Writing the Breakout Novel


Donald Maass - 2001
    Maybe you've already been published, but your latest effort is stuck in mid-list limbo. Whatever the case may be, author and literary agent Donald Maass can show you how to take your prose to the next level and write a breakout novel - one that rises out of obscurity and hits the best-seller lists.Maass details the elements that all breakout novels share - regardless of genre - then shows you writing techniques that can make your own books stand out and succeed in a crowded marketplace.You'll learn to:- establish a powerful and sweeping sense of time and place - weave subplots into the main action for a complex, engrossing story - create larger-than-life characters that step right off the page - explore universal themes that will interest a broad audience of readers - sustain a high degree of narrative tension from start to finish - develop an inspired premise that sets your novel apart from the competitionThen, using examples from the recent works of several best-selling authors - including novelist Anne Perry - Maass illustrates methods for upping the ante in every aspect of your novel writing. You'll capture the eye of an agent, generate publisher interest and lay the foundation for a promising career.

Self-Printed: The Sane Person's Guide to Self-Publishing: How to Use Digital Self-Publishing, Social Media and Common Sense to Start Earning A Living ... or Shouting 'Down With The Big Six!')


Catherine Ryan Howard - 2011
    Who want to do it the cheapest and easiest way possible while still producing a quality product. Who understand that much like Starbucks outlets and Nespresso coffee machines, traditional and self-publishing can peacefully co-exist. Who know that they don't have to sell a million copies of their book to start earning a living from their writing, but that they do have to work hard and treat it like a business. Who are blessed with common sense and live in the real world at least most of the time. Who find my jokes funny.  If this sounds like you, then SELF-PRINTED: THE SANE PERSON'S GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING may be just the "How To..." guide you were looking for. It will tell you everything you need to know in order to publish a Print On Demand paperback and e-book, and - crucially - sell them, without sounding like anti-Big Publishing propaganda produced by the Ministry of Truth.  Be warned: you are now entering a No Saying "Gatekeepers" Zone...  Visit SelfPrintedbook.com to see the full table of contents.  ABOUT CATHERINE: Catherine Ryan Howard is the coffee-guzzling twenty-something behind the popular blog, Catherine, Caffeinated. In March 2010 she self-published her travel memoir, Mousetrapped: A Year and A Bit in Orlando, Florida, using the Print-On-Demand service CreateSpace, Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing and Smashwords. Using free promotional tools like blogging, Twitter and Facebook, she managed to make Mousetrapped an Amazon bestseller and sell 4,000 copies of it in a year. Her success story has been featured in The Sunday Times and The Sunday Independent newspapers, and Catherine has been interviewed on BBC Radio Ulster, Newstalk and RTÉ Radio's Marian Finucane Show. She lives in Cork, Ireland, where she divides her time between her desk and the sofa. She wants to be a NASA astronaut when she grows up. (She's 28.)

The Author Startup: A Radical Approach To Rapidly Writing and Self-Publishing Your Book On Amazon


Ray Brehm - 2017
     “What is the fastest way I can get my book done?” I pondered the question a minute. There is all this extravagant education out there on writing a book, filled with hundreds of things to do. But the truth is, you do 20% of the work for 80% of the result (The Pareto Principle). How does one accomplish this? By streamlining all the tasks down to the minimum requirements, and focusing on those. The Author Startup is a process to create a minimum viable product for your book. It is used to get your book out there and build momentum for you. In The Author Startup , you will: Learn the Boogie Board Approach for publishing Use concepts similar to The Lean Startup for your book Learn the exact tools I used to create and publish a book in 26 days Find out how to defeat the “Imposter Syndrome” Receive a complete Action Plan that will change your approach and attitude for publishing your book The book contains links to an entire action plan, including video demos. Don’t wait to start your book, learn the quickest way to get it published now!

Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why


Jeff Herman - 1993
    Now you can benefit from their hard work and publishing savvy. In this new edition, they offer guidance and advice that will inspire, educate, and, most importantly, give you the necessary edge to get your book published. They explain:* How to shape your idea and create a title* Ways to get to know the market and competition* Tips on writing an effective outline, query letter, and sample chapter* The art and science of fiction and nonfiction book proposals* How ten actual proposals (included here) were successfully sold to publishers--and why""A submission from Jeff Herman always gets moved to the top . . . his new book will show you how to move to the top.""--Frederic W. Hills Vice President, Simon & Schuster""This book will take writers to the highest level of proposal writing and success.""--Roger Cooper Quality Paperback Book Club""If you want your proposal to ignite a busy editor's interest, read this book.""--Adrienne Hickey Senior Acquisitions Editor, AMACOM Books

How to Write a Swoon-Worthy Sweet Romance Novel


Victorine E. Lieske - 2018
    How do you make your readers believe your characters are falling in love? How do you show that sizzle of attraction? How do you write a good kissing scene? How do you bring in the much-needed tension but still have your characters flirting and getting closer? In this book I take one of my romance novels (Acting Married) and I go through the entire novel with you, basically interrupting myself to tell you what I was thinking as I was writing the novel. It's like watching a movie with commentary. I pull back the curtain so you can see why I started it the way I did, why I decided to put certain scenes in, and what pushes the romance forward in the book. I preface all this with what I consider the essentials of a good romance novel, and I end with my list of well-loved romance tropes that you can draw from in order to write your own bestselling romance novel.

The Complete Handbook Of Novel Writing: Everything You Need To Know About Creating & Selling Your Work (Writers Digest)


Writer's Digest Books - 1992
    Discover techniques and strategies for generating ideas, connecting with readers emotionally, and finding inspiration you need to finish your work. This fully revised edition includes an updated marketing section for navigating the unique challenges and possibilities of the evolving literary marketplace. Inside you'll find new essays from dozens of best-selling authors and publishing professionals detailing how to:—Master the elements of fiction, from plot and character to dialogue and point of view—Develop a unique voice and sensibility in your writing—Manage the practical aspects of writing, from overcoming writer's block to revising your work—Determine the key elements for success in every genre—Find an agent, market your work, and get published—or self-publish—successfullyYou'll also find interviews with some of the world's finest and most popular writers, including David Baldacci, Lee Child, Robert Crais, Khaled Hosseini, Hugh Howey, Stephen King, Dennis Lehane, George R.R. Martin, Jojo Moyes, Anne Rice, Jane Smiley, and Garth Stein. Their insights on the craft and business of fiction will provide you with invaluable mentorship as you embark on your writing journey.The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing is your go-to guide for every aspect of creating a bestseller.

How to Write a Book Proposal


Michael Larsen - 1985
    An updated handbook for prospective authors describes what editors are looking for in a book proposal; discusses outlines, sample chapters, and submission requirements; explains how to test-market a book idea and select the right editors and publishers for a proposal; and includes sample proposals.

Storytelling Made Easy: Persuade and Transform Your Audiences, Buyers, and Clients — Simply, Quickly, and Profitably


Michael Hauge - 2017
    HARNESS THE POWER OF HOLLYWOOD STORYTELLING MAGIC Renowned Hollywood story expert Michael Hauge’s Six Step Success Story formula gives your potential clients and buyers the emotional experience of success—and will move them to take action.

Book Publishing for Beginners: How to publish and market your book to a #1 bestseller and grow your business


