’s contents. You can also make use of external services should you need help i.e. graphic designers do freelance their services for this type of thing.

• Publication

  Now it really gets interesting…There are various programs available that generate self-executable eBooks. It is however important to note that most people are cautious when it comes to downloading new programs. I therefore recommend that you publish your eBook in plain old .pdf format. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a well established brand which is both safe and also free for anyone to download. Visit Adobe Online and register for their online PDF Creator to publish an ebook or feel free to do a Google search for a few more eBook publishing programs.

• Your Account

  Set up a business account with an ecommerce site like PayPal. You will then have to add your book’s ISBN to your ‘product list’. PayPal will then generate an html code that you can copy and paste where ever you would like to promote your eBook. You will in turn be notified via email, when someone purchases your book. Your last move is to reply to that email by attaching the .pdf of your book and sending the mail directly to your customer…and voila! Your first eBook is sold.

Risks/Benefits

There are various benefits related to this new wave of publication. Firstly, it requires you to spend little to no money out of your own pocket. Thus, there is very little financial risk involved. Secondly, your book can be published from the comfort of your own home…a few clicks here and there is all that it takes. Finally, from a marketing perspective, an eBook opens up various avenues for advertising – it allows you to add links within your book, directing the reader anywhere that you would like i.e. this gives you a chance to expand your business network. Once again, you must remember that you are in charge of your book’s marketing.

Irrespective of the method of publication that you choose, you will need to master manuscript writing…Here’s a handy guide on how to correctly format your manuscript.

Try to make use of this type of formatting prior to submitting it to an agent or publisher. At first glance you may think that these standards may not be aesthetically pleasing, but don’t stress, your publisher should send your original manuscript to a ‘formatter’ that standardizes the format during publication.

Basic Formatting Rules

• Use 1 inch margins around all your text – repeat this on each page.

• Double spacing should be used throughout your manuscript. This type of spacing enhances your manuscripts readability and makes it easier to edit.

• If you want to italicize something, don’t do it now. Only highlight this before the final version is published – anything that you want in italics should be underlined in your manuscript.

• All numbers should be spelt out i.e. type out four instead of 4.

• Most symbols should also be spelt out i.e. don’t use the ‘%’ sign, instead type out ‘percent’.

Life After Publication

Even though your book is now on its way to mass production, you need not let your relaxation period be short lived – don’t become overridden with anxiety about publicity, marketing and even worse, sales!

For a stress free way to boost sales and keep abreast of your new book’s performance you should consider subscribing to a promotions and sales tracking company.

With modern publishing methods, like self-publishing and eBook publication in mind, it is easy to understand why sales tracking has become a common pastime for most writers. Because most publishing options force you to take charge of your book’s marketing, it may be a good idea for you to make use of an online service to help you track the sales of your book and handle do a bit of book promotion on your behalf.

Taking this into consideration, let’s take look at the sales ranking and promotions company, RankTracer. This company will do some online promotion and track your book at the same time – giving you on-the-hour sales rank information, graphs, reports and actual sales estimates.

With an external company tracking your sales and offering you a bit of extra help with book promotion, you are left with more time on your hands to use as you please – feel free to explore book-signings, tours, public talks and even blog about your new book!

So now you know! I trust that you found my walk through the publishing industry informative. Hopefully it has answered a few of your publishing queries and has helped you find the perfect publishing fit for you. Good luck and happy publishing!

About the Author:

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Ultimate Publishing Guide – How to Publish Your Book Without Breaking a Sweat

Author: Deanna Mascle

As a three-time published author and creative writing teacher I get asked a lot: “What is the secret to getting your book published?” Many of the interrogators are disappointed, some even disbelieving, when I tell them there is no secret. Getting published is about three key elements and none of them are a secret but all three play an important role. Book publishing requires a combination of luck, timing, and talent.

I know too much about the publishing game (and it is a game as much as it is a business) to discount the importance of luck when it comes to getting your book published. I have watched a lot of authors come and go. I have watched a lot of would-be authors do everything right to exploit their talent and then fade away into oblivion. I have watched a select few authors make mistakes and still come out with successful careers. While luck isn’t everything and should certainly not be a key part of your publishing and writing strategy, you need to allow for an element of luck — whether it is bad or good.

