Comments for Michaele Lockhart http://michaelelockhart.com Author, Teacher, Photographer Fri, 18 May 2012 22:43:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Create Space–Is it the Answer? by Michaele http://michaelelockhart.com/create-space-is-it-the-answer.htm#comment-168 Michaele Fri, 18 May 2012 22:43:50 +0000 http://michaelelockhart.com/?p=254#comment-168 It's good to hear from you, Shirley. I replied to another post you might check out too. The work getting reviews will be discussed in an upcoming blog post. Thanks for your positive input and keep on writing! Michaele It’s good to hear from you, Shirley. I replied to another post you might check out too. The work getting reviews will be discussed in an upcoming blog post. Thanks for your positive input and keep on writing! Michaele

]]> Comment on E-Publishing the Write Way by Michaele http://michaelelockhart.com/e-publishing-the-write-way.htm#comment-167 Michaele Fri, 18 May 2012 22:40:56 +0000 http://michaelelockhart.com/?p=266#comment-167 Hi Lynne, you’ve just taken your first small step, “out of the pile,” so to speak. You’ve connected with a site, introduced yourself, and there’s a possibility by doing so that you might gain a positive review for your book in the future. You’re establishing your presence a notch above those “everyone elses.” Who knows, after a while, you may be invited to guest blog, based on your knowledge of a subject and your gift as a writer. Getting noticed is hard work but a kind of work that only you can do. Only you know your subject in that particular way and only you can speak about it. If your book is truly well-written and it doesn’t belong in that “pile with millions of others" that you’re referring to, but it isn’t selling, it might be because (1) no one likes you, (2) no one knows you exist, or (3) no one knows where to find you. By connecting with sites that have a positive impact on writers, readers, and reviewers, people will get to know you. People get to know you, because you have a web site that conveys who you are and at the same time they discover not only that you exist but they like you. Now they can find you. By participating in others’ reviews and blogs as well as creating your own, you’re portraying the kind of person whose book people will want to read. At the same time, you are giving others exactly what you wanted: “buzz” and to be liked and noticed. Use social media appropriately, keeping your goal in mind. Connecting comes back to help you. The next important step any writer can take is developing a credible presence so that reviewers will want to review your book when you write one. This is homework for before the book appears, part of your targeting market plan. Positive reviews help sell books when posted on your site, GoodReads, Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, and many other book review sites. Reviews should be a primary goal. Ask yourself: "Is my book ready for these other critical eyes?" Check back with the next two blog postings for more on this, including blog etiquette. Hi Lynne, you’ve just taken your first small step, “out of the pile,” so to speak. You’ve connected with a site, introduced yourself, and there’s a possibility by doing so that you might gain a positive review for your book in the future. You’re establishing your presence a notch above those “everyone elses.” Who knows, after a while, you may be invited to guest blog, based on your knowledge of a subject and your gift as a writer. Getting noticed is hard work but a kind of work that only you can do. Only you know your subject in that particular way and only you can speak about it.

If your book is truly well-written and it doesn’t belong in that “pile with millions of others” that you’re referring to, but it isn’t selling, it might be because (1) no one likes you, (2) no one knows you exist, or (3) no one knows where to find you. By connecting with sites that have a positive impact on writers, readers, and reviewers, people will get to know you. People get to know you, because you have a web site that conveys who you are and at the same time they discover not only that you exist but they like you. Now they can find you. By participating in others’ reviews and blogs as well as creating your own, you’re portraying the kind of person whose book people will want to read. At the same time, you are giving others exactly what you wanted: “buzz” and to be liked and noticed. Use social media appropriately, keeping your goal in mind. Connecting comes back to help you.

The next important step any writer can take is developing a credible presence so that reviewers will want to review your book when you write one. This is homework for before the book appears, part of your targeting market plan. Positive reviews help sell books when posted on your site, GoodReads, Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, and many other book review sites. Reviews should be a primary goal. Ask yourself: “Is my book ready for these other critical eyes?” Check back with the next two blog postings for more on this, including blog etiquette.

