Monday, 27 February 2023

To do or to not do-> Self-publish on Kindle?

With Kindle self-publishing Amazon posting impressive numbers in the last decade, you might be thinking: “Is Amazon KDP still worth it?” Just to reiterate, every author should be on Amazon to some extent.

The only question is whether you should be exclusive to them or not. That’s a choice only you can make after weighing up the pros and cons. 

KDP means Kindle Direct Publishing, is a facility offered by Amazon to self-publish your book absolutely free, without the interference of agents. Readers can either buy physical paper-back books (which is print on demand) or buy e-books to read on Kindle.

KDP saves hassles of looking for an agent, and the time to wait for a traditional publisher to accept and then publish his manuscript and also the manuscript is just as the author wants it to be. Besides the royalty is more. Amazon self-publishing offers different royalty options to self-publishers. The highest you can go is 70% if you price your e-book between $2.99 and $9.99. Most authors prefer to list their books at $6.

Get the e-book cover designed (through children’s book illustrator; if it’s a children’s book), the author’s website created, book trailers made, and more through best book-experts; before publishing your book through KDP. Your book should stand out amongst the millions others available in Amazon. Proper marketing is also necessary. In the end, it boils down to how well you execute your book launch.

If you want to opt into programs like KDP Select, you will not be able to sell your book elsewhere. You need to weigh up the benefits of being exclusive on Amazon VS featuring your book in other stores. Self-publishing, Manchester companies such as White Magic Studios will make your book available to all major distributors, retailers (including Amazon) and libraries over the globe, absolutely free.

Hence, go through all the details and make an informed choice.

Happy writing!

Sunday, 29 January 2023

Get over the hitch of writing your first book’s author’s bio

Every writer was a first-timer sometime- let this information provide you some solace.

After you have accomplished writing a truly captivating story, and the whole self-publishing process, you may still feel lost before Amazon Kindle self-publishing; as to what interesting to write about yourself. And no one is interested in knowing about you; unless you compel them to; through your engaging bio.

An author’s bio(usually written behind the book, can give you credibility, maybe used in other promotional or publishing materials. “Author reputation” is consistently cited as one of the main factors that influence a book buying decision. If you’re seen as an authority on your book topic, readers will buy your book and read it after it’s published through self-publishing company, London, UK.

Solve your dilemma through these simple process

Keep it brief, preferably within 300 words.

Use 3rd person’s voice to make it seem- less boisterous.

Start with a one-liner that describes your name, your profession (if it relates to your non-fiction book), and the title of the book.

Pitch yourselfwith an interesting summary of your life, and how it relates to the book you wrote; relevant to the book’s theme. 

Use personal touch/tit-bits such as your hobbies, for your audience to feel connected to you. You needn’t write all your achievements to bore off the readers.

Attach a professional photo to your bio.Include a high-quality photo that does not have a distracting background.

Go through accomplished author’s bio to understand how they write their bio.

The primary difference between a first-time author’s bio and a seasoned professional’s one is that the latter will be able to include other titles he/she has written in their bio. In addition, a career writer can include in the bio- any awards they have won.

Though a great e-book cover design helps, yet importance of bio can’t be underestimated while publishing through Amazon self-publishing.

Source: https://creativebookcoverdesigns.blogspot.com/2023/01/get-over-hitch-of-writing-your-first.html

Tuesday, 27 December 2022

How is Indie publishing different from self-publishing?

Self-publishing is when writers bear the cost of publishing and use self-publishing companies only (for ex. Amazon self-publishing) to publish the book. The writer does all the work of completing the book and making it publish-ready by writing, editing, designing a book cover, and everything else. Then, the writer takes the book to the self-publisher and bears the cost of publishing the book too.

Indie publishing, on the other hand, is a concept where a small (much smaller than a traditional publishing house) company takes up the onus of finding great content. The Indie-company then works in tandem with the writer to help him complete his or her book by offering various services including editing/proofreading, best book cover design, etc. the Indie publishing company bears the responsibility of printing, marketing, and selling the book.