Timing is a crucial part of becoming a published author as opposed to being simply a writer. You could have the best book idea in the world and the most incredible writing talent but if you are delivering a book too similar to one they just bought or published then your timing is bad. Likewise, you could have a good book that hits the publishing house just when they are on a buying freeze and your book could languish for weeks or months — or simply be rejected. The difference between timing and luck though is that you can control your timing much more than you can manipulate luck. Here information is the key. The more research you do into your market then the better able you will be to work timing to your favor. I have a friend who made her first sale by carefully researching the market and delivering to her chosen publisher the perfect idea at the perfect time.

Of course talent is important to getting published and becoming successful. You need to be a talented writer and possess the creative genius to create characters and plots that make for great reading. However, I save this element for last as without luck and timing then all the talent in the world may not be enough to get your published. I think in the end a talented writer could find a publisher but it would be a long arduous process and most writers become discouraged and quit before achieving their goal.

It is possible to become a published author. New writers are getting published every year. It is not easy to get published but a combination of luck, timing and talent can help you get your book published. While you cannot control your luck, you do have the power to control your timing and talent. Work on gathering information and work on your writing. You can succeed at book publishing.

About the Author:
Learn more about published author Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle in her blog at http://ezinesbydawggone.info

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Book Publishing – What Is The Secret To Getting Your Book Published?

Author: Dee Power

How to get a book published can be a daunting task for any writer. Should you use an Online Matching Services or Email Blast Programs? Are these services worth the money or just a waste of time?

These services, for a fee, put your query letter, synopsis and first chapter online. The fees vary from service to service. Acquisition editors and literary agents then have the opportunity to peruse the offerings. You have to ask yourself if you truly believe that the average literary agent, who receives 1100 unsolicited queries a year, has the time to look at these websites. Don’t be surprised if you’re contacted by an editor that works at a vanity/subsidy publisher. Or an agent who charges upfront fees to read your manuscript. Always keep in mind that in the publishing industry, money should flow towards the author.

The reverse, or maybe it’s the inverse, are services that have databases of agents and publishers. You specify the genre of your book and up pops agents/publishers who have said they are interested in your genre. Sometimes the agents/publishers have provided their acquisition specs and sometimes the owner of the database has just input the information from other sources. These databases are usually monthly or yearly memberships. There is little or no screening of the validity of the agent or publisher.

Finally there are services who will email blast your query letter to agents/publishers. If the participants have agreed to receive the query letters there is a higher probability you will be successful. But, again you have to wonder, with all the unpublished manuscripts out there looking for a publishing home, why would an agent/publisher feel it necessary to sign up for these types of services. Agents who require an upfront fee (remember, never pay an agent upfront) are members of these services. Before you get all excited do a brief search on the agent before you send them your manuscript or book proposal. You can put their name +scam in a search agent to find out what other author’s experiences have been.

Every author asks the question “How to get a book published?” If you’re considering using one of these services ask for references. You can also ask about the success rate of the program. Don’t be surprised if the answer is something like “We don’t know the success rate because the authors aren’t obligated to tell us.” Or “the success rate is based on the quality of the manuscript and we don’t control that aspect.”

You can get your book published if you are careful and don’t give up.

About the Author:

Avoid scams get our complimentary report Perils and Pitfalls of Publishing for Writers just visit Free Report
Dee Power is the author of several books including The Publishing Primer: A Blueprint for an Author’s Success and the novel, Over Time

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – How to Get Book Published: Do Matching Services Work?

Author: Brent Sampson

In spite of growing evidence that self-publishing is poised to replace (or at least match) traditional publishing in the future, many conventionally published authors (and those striving to become such) still view self-publishing with contempt. They feel self-publishing companies and those authors who choose to use them are “cheating” somehow. After all, getting a book published traditionally has always been “hard work.” Those who have done it (or long to) perhaps feel as if self-published authors are not paying their dues.

But are self-publishing writers really “cheating,” or are they simply taking advantage of widespread changes taking place throughout the entertainment and business worlds?

