The biggest mistake most authors make

Authors write books. It's what they do and what they love. Many authors, especially the self-published authors, are falling victim to one of the most dangerous mistakes known to the publishing industry: not having a platform.

As an author, having a platform is crucial to the success of your book. You should use your book to build your platform which in turn will create other avenues in which you can earn money. Most authors fail to take the time to learn what their platform is, and therefore, miss out on hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

What is a platform? An author's platform is what you are doing to reach those people you want to buy your books, or how you plan to reach them. It is that thing you are doing to get people to relate to you. An example of an author platform would be a single mother who has published a book. Though her book may be fiction, the fact that she is a single mom who has accomplished her dream of becoming a published author can be used as a platform to reach other single moms and women in general, whether they be parents or not. This same author can now garner speaking engagements from groups that host events in her area, and may be approached by various radio and television shows for interviews. At the engagements she will most likely be offered an opportunity to sell her books. And during her radio and television interviews, she will be asked to tell people where they can get copies of her book.

Your assignment is to take out a pen and paper and make a list of topics that you have experienced personally or have knowledge of that you would be willing to share with your readers to gain their attention and support. People like to feel that they can relate to someone. This in turn builds trust. Once you have gained the trust of your potential readers, they are no longer just readers; they become fans, and in turn, they become loyal supporters of you and your work.

Until next time,

~Sandra~

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How to find an editor for your book without breaking the bank

As a self-published author, one of your biggest tasks will be finding a good editor for your book. You are going to be trusting what you have written in the hands of someone that does not know you or your work. This can also be a rather expensive task. A vast majority of editors charge in one of three ways: by the word, by the line, or by the page. So how do you find a good editor without breaking the bank? The answer could be as close as your local college or university.

One thing I have learned from being an English major myself, is that it is good to have a portfolio of your work. You as an author can help provide the opportunity to gain some experience by posting your need for a proofreader or editor for your book.In most cases, a college student will be more than willing to take on this task in exchange for the opportunity to list you as a reference and include a sample of the work that they performed on your behalf in their portfolio. You can make the opportunity even more enticing by offering to pay a fee for their services.

Another inexpensive route you could use to find a good editor or proofreader for your work could be to find a retired English teacher, or even a high school English teacher who has enough time to devote to the task of book editing.

I say English majors and teachers because they learn various things about sentence structures, grammar and the like, which could really give your book the advantage it needs to compete in the industry.

If you do decide to go with a company to do the proofreading and editing for your book, be sure to ask to see samples of their work and check out their credibility with others. If they have a long list of unsatisfied customers, this may be a sign that you need to take your money, and your manuscript, elsewhere.

Until next time,
Sandra

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A big misconception about self-publishing

There are many misconceptions about self-publishing. One of the biggest things I hear aspiring authors say is that they have been contacted by a company that has promised to help them self-publish a book and all they have to pay them is (whatever the amount may be). In true self-publishing, you don't pay anyone to publish your book for you. You pay out money to different companies to handle the various aspects of you bringing your book to market. For instance, you will find a printer, and you will pay that person to print your books for them. You will find someone to design your book cover for you, and you will pay that person who will create a cover for you. There are many details that goes along with putting together a good quality book, and each week, I will uncover and shatter the myths that go along with publishing your own book. This is the truth about self-publishing. It's not just a book you're putting out there. It's a business.

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