Ezine Receive monthly updates from the site. News of competitions, sites, and more.
Looking Over The Writer's Shoulder: "The storyteller becomes bound by his own decisions; he must follow one chosen route from beginning to end." A new article by Paul Grainger looks at the writing process from the perspective of the writer and the reader.
Things to do to Avoid Writing: Katie Gould takes a wry look at the things authors find to do to avoid writing.
Our 'Writer in Residence' Paul Saevig considers how to tackle writing advice: 'Choosing Your Training as a Writer': or 'How To Evaluate Teachings on Writing For Your Own Best Interest', looks at the problems the plethora of guidance can create.
California Literary Review: Insightful, irreverent book reviews, thought provoking essays, and interviews with talented authors.
How To Write A Book: Information on how to write a book including book writing tips, how to write a fiction book, writing childrens books, writing fantasy books, writing a book proposal, book writing software, format for writing a book, and books on writing.
Self Publishing: Information on self publishing including self publishing books, self publishing presses, self publishing printing, self publishing software, self publishing services, self publishing children's book, self publishing comparison, self publishing sites, and childrens self publishing.
GodSeed: Promoter of the Sci_Fi and Fantasy Author. Our members post their books to our library and bookstore. Enter short story contests. Member book reviews.
Dynamic Fiction: was developed to establish an online presence for amateur writing. Our goal is to provide a central internet location for users to read and comment on fictional stories, book reviews, essays, poems and more. Dynamic Fiction's content is rooted in the idea that group effort yields higher quality material, so we encourage you to give us feedback and and we wish to entertain each and every user by doing so.
Man In The Moon: a website for poetry written by children. Here you can read lots and lots of brilliant poems, read all about children's poet Michael Rosen and play some games. You can also pick up some tips for writing your own poetry, learn a few toe-curling jokes and e-mail us your poems.
hagsharlotsheroines: Hagsharlotsheroines is a vibrant new story telling site, filled with tales of raging demons, pioneering physicians, infamous pickpockets, fickle goddesses, heroic fighter pilots, inspirational artists, chariot riding warriors, pretenders to the throne, witches, writers, murderers, revolutionaries, spies. and all women; members of the so called "weaker" sex. We welcome submissions from our members and provide a valuable writer's tool kit for aspiring writers. Access to the site requires registration - but membership is free. We also send out a monthly newsletter to members containing our Story of the Month.
Appalachian Authors' Guild: The AAG is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to provide avenues of support and networking to Appalachian authors by assisting our members in marketing and selling their products.
Articles
The Author of BEYOND THE BOOKSTORE Reveals Five (Other) Places to Sell Your
Self-Published Book
By Rusty Fischer
We all know that selling a self-published book can be a daunting task. Finding your way into the Megabookstores, as nearly anyone can tell you, is a Herculean effort that doesn't end once your book gets placed on the shelf.
So how does a self-published author rise above the depressing statistics and make his book one of the rare success stories? Simple: Stop thinking of it as a BOOK! This may be a difficult task for the literary professor who has just published his treatise on French Aristocrats in Turkish Cinema, but for the rest of us, it gets a little easier every day.
Yes, you hold in your hand a book that you self-published. You're proud of it, the cover makes you smile, and seeing your name on the spine is a dream come true. But what you also hold in your hand is a "product." Something to sell. Like soap or perfume, seashell sculptures or hand-crocheted potholders, you have just produced a consumer product.
So why be content with pawning it off on a few Megabookstores and leaving it at that?
Branch out, explore, and you are sure to find a wealth of other venues to sell your self-published book.
Here are 5-for starters:
HOME IS WHERE THE "START" IS!
Don't overlook your humble abode when starting down the long and winding road to self-publishing sales success. Whether you're a bonafide recluse or a verified party animal, you're bound to have some visitors, whether it's crazy Aunt Zelda or the bug man!
Place a consumer-friendly table in your foyer or visiting room, and display or stack eight to ten of your books in an attractive, inviting manner. Invest in a simple receipt book (for tax purposes) and place this discreetly in a nearby drawer or under a seat cushion. If your book bears the price near the bar code, explain that this is negotiable, and don't be a hard sell. Any family member, delivery person, or Bible salesman who buys your book is simply icing on the cake, so be willing to negotiate--a little.
After all, anything you make over the printing price is profit, and perhaps you can turn the profits from your living room sales into a better display rack somewhere down the road!
CUBICLE CUSTOMERS
Why limit yourself to retail outlets? You've got your foyer cash register set up at home, why not establish one at work! Invest in yet another attractive, lightweight, and simple display case, and always keep a stock of eight to ten copies of your book on hand, with more in a file cabinet if this idea takes off! Clear this one with a supervisor or boss first, and then designate space on your desk or file cabinet for your display rack and receipt book. Make inexpensive posters for the cafeteria or break rooms, and you might even want to go so far as to create cut-off "coupons" giving employees a 10-20% discount off the regular sale price. Depending on the size of your company, this could be a real winner for you-and your self-published book sales!
GAS ATTACK!
Individually owned and operated gas stations or auto repair shops are another alternative to bookstores. Waiting rooms are full of antsy customers tired of the Sports page and battered Field & Streams, and placing a display case in a popular spot, such as near the complimentary coffee machine or television is a great way to develop customer demand. Just make sure you have an agreement with the shop owner concerning customer theft, and you could find that car repair customers turn out to be some of our more avid readers--and hopefully--customers!