Why Should the Book Publishing Industry Be Any Different Than The Music and Entertainment Worlds?

The same Do-it-Yourself (DIY) fever has swept through the music industry. Musicians (talented and otherwise) are no longer waiting for acceptance from the “establishment.” Instead, they are distributing their music through iTunes. They are finding their audiences through Myspace. And, they’re broadcasting their music videos via YouTube.

It is safe to say the music industry has irrevocably changed. Musicians no longer give 95% of their royalties to the “industry” and customers no longer buy CDs from brick-and-mortar music stores.

Are these musicians cheating?

No.

They are still paying their dues, but now the invoice comes after their music has already become available. They still must market aggressively to obtain listeners, but at least they have something to market. The audience determines which of those musicians succeed and which of them fail.

This is no different from the self-publishing book industry.

How the D-I-Y Mentality Removes Unnecessary Hurdles

Can you imagine the uproar that would ensue if all that were required to start playing for the New York Knicks was writing a check for $1000 to some Internet company? Can you imagine the fervor if all that were required to obtain a recording contract was standing in line at some reality show try-out?

Wait a minute!

That’s already happening. Reality television has altered the search for “talent” and now, in rare instances, getting “discovered” is no harder than filling out an application. Nowadays, instead of submitting audition tapes to countless producers, lyricists stand in line for American Idol and face the possibility of public humiliation at the hands of Simon and company.

Is this “cheating,” per se, or has the do-it-yourself mentality simply removed unnecessary hurdles that prevented talent from being discovered faster? You see, talent is the one common denominator and talent cannot be purchased. Cast members of Survivor have their fifteen minutes of fame and then disappear back into the abyss. The try-outs for American Idol feature thousands upon thousands of “hopefuls” standing in lines around city blocks and yet the main competition is comprised of just a handful. Most had their opportunity to shine, and their audience rejected them. But at least they received a shot.

How a Self-Publishing Company is Like American Idol for Writers

As a recent New York Times article states, self-publishing companies are thriving, and that is because self-publishing companies give writers their shot. Their fifteen minutes of fame.

Self-publishing companies are like American Idol for writers. They make it easy to publish a book. If “publishing a book” is your dream, you’re going to be happy with the result. And if your dream is to be successful, famous, rich, or a combination of the three, you’re going to receive your chance. But just like everyone else who is successful, famous, or rich, you are going to need to bring something special to the table.

Most reasonable people recognize this. Those who don’t may become disillusioned, but listen – if it were easy to become a bestselling author, a multi-platinum recording artist, a player for the New York Knicks, or a highly-sought-after runway model, then everyone would do it.

How Self-Publishing Can Help You Make More Money Fast

See, self-publishing companies shine a light on writers. It is the writer’s job to shine back. Some authors do, like Gang Chen, who earned more than $39,000.00 in royalties from Outskirts Press in the 4th quarter of 2008, and nearly that much again in one single month in January 2009.

Did he sell a million copies of his book? No. Is he making a lot of money as a self-published author? Yes. By any reasonable benchmark, Gang Chen is a successful self-published author who has given specific permission to have his successes shared.

Can you achieve this kind of success when you self-publish your book?

Yes! But, you must understand that success is never guaranteed. All writers are different just like all contestants on American Idol are different. If you are going to self-publish your book, you’re better off publishing with a company where your chances for success increase. Above all, you have to believe in yourself and you have to work hard. Success rarely comes easily for anyone, but now, thanks to self-publishing companies like Outskirts Press, everyone has an equal chance. They will shine the light on you. What you do with that light is up to you.

About the Author:

Brent Sampson, bestselling self-published author of “Sell Your Book on Amazon” and “Self-Publishing Simplified,” has helped thousands of authors realize their dreams of publishing and distributing their books worldwide fast with Outskirts Press. Now when you go to http://www.outskirtspress.com/ebook you can get TWO FREE EBOOK GUIDES on how to self-publish your books the simple, successful way.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Are Self-Publishing Companies “Cheating” by Removing the Hurdles to Get Your Books Published Faster?