]]> Comment on E-Publishing the Write Way by Lynne Ashdown http://michaelelockhart.com/e-publishing-the-write-way.htm#comment-166 Lynne Ashdown Fri, 18 May 2012 16:51:37 +0000 http://michaelelockhart.com/?p=266#comment-166 Hi Michaele, I love your blogs; you are a real expert on putting together the complexities of e-publishing and presenting it in a manageable way, and I hope you turn it into a book; it would be a real service to authors. I do have a question. Once one is e-published, how does an author rise above the slush pile of (millions?) of self-published, many first-time and of vastly differing quality authors? It seems such a hopeless task, plugging yourself to jaded media people who need some reason to differentiate you from this slush pile for which there is no mechinism to self-select the best, but is just - the slush pile. This seems an excercise in cold-calling. Surely there must be a more effective way? Best regards, Lynne Ashdown Author of "Woman in the Peloton: A Journey of Cycling, Love, and Will," a true adventure story coming out in late June from iUniverse. Hi Michaele,

I love your blogs; you are a real expert on putting together the complexities of e-publishing and presenting it in a manageable way, and I hope you turn it into a book; it would be a real service to authors.

I do have a question. Once one is e-published, how does an author rise above the slush pile of (millions?) of self-published, many first-time and of vastly differing quality authors? It seems such a hopeless task, plugging yourself to jaded media people who need some reason to differentiate you from this slush pile for which there is no mechinism to self-select the best, but is just – the slush pile. This seems an excercise in cold-calling. Surely there must be a more effective way?

Best regards,
Lynne Ashdown
Author of “Woman in the Peloton: A Journey of Cycling, Love, and Will,” a true adventure story coming out in late June from iUniverse.

]]> Comment on Create Space–Is it the Answer? by Shirley Gray http://michaelelockhart.com/create-space-is-it-the-answer.htm#comment-165 Shirley Gray Fri, 18 May 2012 16:47:14 +0000 http://michaelelockhart.com/?p=254#comment-165 Thanks so much, Michaele, for the extremely helpful information! I continue to enjoy your blogs. Thanks so much, Michaele, for the extremely helpful information! I continue to enjoy your blogs.

]]> Comment on Publishing the Write Way by Michaele http://michaelelockhart.com/publishing-the-write-way.htm#comment-162 Michaele Wed, 16 May 2012 16:03:35 +0000 http://michaelelockhart.com/?p=240#comment-162 Thanks for commenting, Randy. CreateSpace and Lightning Source are quite similar. In my experience with clients using CreateSpace, that company has been a bit easier to work with. Just my opinion. Books produced by either can be carried in bookstores, providing they have the proper ISBNs and registration (making the book available to major distributors). If one uses just the CreateSpace assigned ISBN, the book is available only through Amazon. However, if an author is serious and has at least two or more projects to publish, buying ten ISBNs from Bowker's costs $250 (only $25 each!) and it is well worth it. CS once charged you that much for one! (I believe this has changed slightly.) So, yes, bookstores will carry CreateSpace-published books if all the requirements are met, just as with Lightning Source. And, I'll get back on my soapbox: Don't even consider trying to publish anything until it's been professionally edited. Please. Thanks again for stopping by, Randy. Thanks for commenting, Randy. CreateSpace and Lightning Source are quite similar. In my experience with clients using CreateSpace, that company has been a bit easier to work with. Just my opinion. Books produced by either can be carried in bookstores, providing they have the proper ISBNs and registration (making the book available to major distributors). If one uses just the CreateSpace assigned ISBN, the book is available only through Amazon. However, if an author is serious and has at least two or more projects to publish, buying ten ISBNs from Bowker’s costs $250 (only $25 each!) and it is well worth it. CS once charged you that much for one! (I believe this has changed slightly.)

So, yes, bookstores will carry CreateSpace-published books if all the requirements are met, just as with Lightning Source.

And, I’ll get back on my soapbox: Don’t even consider trying to publish anything until it’s been professionally edited. Please.

Thanks again for stopping by, Randy.

]]> Comment on Publishing the Write Way by Randy http://michaelelockhart.com/publishing-the-write-way.htm#comment-161 Randy Wed, 16 May 2012 15:32:25 +0000 http://michaelelockhart.com/?p=240#comment-161 Hi Michaele, Great article! I have several friends who went with Lightning Source because of it's connection with Ingram, which makes it easier to get distribution major book stores, like Barnes and Noble. Do large book stores feel the same way about Create Space books/ (randy from Linked In) Hi Michaele,

Great article!

