How to Make Money Self-Publishing a Book
by Charlie C Williams
This is a tough one. Very few books make money. The most profitable self-publishers use the book as a thick business card. They use it to introduce people to their concepts or ideas, and in exchange, the reader is enticed to buy their higher-end products and services. Thus, the book is a loss-leader used to bring in new customers to a business.
However, if you’re writing a book of fiction, you can still do well with self-publishing. A well-written book that is interesting to a large number of readers will attract an audience.
If you can sell a couple thousand books on your own, then you stand a better chance of attracting a publisher. They’ll see that your book sells. And, since publishers are in the business of making money by selling books, they may be inclined to make you an offer you can’t refuse.
But the trick is to create a book that will sell.
Unfortunately, there’s no magic formula or secret answer. Nobody knows what will or will not sell.
That’s why it’s so hard for a new author to get published. Publishers are risk-averse, and for good reason. It costs them a lot of money to print and market their books. If a book doesn’t sell, they lose. They want seasoned authors who have a loyal fan base.
Publishers will take risks on new authors. What many people don’t realize, though, is that these “new” authors have been around the block a few times already. Some have published short stories. Most attend writers conferences on a regular basis to create relationships with editors and agents. Few simply send in a unsolicited manuscript and receive an advance.
Your Self-Publishing Game Plan…
For nonfiction authors, do a marketing and business plan FIRST. Is there really a market for your book? YOU may think it’s a great concept, but will anyone else besides your family?
Create a business plan that includes all your upsells, marketing strategies and tactics, and customer service. Most money is made on the “back end” after the initial sale.
Create a detailed marketing plan for your book before you write a word. Your plan and market research will dictate what you need to put into the book in order to attract the right audience.
Fiction authors have a tougher time of it. My advice: don’t do it for the money. Write for the love of writing and because you feel you’ve got a great concept for a book.
The reasons are simple, but painful:
1. Expect to do between 8-12 drafts of your first book before you even consider turning it over to a professional editor.
2. Have your book professionally edited before submitting it to an editor or publisher.
3. Go to as many book conferences and writer’s conferences as possible. Also sign up for writing workshops in which a high-profile author or editor is present. If they like your book, they’ll help you get it published.
4. Stay with it. Many authors throw away their real first book. What you see on the book shelves is actually their second book.
5. Consider self-publishing as a way to get your feet wet in the publishing industry. The odds are that you’ll have to do the majority of your marketing and sales, even if your book is handled by a publisher!
And mostly have fun. Write for the love of writing. Enjoy the creative process.
Charles C. Williams is a freelance writer and music educator living in Chicago and has written content for various websites on topics such finding the best home improvement loans , how to take an online class, targeted direct email marketing, and filing bankruptcy chapter 7 and 13.
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AntsSoft flash slideshow for real flash slide show experience
by Vikram Kumar
The advent of internet has revolutionized the era and has created the vast scope for enormous business opportunities as well as the ways by which one can get his business to great heights. There are several companies providing best software by which you can get your work done in no time and also with perfect. Not only that in addition with some of their tools you can even bring extraordinary creativity in your work. One such tool provided by AntsSoft- the leader in flash and web design software is flash slideshow. With this tool it is possible to transfer a large number of pictures into the flash slide show of your own and that too in a fraction of seconds.
AntsSoft provides SWF Slide which is in real sense a very powerful as well as unique flash slideshow builder. With the help of this utility program, it is now possible for the users to transfer number of images into their very own flash slide show. In addition it provides the utility to add unique features like one of its kind background music, useful narrations, different texts in different styles, zoom/pan animation effects as well as transition animation as per your choice and requirement. To provide ease, the output slide shows are kept in the format of EXE or even Adobe Flash. Not only that the flash slide show that is so produced can be easily distributed to the several desired websites as well as can be sent via emails as well. If desired, the output can be taken up in a CD as well so as to enable you to share it with others.
For those who are having absolute no experience in the field of web site development this unique flash slide show program acts like a real boon. With the help of SWF Slide, they can now they can now turn their imaginations in reality in the breeze. It would not take longer than few minutes for the newbie to make one flash slideshow of own by simply putting the pictures as well as by selecting the useful slide properties provided by the program. Thus, you are ready with your creation in simply no time. As against this, if the user is quite experienced with the website designing, then SWF Slide is a tool that can make wonders for him. It can not only help in making their creation more attractive rather it would also help in saving much of their precious time as well as their efforts. Thus for having the real flash slide show experience, SWF Slide is surely the right tool.