Normally, Indie publishers seek out writers as against traditional publishing houses that writers go seeking.

Amazon Kindle self-publishing means doing all the work yourself; the design, the layout, the cover, the interior file, the uploading, the marketing, the advertising, the editing, etc.

Indie-publishers manageyour work. You might write the manuscript, but hire book-cover maker, out-source the editing, beta reading, interior design, etc. to any number of people in the indie publishing community or to a single company who does it all under the same umbrella, such as White Magic Studios.

As against the general misconception that indie publishing companies usually work on a limited number of books;publishers such as White Magic Studios, publish a great number of great books every year which is ever-increasing. They work on all genres; be it romance or horror, fiction or non-fiction, novels or educative books...

Indie-publishing focuses on selective but quality writing. So, you, as an author, would want to write some compelling work and outsource the rest to professionals who know the business.

These are basically just different words for the same thing; there's no “official” difference. 

Source: https://bookillustratorsforhire.blogspot.com/2022/12/how-is-indie-publishing-different-from.html

Monday, 28 November 2022

Author’s website- a great way to find and keep readers

If you want to self-publish on Amazon, UK, then the first thing you’ve to do is find audience.

Some ways to convert casual readers to fans& audience are:-

About Website:

  • Create an attractive homepage. Include banner images of your chosen genre to make that first impression on your audience or potential fans.
  • Make use of proper colours to give that professional look to your website. Else employ professionals/ website designers for that touch.
  • Format the text on your website to be readable with appropriate font and small paragraphs. Use sub-headings on your home-page.
  • Use a clear & attractive picture of yours in the bio-page and across all social media sites.

Call to action

  • Ask your readers to sign-up in the web-site home-page to avoid rejection.
  • Give your readers an incentive for signing up for your newsletter, such as free e-book (created by expert e-book convertors) or other related yet interesting informations.
  • Place the sign-up button at the bottom of your book’s page visibly.

You and your site should be accessible

  • Include the pages: Home, Books, “About me”, Blogs; on your websites’ easy navigation bar. Update blogs regularly.
  • Have social media links displayed prominently as simple icons. Also make sure that readers can share your content on their pages easily.
  • Make it easy for your readers to buy your books by including a link (say kindle self-publishing, UK) which will directly take them to sellers such as Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, etc.
  • Include your author email in the “About Me” section& a contact page in the navigation bar. Be more accessible to your fans and bloggers who want to feature their book, organizers of conferences who are looking for speakers, or people who want to place bulk orders…

Associate with agents like White Magic Studios who’ll help with book publishing, UK and with creating websites.

Source: https://bookfrontcovers.blogspot.com/2022/11/authors-website-great-way-to-find-and.html

Friday, 28 October 2022

Common Tautology to Avoid in Your Writing

Authors, be mindful as to when to use Tautology (can help to add emphasis or clarity or introduce intentional ambiguity) or when to avoidas it can make you sound wordier than you need to be and make you appear foolish.

What is Tautology?

A tautology is an expression or phrase that says the same thing twice, just in a different way. In most cases, it's best to choose just one way to state your meaning and eliminate the extra verbiage; to make your writing more concise and professional; especially if you opt for Amazon book publishing.

Though tautologies are common in everyday speech, they should be avoided in formal writing so that your audience isn’t bothered if you opt for Kindle direct-publishing.

Literal Repetition

  • ATM machine
  • GPS system
  • PIN number
  • Please R.S.V.P.
  • VIN number
  • ISBN number
  • DVD disc

Repetition by Meaning

  • I saw her personally
  • prepay in advance
  • morning sunrise
  • frozen ice
  • close proximity
  • hot water heater
  • dilapidated ruins
  • In my opinion, I think . . .
  • completely devoid
  • 8 a.m. in the morning
  • adequate enough
  • come together in unity
  • I thought to myself
  • creeping slowly along
  • new innovation
  • I assisted her by helping her get to work
  • shout loudly
  • free gifts

Some of the famously usedtautology are-

To be or not to be, that is the question.” –Hamlet, William Shakespeare

Discovered by PoohPooh found it.” –Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne

Que sera sera. Whatever will be will be” –Livingston & Evans

“With malice towards toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.” –Abraham Lincoln

Sometimes tautology can be used on purpose to reiterate something, as a poetic device, or to mock someone/something. Connect with professional self-bookpublishers in Manchester, who will edit/format your book for an interesting output.

