Publishing – Page 16 – Jean's Writing

How to grab readers!

Published on September 7, 2015June 13, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell14 Comments

With a great book blurb on your back cover!

reading bed I don’t know about y’all, but I read the back cover before I buy a book. If I’m downloading an ebook I read the excerpt too. What do you read before a book purchase?

Last week I posted links for those of you out there getting close to publishing.

The following article is a great follow-up.

I got more from the article than just writing a good back cover blurb. The way Christine Frazier deconstructed the back covers of a couple of best sellers gave me tips on how to write an elevator pitch too.

The book blurb is broken down with an index card style that makes doing your own a breeze. She makes weaving in the hook and back story simple breaking it down into sentences and word count.

Christine then goes a step further with the help of a brave volunteer and adds a spreadsheet for everyone to use. I know I will. This article and spreadsheet will go hang out in my research file.

There is a ton of information! Head over and read…

How to Deconstruct Back Cover Copy to Write Your Own Blurb by Christine Frazier

You’ve made it this far, let me know what you think. So please give me just two more seconds and hit Facebook and Twitter and share.

Thank you!

If you’re not already, I’d be much obliged if you would follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Are you almost ready?

Published on September 5, 2015September 5, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell19 Comments

To publish that book!

Where to go, what to do and how!

The questions are many, but hopefully these two experienced writers can help us all figure out the maze of self-publishing.

I’m playing with Createspace and trying to familiarize myself with the process. It can be intimidating, at least for this newbie.

However, after reading the step by step instructions provided by by Bryan Hutchinson over at Postive Writer, I feel a lot better. Bryan was kind with a quick response to my question too.

How to Publish a Paperback Book for FREE Using Createspace by Bryan Hutchinson

I wanted to know if I should use Ingram Spark in addition to Createspace. He suggested I publish everywhere, including Ingram Spark and even Nook Press.

From all I’ve read Ingram Spark is a must to get into stores. Still a bit confused, I was thrilled to open the following post by Jen Lang. She wrote a follow-up piece to article on How to Use CreateSpace and IngramSpark Together by Karen Myers.

Book Production: More Tips on Using CreateSpace and Ingram Spark Together by Jen Lang

Not that’s what I call Kismit.

Maybe you’re not ready yet to pull this trigger, but I think it’s important to be ready for that big day. So curl up on this long weekend and read these amazing articles. You’ll be glad you did.

After all luck is when preparation meets opportunity. (Something like that.)

Hope you learn as much as I did from the two articles and soon we all will say, “Published.”

You’ve made it this far so let me know what you think, and then give me just two more seconds. Hit Facebook and Twitter and share.
Thank you!
If you’re not already, I’d be much obliged if you would follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Do you know what to say?

Published on August 24, 2015August 23, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

How do you write a good bio without sounding like a politician?

As a woman who grew up in the South, I was instructed to be modest and not brag about myself. That boasting was vulgar.

So how in the hell can I write a good bio that will not seem either vulgar, boasting or worse come across as fake.

To make it worse each publication wants a different type of bio. Some want 50 words, others want to know everything about you. Sometimes the bio needs to be in first person, other times it needs to be written in third person. Sigh.

So I want to give a big shout out to Rachelle Gardner: Literary Agent, Editor & Publishing Coach, for her post on how to write a terrific bio.

No publishing credits?

You still need a bio and Rachel has suggestions to get you started.

Head over to her blog and read How to Write a Terrific Author Bio for some great tips. I don’t know about you, but I needed every one of them.

Please share my post with your Facebook and Twitter friends.

If you’re not already, I’d be much obliged if you would follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

UPDATE-Want to see your e-book at the library?

Published on July 6, 2015July 7, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

Wanted to update this morning’s blog. Thanks to Ruth Glover for checking with our local library. Sadly, they can only pull from contracted sites. Sigh… However, I do see this as a wave of the future. Fingers crossed, Amazon will lead the libraries into the e-century and very soon.

I so glad to see the library won’t be left behind now that self-published e-books is taking the world by storm.

Do you want readers to check out your self published e-book at the local library?

Well now it’s possible!

Thank you Jane Friedman for introducing us to Porter Anderson and his post about Self-e Library Journal.

For all the nitty-gritty click and read:

How Self-Published Authors Can Distribute to Libraries by Porter Anderson / @Porter_Anderson

There are no fees for submissions, nor limits on the number of submissions an individual author can make.

I love comments, almost as much as I love clicks, so after you pass this on to your Facebook and Twitter pals remember to tell me what you think.
If you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!