GET FIT!
Depending on your body type, and type of book, the local gym or fitness center could just be a great place to rack up some very "healthy" sales. Anything to do with food or fitness, fashion or sports would have a great chance of picking up extra sales between the sauna and the shower, and even books that specifically appeal to men or women, such as adventure stories for the former and romances for the latter, can be offered along with the spandex and headbands in the obligatory gift shop on their way out.
Whether this gift shop is just a greasy sales counter or a stand-alone storefront at your local gym, don't overlook this great place to offer your self-published book.
REUNITED (AND IT SELLS SO GOOD!)
Planning a family reunion anytime in the future? If so, be sure to bring a carton of books and have them ready for quick sale. If not, WHY not? Your family members are some of the only built-in customers you'll find-anywhere! So you might as well take advantage of them. After all, not only will most of them buy a copy, but many will want to buy copies to sell to their friends, or even give away down at the Moose Lodge or retirement home. After all, nothing's worth more than bragging rights to a loyal family member! And signing your books ahead of time makes them keepsakes to treasure for generations to come.
*****
Rusty Fischer is the author of BEYOND THE BOOKSTORE, where you'll find 101 (Other) Places to Sell Your Self-Published Book, available at www.bookbooters.com.
This web site is Copyright © 2000-2011, Author-Network.com.
contact: beth@author-network.com
Please send us links, details of competitions, news, etc., to post on site.
We are always looking for well-written material for the site, but we are only interested in articles, essays, and columns on writing related issues. We DO NOT pay for contributions, but are more than happy to list a short bio, credits and links. See submission guidelines.
News Publishing news and updates from booktrade.info.
Looking for somewhere to send your book for review?
Authors: Due to popular demand we have started an 'authors' page. If you are an author send us a short bio, including any appropriate links, and details of one book you have written and we will post it on site. See also The e-authors Directory.
Promotion
Reviews
Toot Your Horn
Checklist Critique
rejectioncollection.com: The writer's online source for misery, commiseration and inspiration? Postings are anonymous, laughs and catharsis are free.
Creative Novel Writing: Roselle Angwin runs a year-round programme, which ranges from retreats on the Isle of Iona to a nine-month novel writing course (based on her book CREATIVE NOVEL WRITING, [Robert Hale, 1999, 2002]) which was featured in The Guardian - and many more. Roselle is an author and poet, and Director of the Fire in the Head creative writing programme.
WhenTeensWrite: Copyrighting Services, Writing Tips, Teen Chat, Poetry, and Much More - When Teens Write, The One Stop Source For Any Aspiring Writer.
Learning Curve: Offer a range of innovative courses in Creative Writing, Fiction Writing, Freelance Journalism. Writing for Television, Radio and Chidren. They help students to rediscover their creative abilities, as well as developing their writing skills - their tutors are experienced editors, writers, publishers and producers.
Burning Leaf: is a literary website featuring original fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, critical essays, photography and art.
The Italian-American Press: posts literature by Italian-Americans and other self-published authors whose books all too often go unnoticed or are ignored by the media. This service is free.
RITRO.com:Volunteer based e-zine with new content daily. They publish and accept submissions in poetry and articles in many departments. There are also message boards, online diaries, and voting polls. Checking submission guidelines is a must before sending in any work.
www.freelance-tips.com: Free newsletter offering tips on marketing, niche marketing, negotiating a contract, getting referrals, pricing your work, building your portfolio and more...
www.writersarena.com: is an international website for aspiring writers. Offering information, advice and showcasing.
The Handy Little Book for Writers by Lynne Hackles is packed with hints and tips for all writers of all genres at all levels. There is something in it to inspire everyone. It's all packed into a 44-page A6 booklet with a distinctive purple cover. The book was published in September by NAWG Publications. It costs a mere £2.99 (with 50p towards cost of post and packing - cheques payable to NAWG). You can order the book from The Handy Little Book for Writers, 40 Burstall Hill, Bridlington, East Yorkshire YO16 7GA.
IWanthatBook: Online Bookshop for difficult to find reference books. IWanthatBook aims to be the place for academics and students alike to order the books they want - simply, securely and cost-effectively.
Freelancers In The UK
The UK's most comprehensive list of freelance writers and copywriting information!
Resourceaid: Resource site for everything to do with the arts. Full of newsletters, articles, links and other resources - ALL FREE - in one easy to navigate site to save time and money.
Today's Woman: A community for men and women over 18, where writers, poets & columnists meet and exchange ideas, contest, rate and review and help each other succeed in the writing industry.
thefictionwritersjourney.com: articles on writing, prompts, exercises from novelist and writing coach, Emily Hanlon. Writing.Com: An online community for writers of all ages, interests and skill levels. Anyone may create a free portfolio and exchange feedback with other writers. We were amongst Writer's Digest's 101 "Best Websites For Writers, 2005" and have thousands of writers within our community.
Today's Writer: a community for men and women over 18, where writers, poets & columnists meet and exchange ideas, contest, rate and review and help each other succeed in the writing industry.
The Argotist Online: is devoted to poetry and poetics. It publishes non-mainstream poetry, and features essays and interviews sympathetic to it. Currently it has interviews with Charles Bernstein, Marjorie Perloff, Ron Silliman, Rupert Loydell; and poems by Sheila E Murphy, Annabelle Clippinger, and Hank Lazer among others.