Why it is considered the most prudent act to go for SWF Slide?
Besides the factors that are discussed above, there are several important features as well that makes buying of SWF Slide real value for money:
1. Convenient: The first and the foremost feature of SWF Slide is that it is convenient and can be used by the experienced as well as the inexperienced website designers for making their own flash slide show with ease.
2. Utility to personalize sound effect: For making your flash slideshow unique and different from others, you have the option to go for putting your own personalized sound effects.
3. Facility for user to customize properties of whole web slideshow as well as the individual slides.
4. Facility of automatic generation as well as addition of preloader to the user’s flash slide show etc.
Thus, AntsSoft provides the real pleasure of flash slideshow with the help of SWF Slide. Now get ready to turn your imaginative flash slide show in reality with the help of this software.
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Adults with ADD: Stop Punishing Yourself
by
We’re back from the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) Conference in Minneapolis and, as usual, it was fantastic!
My presentation on ‘Overcoming the Chronic Overwhelm Associated with Adult AD/HD’ was a hit.
I encouraged everyone in the audience to get a handle on overwhelm by managing stress, slowing down, and making self-care a priority.
In the Q&A at the end of my talk, a woman raised her hand and patiently waited to be called on. By all accounts, she was kind, articulate, and put together very well. So I was a bit surprised when she said something along the lines of:
Everything you’re saying makes sense, but I feel like I bring chaos everywhere I go. How can I possibly spend time managing stress or taking care of myself when I cause so much stress for everyone around me?
As I asked her a few more questions, many in the audience were shaking their heads in agreement. I even saw a few people tear up. The general consensus was:
I make so many mistakes and I’m so difficult to deal with that I don’t deserve to spend any time taking care of myself.
I was really glad that this woman had the courage to ask that question because it allowed me to address a mind set that I see over and over again in adults with ADD.
We think that we’re so high-maintenance to those around us–what with our disorganization, trouble managing time, and lack of focus, among other things–that we need to be constantly making up for all the things we are, and are not.
If this is how you feel, then please take a deep breath and read me loud and clear on this: YOU ARE WRONG.
You are wrong, wrong, wrong! You could not be more wrong! And you’re punishing yourself for who you are.
I know that sounds harsh, but this is one instance in which I have no problem telling someone that they are flat out wrong!
Having adult ADD might make you high-maintenance at times (I certainly am), but:
* Having adult ADD does not make you a bad person.
* Having adult ADD does not make you a difficult person.
* Having adult ADD is not a reason to punish yourself.
Rather, having adult ADD does mean that you have certain strengths and certain challenges. And guess what? So does everyone else.
You might have a hard time staying organized at work, AND be a superstar when it comes to customer service.
Meanwhile, your coworker might be extremely organized, but not so great when it comes to dealing with people.
Different people with different strengths make the world go ’round. And your strengths play an integral part…even if you have adult ADD!
I asked the audience a question as we were talking about this. I don’t remember it exactly, but it was something like:
Would you ever tell your coworker, “Oh, you didn’t get a chance to clean up your desk today? Yeah…then you better skip that dinner date and stay late until you get it done!”
Of course, everyone laughed. We would never dream of imposing the same punishments on others that we so easily impose on ourselves.
And when it comes to overcoming overwhelm, one thing is absolutely clear: if you don’t allow yourself time to manage your stress, slow down, and make self-care a priority, then you’ll never break out of the overwhelm-burnout cycle.
You’ll be forever stressed out, trying to catch up, and feeling like you owe something to everyone.
Stop punishing yourself. Start living.
Copyright (c) 2008 Jennifer Koretsky
Jennifer Koretsky is the Founder of the ADD Management Group, LLC, author of Odd One Out: The Maverick’s Guide to Adult ADD, and Co-Founder of the upcoming Virtual AD/HD Conference. Jennifer and her team work with ADD adults who are overwhelmed with everyday life in order to help them simplify, focus, and succeed. To learn more, visit http://www.ADDmanagement.com .
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When Your Loved One Has Cancer
by Chanvit Phupook
That time, you were left in awe at what you have heard. The light enclosed on you, and the whole world revolved in faint whispers, “It mustn’t be.” Cancer is not a simple matter, and you couldn’t believe someone very close to you has it. The news was more than shocking… it was heartbreaking.