Paul G. Brodie - 2018
     What if a few new habits could dramatically improve your book sales? What if you could grow your business and increase your revenue with a few simple steps? Imagine making passive income 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while having the opportunity to be your own boss, set your own hours, and achieve your life-long goals. Eleven-time Amazon bestselling author, Paul G. Brodie, covers how to become a #1 bestselling author and grow your business. Here are a few things that you will get out of Book Publishing for Beginners. In this book, you will learn how to: • Edit Your Book • Proofread Your Book one final time with a method that Paul uses exclusively with his books • Utilize Freelancers to have an Outstanding Book Cover created for a low price • Get your book Converted from a Manuscript to Kindle format • Convert your Book Description into Sales Copy that will Increase Book Sales • Get honest Reviews for your book from your first book launch and future launches • Learn about different Book Launches from Case Studies • Utilize a Free Launch Strategy to generate Thousands of potential Downloads while your book is free • Take advantage of your Book Price Conversion from free to 99 cents and get enough downloads to launch your book to #1 in its category • Maximize your Earnings with converting the price from 99 cents to either $2.99 or $3.99 at the right time • Record your Audiobook by doing it yourself or having someone narrate it for you • Convert your Manuscript to Paperback for CreateSpace • Get your Kindle book cover converted to CreateSpace • Build your Email List • Utilize different Lead Magnets • Offer different Back End Products to generate significant income • Maximize multiple Revenue Streams to Grow Your Business including Public Speaking, Coaching, and Book Signings •BONUS: Invitation to book a 15-minute call with Paul to get help with your book •BONUS: FREE Online Training to help you Get Published •BONUS: Invitation to join FREE private Facebook Community to help you Get Published •BONUS: FREE Audiobook Scroll up to the top of the page and click on the BUY NOW button and start your journey towards becoming a #1 bestselling author today!

How to Publish and Sell Your Article on the Kindle (and Nook!): 12 Tips for Short Documents


Kate Harper - 2011
    Topics include: • How to get royalties from selling articles.• Proper pricing.• How to submit articles to the "Kindle Singles" (special Amazon category). • Best ways to sell articles.• Representing articles accurately in e-Reader bookstores.• Avoiding unnecessary costs. • Image formatting.Tips are also applicable for a variety of mobile devices such as the Barnes and Noble Nook and Apple ipad. You will learn how to publish your article in a word processor, without having to learn HTML coding. Instructional Appendices Include: • How to create table of contents and internal links.• Solving formatting problems.• Converting your article to a Kindle device.• Easy preview options before you publish.• A curated list of the 50 best resources for finding free Kindle books, software, podcasts, help forums and the best blogs on Kindle publishing (10,300 words).About the Author: Kate Harper has taught art and computer classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoys creating visual step-by-step guides for non-technical users. She is a credentialed adult education instructor in the state of California, and is inspired by technologies that encourage people to be more creative.

From Jobless to Amazon Bestseller: The Step-by-Step System I Followed to Write, Self-publish, Market and Promote my Book to Become a #1 Bestseller on Amazon


Marc Reklau - 2015
     Why you should choose Self-publishing. Why you should choose Amazon. How to write you book fast without ever suffering from “writer’s block”. How to find a title that sells for your book. How to get a cover that sells made. How to price your book right. Why it’s easier than you thought to get an Amazon bestseller. How to market and promote your book and get it in the top of the charts on Amazon. What your book can do for you in the long term (passive income, traditional publishing contracts, radio & TV appearances etc.). And so much more! Think of it! If you publish on Amazon, millions of people are only a click away from downloading your book on their Kindle, PC, Mac, tablets or smartphones. That’s an enormous amount of potential customers! Why not use Amazon’s “look inside” feature and check out the first chapters of “From Jobless to Amazon Bestseller” before you buy?  Just click on the book image above and start reading.

Online Marketing for Busy Authors: A Step-By-Step Guide


Fauzia Burke - 2016
    For the first time, authors have direct access to the public via the Internet and can create a community eagerly awaiting their book. But where do new authors start? How do they sort through the dizzying range of online options? Where should they spend their time online and what should they be doing? Enter Fauzia Burke, a digital book marketing pioneer and friend of overwhelmed writers everywhere. She takes authors step-by-step through the process of identifying their unique personal brand, defining their audience, clarifying their aspirations and goals, and setting priorities. She offers advice on designing a successful website, building a mailing list of superfans, blogging, creating an engagement strategy for social media, and more. By following Burke's expert advice, authors can conquer the Internet and still get their next manuscript in on time. "

From Word to Kindle: Self Publishing Your Kindle Book with Microsoft Word, or Tips on Formatting Your Document So Your Ebook Won't Look Terrible


