New Year and Goals

Happy New Year!!!

I hope everyone  had a great New Year and partied like there was no tomorrow : )

As the new year dawns, I look back on the previous year and look at was accomplished on my goal list.

Every year I write goals for the year, as they are related to my writing business, then put them away only to pull them out at the end of that year.

For 2013 out of 27 goals, I accomplished 17 of them so that wasn't bad.  Then I realized there were 8 more goals I had completed that were not on the list.

I feel really good about what I accomplished in 2013.  It was a transition year for me, with moving to Washington State, getting settled in a brand new home, dealing with family and just the ups and downs of life.

I've already written my goals for 2014 and there are a lot of them, but I'm determined to make this my best year yet.

Have a great week.

Writer's Options

Writers have so many options now-a-days.

There is traditional publishing with a New York publisher where you come out in print, e-book and maybe even a book club.

There is small press publishing where you come out in e-book and print, sometimes e-book only.

Then there is self-publishing where you do everything yourself.  Usually come out in e-book and POD (Print-On-Demand)

And then there is the hybrid author who does both traditional and self-publishing or small press and self-publishing.

There is no right or wrong here.  Each writer must explore what is best for them.

But you need to research your choices.  I hear disparaging comments on all sides of the coin where one side doesn't think the other is very smart.

Talk with other writers, find out why they choose the path they did.  Learn about the business and educate yourself.

No one is going to educate you.  You have to seek out the answers.

Professional writers organizations like Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, etc.  are a good place to start.  Many of them have some basic education, but again it is up to you as the writer to make the right decision for you after you have done your research.

Also understand there are things a New York Publishing house might do that a small press may not.  Or a small press may do something better than a New York Publisher.  All have their ups and downs.

The only warning I give, is if you decide to go the self-publishing route, remember you have to do it all.  Writing, editing, proofing, copy editing, cover art, formatting, putting it up on every platform, etc.  If you're unsure of anything, hire someone.  I would particularly say hire for editing, copy editing and cover art.

You want to stand out in a sea of thousands, in a good way, make your book the best possible book it can be before you or your publisher puts it out there.

Know What Your Publisher Does for You

Pet peeve here.  If you accept an offer from a publisher, I don't care what kind of publisher, you better know what your publisher does for you.

Does your publisher just put your book out there?

Do they do edits at no charge to you?

Do they do the cover art at no charge?

Do you have input on the cover art?

Many of these are spelled out in your contract. So please, read your contract.  You are signing a legal binding agreement with the contract, make sure you know what you're getting into. 

There are also things like:

Does your publisher do any marketing for you?

Does your publisher arrange blog tours for you?

Do they give you copies to give away or must you purchase them?

Some of these may or may not be in your contract and these are things you need to know and understand. 

If  you don't know something, ask your editor and/or agent.  Or research the answer by talking to other authors published by that publisher.

Don't assume your publisher is doing something unless they've told you.  If you're not sure ask.  You won't appear stupid to the publisher, they know there are so many options out in the world. 

An example of this, I was explaining to some writing friends about my publisher putting my books into Amazon's KDP Select and how it worked out for me with the 5 free days KDP Select has.

Another published author wanted to know when she was going to get her 5 free days with Amazon and how did she set it up. 

Both myself and another writer explained, that was up to her publisher, she needed to talk to her publisher.  This author continued to go on about how if I did it why couldn't she.  I patiently explained my publisher did this, not me.  And since they published her book she needed to discuss with her publisher, she can't take the book the publisher published and make it free without them agreeing and her publisher making it free.

This is just one example.  There are so many options now-a-days.  Writers/Authors need to be informed. Writers/Authors need to do their homework.  

And just because someone else is doing it doesn't mean its the right fit for you.  You have options, explore them all.

Next week: Writer's Options