Once you begin thinking, “Who can I get to write my book for me?” or “How do I find a writer to write my book?” or “I need help writing my book,” you’ll probably go online and start searching. And when you do, you might use terms like: Book ghostwriter Book writer Find a … [Read more...]
SELF-PUBLISHING 101: A List of Self-Publishing Companies
April 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Here’s a list of 70+ self-publishing and printing firms you can look through as you begin to search for the company with the right combination of services and prices. Some handle all genres of books, while others specialize in children’s books, photo books, religious books, cookbooks or other … [Read more...]
SELF-PUBLISHING 101: How is the Book’s Sales Price Determined?
April 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Who decides how much people will pay for your self-published book? That depends on the company you’re working with. Some allow you to set the price, some select the price for you, and others have hybrid arrangements. Ideally, the price will be high enough to cover all production, distribution … [Read more...]
SELF-PUBLISHING 101: How Are Royalties Calculated in Self-Publishing?
April 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
You would think the royalty calculation process would be straightforward and consistent from company to company. For example, if the royalty is 10% of the book’s price and the book sells for $10, the royalty would be $1 per book sold. Unfortunately, even a statement that seems perfectly clear … [Read more...]
Blog Title: SELF-PUBLISHING 101: What’s in Self-Publishing Contracts?
April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The contracts offered by the various self-publishing companies vary widely in length, scope, detail, “strictness” and other aspects. Below are links to a baker’s dozen of them – not the “best” or “worst” or meant to be a representative selection – just a random collection that will … [Read more...]
COMPUTER TIPS FOR WRITERS: Creating a Table of Contents Using Microsoft Word 2010
April 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Several clients have asked me how to create a Table of Contents using the newer versions of Microsoft Word. I put the question to Los Angeles computer software wizard Jeff Davidson of PC Consultants and he graciously explained as follows: The Basic Idea It’s quite easy to create a Table of … [Read more...]
COMPUTER TIPS FOR WRITERS: Creating an Index with Microsoft Word 2010 & 2007
March 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Many clients have asked me if it is possible to create an Index using Microsoft Word. I put the question to Los Angeles computer software wizard Jeff Davidson of PC Consultants and he graciously explained as follows. What Goes into an Index? An Index is made of numerous individual Index … [Read more...]
HOW TO WRITE A MEMOIR: Set the Tone with the First Sentence
March 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Many prospective readers will pick up your memoir and decide whether or not to read it simply by reading that first sentence. So your first sentence (indeed, the entire opening) should be catchy and interesting and capture the flavor of the entire memoir, whether it’s adventurous, romantic, … [Read more...]
HOW TO WRITE A MEMOIR: Begin Just Before an Important Event
March 15, 2011 By 1 Comment
It may seem logical to start your memoir with a pivotal event in your life. But to increase the tension and set the stage, you can also try briefly describing what you were doing in the hours, minutes or seconds before it happened. This can be a great way to introduce yourself, your situation and … [Read more...]
HOW TO WRITE A MEMOIR: Begin with a Dream
March 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A memoir is “remembered history,” a true accounting of a slice of your life. But sometimes, the best beginning doesn’t come from absolute reality. Mikal Gilmore’s dark and fascinating memoir Shot In the Heart begins with, “I have dreamed a terrible dream.” He then goes on to relate … [Read more...]
SELF-PUBLISHING 101: What is Dellarte Press?
March 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A division of Harlequin Enterprises, which publishes Harlequin Books, Dellarte is specifically concerned with providing “the opportunity for women's fiction writers and romance authors to self-publish their books and achieve their dreams.” As is the case with most self-publishers, Dellarte … [Read more...]
SELF-PUBLISHING 101: What is Balboa Press?
March 9, 2011 By 1 Comment
A division of the standard publisher Hay House, Balboa Press is a self-publisher of “books that empower and improve the lives of others.” Balboa is one of the “new minor league” publishers I referred to in my blog titled “Self-Publishing with Traditional Publishers: The New Minor … [Read more...]
SELF-PUBLISHING 101: Comparing the Costs of Extra Services at a Dozen Self-Publishing Firms
March 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The extra services (a la carte services purchased individually, apart from the publishing packages) offered by various self-publishers can add up in a hurry, and the price tag for such services can vary wildly from company to company. To help you get an idea of the differences, I checked the … [Read more...]