Aaron Shepard - 2011
    It's not hard to find instructions for converting from Word to Kindle -- but these instructions are usually less helpful than they could be. Many, for example, proclaim that Word's HTML output requires extensive alteration and cleanup before submission. This advice is misguided. Some who offer it have drawn their conclusions after simply choosing the wrong export option. Others fuss about a moderate amount of excess code, not realizing that it doesn't increase file size enough to matter or that the Kindle ignores it anyway. Other instructions will imply the opposite: that conversion is straightforward and just what you would expect. Supposedly, as long as you start with a properly formatted Word document, you'll wind up with a well-formatted ebook. Well, it doesn't really work that way -- not without a few techniques for tricking or bullying the Kindle into doing what you want. In this book, Aaron Shepard offers his own tips for moving your document from Word to Kindle, with a focus on desktop Word versions from 2003/2004 to 2010/2011. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is a foremost proponent of the new business of profitable self publishing, which he has practiced and helped develop since 1998. He is the author of -Aiming at Amazon, - -POD for Profit, - and -Perfect Pages, - as well as two other books on Kindle formatting. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS Getting Started 1 FIRST STEPS Working with Word Document Setup Text Cleanup 2 KINDLE FORMATTING Special Characters Font Formatting Paragraph Styles Paragraph Spacing Paragraph Justification Line Breaking Page Layout 3 SPECIAL ELEMENTS Other Paragraphs Lists Tables Text Boxes and Sidebars Footnotes and Endnotes Pictures 4 NAVIGATION Web Links Internal Links Tables of Contents Menu Items 5 FINAL STEPS HTML Export Book Covers Book Data Submitting and Previewing ///////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE By default, Word will apply the Normal style to your paragraphs. Amazon knows this, so for some Kindles, it hijacks that style, changing its formatting to what Amazon prefers. This can lead, for example, to unwanted space above or below a paragraph. If you want control of your own formatting, then, you'll have to avoid the Normal style and apply something different. There's no problem, though, with applying styles based on Normal, or even with applying a duplicate of Normal under a completely different name. In regard to this, watch out for manual page breaks in recent versions of Word. Unless you're in Compatibility Mode, each break is now placed in a paragraph of its own, and the Normal style is assigned automatically. That in itself isn't a problem -- but if you then hit Return and start typing, your new paragraph will be in Normal as well. (This is another reason to stick to the paragraph format setting -Page break before- to start a new page.) You can change all paragraphs already in Normal style to a different one by using the Format menu in the Find and Replace dialog. Don't enter any text, but place your cursor in first the Find box and then the Replace while choosing a style for each.

How to Blog a Book: Write, Publish, and Promote Your Work One Post at a Time


Nina Amir - 2012
    It's a fun, effective way to start writing, publishing, and promoting a book, one post at a time.

The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote and Sell Your Own Book


Marilyn Ross - 1989
    You want to control the future of your manuscript and your writing career.Best-selling author Marilyn Ross and publishing expert Sue Collier show you how to make your own success - whether you're a published author, entrepreneur, corporation, professional, or absolute newcomer to writing. In this expanded and completely revised 5th edition of the bible of self-publishing (over 100,000 copies sold), they empower you to publish your own work with minimal risk and maximum profits.You'll find:- Complete step-by-step guidance on publishing and marketing a book - Ways to leverage social media marketing to build your platform and make yourself stand out from the crowd - A thorough explanation of the difference between POD self-publishing, subsidy publishing, and true self-publishing - and how to decide which is the best option for you - Practical advice on making the decision between offset printing and print-on-demand - How to leverage the Internet to create buzz and promote your book with killer PR - The latest information on e-publishing - A detailed marketing plan and timetable to keep you on track - Proven marketing strategies to get free publicity, reach nontraditional buyers, and sell books - Information-packed appendices with marketing contacts, organizations, and vendors, complete with names, addresses, and websites - Valuable case studies and examples of how other publishers excel - An in-depth discussion of exclusive distributors, plus coverage of the most recent changes in bookstores and the book-selling industry - Thirty-one creative ideas for generating capital to launch your publishing companyThe Complete Guide to Self-Publishing is the one book you need to take control of your writing career.Read it. Believe it. Do it.Your future depends on it.