I have several friends who went with Lightning Source because of it’s connection with Ingram, which makes it easier to get distribution major book stores, like Barnes and Noble. Do large book stores feel the same way about Create Space books/

(randy from Linked In)

]]> Comment on Create Space–Is it the Answer? by Michaele http://michaelelockhart.com/create-space-is-it-the-answer.htm#comment-160 Michaele Wed, 16 May 2012 15:10:35 +0000 http://michaelelockhart.com/?p=254#comment-160 Thanks for dropping by, Gloria. It's good to know that others are finding the information I've posted useful. Happy Writing, Michaele Thanks for dropping by, Gloria. It’s good to know that others are finding the information I’ve posted useful. Happy Writing, Michaele

]]> Comment on Create Space–Is it the Answer? by Gloria G. Esquerra http://michaelelockhart.com/create-space-is-it-the-answer.htm#comment-159 Gloria G. Esquerra Wed, 16 May 2012 05:26:13 +0000 http://michaelelockhart.com/?p=254#comment-159 Great information and post. Thanks Michaele. Great information and post. Thanks Michaele.

]]> Comment on Some of the Write Stuff by Michaele http://michaelelockhart.com/some-of-the-write-stuff.htm#comment-109 Michaele Wed, 09 May 2012 12:57:15 +0000 http://michaelelockhart.com/?p=214#comment-109 Thanks for dropping by, Archie. Your novel's title intrigues, as it should. Stay in touch and let me know when it's published. Keep up the good work. Happy Writing, Michaele Thanks for dropping by, Archie. Your novel’s title intrigues, as it should. Stay in touch and let me know when it’s published. Keep up the good work.

Happy Writing,

Michaele

]]> Comment on Publishing the Write Way by Michaele http://michaelelockhart.com/publishing-the-write-way.htm#comment-108 Michaele Wed, 09 May 2012 12:47:05 +0000 http://michaelelockhart.com/?p=240#comment-108 Thanks for joining the conversation around The Writers' Table, Karen. Lightning Source is comparable to Create Space in some ways, but vastly different in others. Their instructions are more complex, with lengthy Internet tutorials to follow at every step of the way. To have a quality product, it helps if you have some serious experience already as a book designer, something most writers don't have. There's a very good and recent comparison article in <em>The Independent Publisher</em>, dated June 2011. From what I've seen, their covers aren't as crisp as those printed by Create Space. Create Space will notify you if the resolution is "off," whereas with the other company it just goes though apparently. What you get is what you upload. Both companies do a reputable job, but it might be more difficult to work with LSI for the inexperienced. Coming up soon is a blog devoted to Create Space. One bonus of CS is immediate highlighted presence as an author on your Author's Page and Author Central. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'll remind everyone: make sure your manuscript is professionally edited, by that "other set of objective eyes." BTW, neither company handles marketing. No matter who publishes your book, you are responsible for presenting it to the world. Happy Writing, Michaele Thanks for joining the conversation around The Writers’ Table, Karen. Lightning Source is comparable to Create Space in some ways, but vastly different in others. Their instructions are more complex, with lengthy Internet tutorials to follow at every step of the way. To have a quality product, it helps if you have some serious experience already as a book designer, something most writers don’t have. There’s a very good and recent comparison article in The Independent Publisher, dated June 2011. From what I’ve seen, their covers aren’t as crisp as those printed by Create Space. Create Space will notify you if the resolution is “off,” whereas with the other company it just goes though apparently. What you get is what you upload.

Both companies do a reputable job, but it might be more difficult to work with LSI for the inexperienced. Coming up soon is a blog devoted to Create Space. One bonus of CS is immediate highlighted presence as an author on your Author’s Page and Author Central. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I’ll remind everyone: make sure your manuscript is professionally edited, by that “other set of objective eyes.” BTW, neither company handles marketing. No matter who publishes your book, you are responsible for presenting it to the world.

Happy Writing,

Michaele

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