SELF-PUBLISHING 101: Comparing the Package Prices at a Dozen Self-Publishing Firms
March 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Almost every aspiring author who is considering self-publishing has two burning questions: What does it cost to turn a manuscript into a book? And which self-publishing firms are in my price range? Most self-publishing firms require that you begin by selecting one of their publishing packages, … [Read more...]
MAKE YOUR WRITING SING! Don’t Be Afraid to Say Something Definite
March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Are you inspired when you read a passage like this in a book: “Follow my program and you’ll probably see some good results!” How about: “It might be fair to conclude that the economic situation is tied, in part, to some of the factors I’ve described.” Does either of these … [Read more...]
MAKE YOUR WRITING SING! Lay Things Out Logically
March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
When you have a lot of information to present, a laundry list is convenient for the writer but not always helpful to the readers. For example: “After being infected with the never-before-seen germ, she suffered from hallucinations, stomachaches, laughing spells, urinary difficulties, a runny … [Read more...]
MAKE YOUR WRITING SING! Be Specific
March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Nonfiction books are designed to impart information, some of it technical and/or detailed. Thus, it’s very important to be clear and specific, which means you’ll want to avoid ambiguities that arise from sentences like this: “The economy was harmed by low interest rates and high … [Read more...]
MAKE YOUR WRITING SING! Eliminate the Jargon
March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Jargon and buzz words are tempting to use, but should be avoided or used very sparingly. People who play or follow football know what “audible,” “man-in-motion,” “scrambling” and similar words and phrases mean. People immersed in the practice or study of business understand words … [Read more...]
MAKE YOUR WRITING SING! Favor Active Sentences
March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
What’s the difference between active and passive voice? Consider this set of sentences: Kristen hired Greg. Greg was hired by Kristen. Each sentence has an actor; a person or entity performing an action (Kristen). Each sentence also has an action (hiring) and someone or … [Read more...]
MAKE YOUR WRITING SING! Don’t Chop Up Your Sentences and Phrases
March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Overly-long sentences can be confusing and exhausting and ultimately obscure your message. But sentences that are too brief can interfere with the flow of the writing. Take these sentences, for example: The CEO introduced the new manufacturing plan. The plan had been devised by an outside … [Read more...]
MAKE YOUR WRITING SING! Eliminate Unnecessary Words
March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
When writing business, health, travel and other nonfiction books, it pays to remember a basic concept: Extra words do not produce extra understanding. Consider this sentence: What I am trying to get across is that it is important to consider and discuss the major contributing factors that have … [Read more...]
YOUR WRITING SING! Limit the Ideas Per Sentence
March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
How many ideas should there be in a single sentence? One? Three? Eight? Consider this sentence: “Work stress, which is triggered by multiple factors and often arises when employees are forced to complete, or attempt and fail to complete, more activities during a specific time period than a … [Read more...]
MAKE YOUR WRITING SING! Jettison the Attitude
March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Some people think that big words, a complex sentence structure and extraneous information will imbue their writing with dignity and authority. So instead of saying something clearly, they dress up the information with extra words and ideas. For example: Instead of saying, “Cartilage acts as a … [Read more...]
WORKING WITH A GHOSTWRITER: How Do I Select a Ghost?
February 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Finding a book ghostwriter is easy, but finding the right one can be difficult. You’re going to trust this person with your ideas/story and a fair chunk of money, so it’s important to make the right choice. Here are some questions to consider: Should I select a ghostwriter who lives … [Read more...]
WORKING WITH A GHOSTWRITER: Things to Discuss Before You Begin…
February 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
You and your ghostwriter are eager to get to work, but there are some procedural questions that should be addressed before pen is set to paper. For example: Who is in charge? This may seem like a strange question. Obviously, you, the client, will be the boss. And while you will certainly want … [Read more...]
Nadine Taylor and Barry Fox write, ghostwrite, rewrite and edit books in many genres, including health, business, inspiration/ spirituality and memoirs. Their resume is long and varied but there’s one thing that never changes: They love to work with words, creating books that are clear, compelling and pleasurable to read. If you’re interested in writing a book, editing a book and/or publishing a book, you’ve come to the right place!
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