Publishers such as White Magic Studios will help you, if you want to self-publish book in UK.

Source: https://bookayoutdesigner.blogspot.com/2022/10/common-tautology-to-avoid-in-your.html

Tuesday, 27 September 2022

Want to write a book? Know what to do before writing

"If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."--Toni Morrison

If you are toying with the idea of writing a piece, it’s definitely an excellent idea.

But take care!

Because-writing is an innate ability. Yet it has to be chiselled; irrespective of whether you’re a seasoned writer or a first time budding writer. Associate with UK self-publishing companies as White Magic Studios.

Few essential questions before you start working on your book are-

  • Test yourself by writing the first 15000 words if you reallywant to write a big book. Else start with some articles/blogs/podcasts/short story/screenplay.
  • You should have passion, patience, time, & mental energy to complete a whole book. You should be able to stick to a daily writing schedule.
  • You must have a very clear idea of the genre you’re about to write and stick to it; because your readers pick up your book with a certain expectation.
  • Before you actually start writing, have an idea of the shape and direction of your story.
  • Engross your readers with convincing settings. Research well.
  • Have you decided on whose point of view, you’ll narrate it from?
  • Be clear on the controlling idea (comedy, fictions…) which is the main reason why you want your story to be told.
  • You ought to be aware of the lot of work which remains to be done post-writing; such as book formatting services, marketing being most vital.
  • Be ready to draft & redraft it several times.

If you’re game to the above suggestions, then you are ready to start writing a book. Just make sure that it is the right time and you have enough time.

Source: https://bookcoverartistsuk.blogspot.com/2022/09/want-to-write-book-know-what-to-do.html

Friday, 2 September 2022

Write a book that will change lives and transform your career

From scratch (the idealisation of a book) to a final book on the readers’ hand; is a long process.

“Writing a book” is a tool which will open more doors, cultivate influence, and create a market for you.

Research & planning is the first step of writing a book (or any business) Figure out how many times in a week will you write, or how many hours will you write every day, & what will you do on days you get stuck. Researching well on the topic you’re about to write on will be useful.

Conceptualize the cover design Engage with good book cover illustrators who will create the cover which summarises the idea of the book. A great way to be motivated is to hang the covers all around the house.

Simply write now. Start with the outline of the chapters. Then type your thoughts and stories one chapter at a time. Don’t go much into details in the first draft.

Before being edited, the book must be read once by you. After several drafts of your manuscript has been done, read it. You may feel like adding extra chapters, stories or lessons.

Go for editing your book from a professional. You should hire professional book editing/formatting companies for a good book sans mistakes. Editing, proof reading, formatting can be done by the best self-publishing companies, UK.

Layout design is important for any project that conveys a message through eye-catching visuals, like magazine layouts, website design and advertisements. Go for book cover layouts as well.

Insert illustrations wherever necessary Illustrations are making ideas clearer by using pictures or diagrams as an integral part of story-telling.

Employ publishers who aid in self-publishing. They will work according to your ideas and within your budget.

Marketing your book through trailers, author’s website, book reviews, podcasts, launch parties, etc. gives it the last push to reach your readers in the form of a physical book or convert book to e-book.

Source: https://bookillustrationcompanies.blogspot.com/2022/09/write-book-that-will-change-lives-and.html

Self Publishing for Authors Who Want Complete Creative Control

Some stories are too personal, too original, or too unconventional to fit neatly into the expectations of traditional publishing. That doesn...