One corner you shouldn’t cut is on your book cover.

Your cover is important because it’s the first impression your audience has of your book. Don’t shortcut your success by creating a cover that doesn’t sell. Find a graphic designer that works in the publishing field and have them help you with ideas, colors and images that have sold so you have a place to start your design idea.

Often a print on demand company has the software for you to see your cover design on an actual book so you can evaluate the image and adjust as needed. The software gives you the image on the front, back and spine to help you decide the final look that is a match for your content.

In the long run, the money you save not getting a cover design could cost you in book sales.

Stop back by tomorrow for the next step.

While it’s nice to think that most of us do our shopping online and via Amazon, bookstores (especially local stores) can really help or hurt your marketing efforts. If your book isn’t going into bookstores, then you’ll want to get to know your local area stores to see if you can present your book to them for consideration and/or do an event in their store.

Having a local presence in bookstores is important, especially if you are doing local events and local media. If the bookstore doesn’t stock the book, then make sure at the very least that your book can be ordered.

You don’t want people walking into your neighborhood store and being told “Sorry, we can’t get that book.”

This is where the 100 print on demand copies can really work for your marketing and if the local bookstore sees that you are getting a following they may re-consider carrying your book.

Stop back by tomorrow for the next step.

I see it all the time; authors spend all their money on the book process (book cover, editing, printing.) and then don’t have enough for the marketing.

That’s like opening up a store and not having money to stock it with inventory.

Before you jump headlong into publishing a book, make sure you have the funds to do so. So, how much is enough? It depends on what you want to accomplish. Be clear on your goals and market(your prospective reader), then sit down with someone who can help you determine a budget.

There are many print on demand companies available so you do not have to order boxes of books that you then have to store. Get a quote from them and have them print a hard copy of your book so you can get the response from your potential readers in your circle of friends and family.

Then if you are getting a good response, you might have 100 printed that you can sell.

Start small and build as the demand is matching the pace of what you are able to print to meet the demand.

Stop back by tomorrow for the next step.

Books like Chicken Soup For The Soul and magazines like Reader’s Digest and Guideposts are filled with stories about what people went through, what the experienced as they were going through the situation, how they overcame any obstacles and are now better for going through the situation.

What are some of your core values, core talents and life experiences you can share with others? Jot them down and as soon as you can get to your writing tools begin to outline the sequence of steps and start writing about the process of getting through the situation. Fill in all of the details so your reader can follow your steps (or recipe). People all over the world are looking for solutions and shortcuts. Share yours.

Within the next few weeks I will be looking for 15 people who want my help in accomplishing that goal.  Check back with me frequently to find out how you apply.

Most people use Microsoft Word to write documents and the default page size is the 8 1/2 X 11.  If you also want to be published, decide which size you are going to have as a finished book and set your page size accordingly before you begin.  If you do this when you start you will not have to go back and transfer your information to a smaller size later if you decide you want to have a published copy of your information. This way you can use the content on or offline and do that more easily.

It is exciting to see your writing come to a finished product you can hold in your hand.  Something that for many is a long process.  It is actually quite easy with the tools we have available to us today so I want to encourage you to press toward that goal and break through any blocks you might encounter.  Even if you only have 1 copy on your shelf, it is a very gratifying experience to hold that book in your hand.

Storycraft , one of the first and most respected story-writing software programs, guides you through the entire process of writing novels and screenplays!  Write stories, learn the craft of fiction, professional and wanna-be writers alike.

Click Here!

On the internet you want to stand in the middle of the traffic and hold up a sign that shows people you have what they are looking for and need to find.  Help with developing your marketing message, book title, content and readers can be found by putting your name and email address in the opt in box at the top of the page.   This is your year to see your work in print and to help your readers find you instead of you finding them.