Cancer has developed a connotation to being a fatal term, itself. It is a single term that people have dreaded to utter, even jokingly. It is a serious matter, and if your loved one has been diagnosed to be having it, this can be a very difficult journey for you, if you don’t take it lightly and with courage.
Cancer or what we call malignant neoplasm is a medical disease that happens when a group of cells display uncontrolled growth or division, which at times, may be at a fairly early age or at a critical stage. Most of them time, doctors would say a certain estimate of how long a person may live battling the disease, with or without treatments. Aside from the fact that financial expenditures build up because of costly cancer medications, the family can be subdued to a roller-coaster ride of emotions.
However, no matter how painstaking this situation is for you, you must be strong. Your loved on depends highly on your care and attention. After all, you both want to spend more time in this life together. Here are some simple ways that may help you cope up with this unnerving situation, and make it easier for you and your loved one:
1. Do not show them how hurt you are. If you have to wear a mask everytime, do it. Your loved one will draw strength from your strength, therefore, you must show him or her that you will be with him, in this difficult time, no matter what. If he sees you crying or in pain, the effect of that on his mindset is as painful.
2. Do normal things with them if they can. When they are strong enough, be normal with them. Take them to places, eat with them and spend great days with them very fondly. This will enlighten their minds, and yours, too. The both of you may actually forget about the intensity of the situation that you are facing. Cancer may be serious, but you can shrug it off at times with subtle moments of laughter.
3. Communicate your love to them. Talk to them and communicate your love to them, by giving them flowers and do with them things that they love to do. As much as possible, do not talk about their sickness, and live life as it is. Listen to their pains, yet do not break down in front of them. Assure them that it is going to be alright sincerely, without making them feel that they are just words said to make them feel better.
No matter how painful it is for you, you may not even begin to imagine how painful it is for them. Be very patient and understanding in making them feel loved. Especially, at this moment of difficulty, your utmost concern will leave them a mark that will help them fight for their life and be stronger. When a loved on has cancer, the battle must begin and end with strength and endurance.
For a new turn if not a ‘u-turn’ to good health visit: www.easyyourhealth.com
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Basics of Winning Roulette System
by Kenasen
You may feel the system to be too complex at the first look, but when you will put it into practice, it will be very easy for you to follow and simple to play. The betting procedure is short and includes positive progression, making it a low-risk system. The roulette system keeps in account many important factors. Such as in any one cycle, there are 38 spins and some numbers may come up several times at the outflow of other numbers that accordingly do not come up in the least. It is playacted on inside bets numbers.
The roulette system requires about 20-unit bankroll in the playing session and about 10-unit average profit in each session. Note here that no this is that easy and straight as you may presume. You may have heard of the roulette system where the player should place his bet only on those numbers that are spaced out consistently around the wheel. For instance, if you want to play just four numbers, you can bet on 1, 2, 31, and 32. The reason is that when you have a look at the roulette wheel, you will observe that if you part it in four equal parts; you will have a number, which appears in four sections.
Progression Roulette Systems
The progression roulette system ignores the basic truth of the game and attempts to place bets as per a set equation in an effort to change the house edge favoring the player.
Negative Progression Systems
Negative Progression is a system where the wagers are raised after the losing bet. The reason after this betting system type is the frequency of the winning sessions. It makes an assumption that in almost each session; the player will leave on a win. There is also a downside of the Negative Progression system that the losing sessions can actually be very costly for the Roulette player. Among all Negative Progression systems, the most famous one is the Martingale system. As the player loses overtime in any case, the casino gets some added protection for it and restricts the number of serial bets.
Martingale system
The most famous betting systems that many players use frequently on roulette is known as Martingale system. This system is a simple system used to double your bet as you lose. The theory that works behind the Martingale system is that eventually, the player will have to win. It tells you to always come ahead. Some people feel that Martingale system is not a wining system. They opine that it may sound to be a very good system in theory but it is proves to be a terrible system in theory. It is because at length you may be forced to have a great amount of money at risk for just a little profit.
Positive Progression Systems
The other method is Positive Progression system that includes pyramiding or having a profit ride. The players wish to gamble with money that they have won quite aggressively to win big amounts. The downside of the Positive Progression system is the players’ zeal to keep on the winning schedule. The player wants a long series of wins and the odds are potently against him. In fact, the house edge says that the player may not win and it will be more obvious with as long the player plays.
I am Kenasen a freelance writer SEO Web Designer with deep interest in casino. I have written many articles and published many of them online. I have designed website on online casino and casinos.
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