Independent publishing has become a huge force in the publishing industry. Authors are taking charge of their book’s fate and using the Internet to successfully market their own books. Authors also like the idea of collecting 100% of the royalties from book sales.

Although self-publishing can seem daunting, by following these 25 steps you can have a quality book in as little as four to six months.

Step 1: Finish the manuscript

Step 2: Decide on a Title

Step 3: Clean up the manuscript as best you can

Step 4: Have friends and family read your book. Ask for feedback

Step 5: Hire a professional editor

Step 6: Decide on the book’s size (e.g., 5 x 8, 6 x 9, etc.)

Step 7: Hire a professional cover designer

Step 8: Hire an interior layout designer

Step 9: Create a publishing company

Step 10: Write back cover copy

Step 11: Get testimonials and/or reviews from those in your genre

Step 12: Get a professional author photo

Step 13: Purchase domain name(s) (e.g., Book’s Title, Publisher’s Name, Your Name/Author Name)

Step 14: Purchase Web hosting package (for book’s Web site or author’s Web site)

Step 15: Purchase ISBN (www.isbn.org)

Step 16: Get Bar Code

Step 17: Get LCCN (Library of Congress Control Number)

Step 18: Obtain Sales Tax license(s)

Step 19: Hire a reputable printer

Step 20: Register with Bowker’s Books in Print

Step 21: After layout: send to a professional proofreader

Step 22: Start marketing your book for pre-sales and to create a buzz
- Online (social networking sites, author groups, Amazon.com)
- Reviews from newspapers & magazines
- Offer a weekly newsletter to build a readership
- Join organizations
- Become a speaker
- Contact independent book stores
- Other: Niche marketing

Step 23: Accept the proofed copy

Step 24: Order your books from the printer

Step 25: Start working on your next book

Confused or don’t have enough time to go through these steps? Hire an author’s assistant. One who’s trained in helping you walk through the steps to self-publish. V and E Services specializes in guiding authors through the self-publishing maze. From manuscript to self-publishing success! Contact me for more information: Karen@VandEServices.com

As an editor by trade and a writer by passion, I know how hard it can be to get your thoughts on paper. Your inner editor constantly detours your writing flow by criticizing your grammar, word choice, and punctuation. You can stop your inner editor by putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and letting the words flow. Even if you consciously know you should be more specific or know you’ve added extra words, forgive yourself and move on. Nobody ever writes a perfect first draft. Once your work is on the computer, run it through the grammar and spell check, and then use these 7 tips to help make your writing better.

1) Persuade and motivate your reader. It’s your #1 goal when writing. Provide your readers with smartly expressed thoughts by choosing words that drive your sentences from one to the next and create a seamless reading experience. Think of the horse-before-the-cart analogy. That cart’s not going anywhere until the horse pulls it into action.

2) Paint a picture. Would you rather eat a chocolate dessert or a creamy, chocolate layer cake? A piece of fruit or a crisp, juicy apple? Drive a car or drive a luxury Jaguar with soft, leather seats and new-car aroma? Your readers won’t see what you’re talking about unless you paint a vivid picture.

3) Clear the clutter. Words like “that, so, very, and much.” Look at your sentences closely—how many times do you use these words in your writing?  Are they necessary? If extra words are not adding to the sentence, leave them out.

4) Pick a style—and stick with it. Whether you prefer formal or informal writing, use the same tone throughout your piece to create fluidity and keep your readers focused. Formal writing is used in professional writing, technical writing, and most business writing. Informal writing creates a more casual tone and uses contractions liberally (i.e., you’re vs. you are; won’t vs. would not, and so on).

5) Walk away. Put your draft down and walk away for an hour, a day or a week. After a short break, you’ll view your draft in a different light and be able to pick up what you missed earlier. Sometimes all it takes is a new perspective.

6) Get another set of eyes. Don’t be embarrassed (or too proud) to let someone read your work. Step back from your writing and let an objective set of eyes view your work from a reader’s point of view. Remember: feedback is your friend.

7) Edit, edit, edit. Editing and proofreading will make the difference between mediocre and magnificent. It’s important to rework your writing, but it’s even better to hand your work over to a professional editor. An editor’s job is not to criticize, judge or take away your voice; their job is to make your writing better.

Web Content That Works!

Statistics show you have only 6 seconds to hook a visitor into staying at your Web site or clicking away.

You may think all the flash and bells and whistles are captivating your visitors; and that may be true, but by the time they’ve looked at all your cool stuff, 4 or 5 seconds have been wasted.

If you haven’t lost them already, and most likely you have, they may take one more second to actually start reading your content. You’re now at the critical 6-second mark.

Your Web site is your company’s online brochure. Your content has to be engaging. You have to show your reader how they can benefit from your products or services right now or they’re gone!

Here are 8 tips guaranteed to make your web content sizzle and have your visitors wanting more:

Start with a question - Take a look at any successful ad campaign. (Got Milk?) Most of them start with a question.  That’s because a question compels your reader to read on.  You’ve set an action to continue because you’ve asked a question and now your reader feels compelled to answer.

Who’s your target audience - Treat each reader as your only reader and talk directly to them.  Break down your target audience by age, income, business and location.  Then write out a detailed description of just one person in that audience.  When writing your content, speak only to that person.

In web content, “white space” is good - Cut down your content for clarity and brevity.  People are busy.  Don’t make them click all over the place to find what they want.  Use shorter words when possible.  Instead of “corresponded with” use “wrote.”  And keep your paragraphs short.  Three to four sentences per paragraph are enough.  You want to create a clean, uncluttered look.

Choose action words over passive words - The passive verb is blah.  It’s true; a passive verb makes for a weak, roundabout way of saying something.  Great writing consists of using more action verbs than adjectives. Instead of, “I have been working for 15 years…” say, “I worked 15 years for….”

Explain simply and clearly what you will do for them - A long explanation of facts is boring.  On a separate sheet of paper, write down what you can offer in five words.  Now take those five words and put them into benefit-oriented sentences.  Use words like, I can, I will and Let me!  Be truthful though.  Don’t try to sound grandiose or guarantee what you can’t deliver.

Choose words and phrases that sell - Your #1 goal in writing web content is to persuade and motivate your customer to act.  End each sentence with a strong word persuading your reader to act or read on.  “Best of all…” “And that’s not all…” “Win” and “Free” are all persuasive words or phrases.

Tell your reader what to do - Very important.  Don’t just assume your reader will buy — tell them what to do and where to do it.  “Click Here” and “Buy it Now!” “Don’t Wait - Buy Today!” will influence your reader to take action.

Sprinkle your copy with keywords for maximum SEO (search engine optimization) - Not only is it important to put keywords in your HTML title, you’ll want to sprinkle them throughout your copy as well.  Search Engine robots not only search key words in your title, they’ll look for matching words throughout your copy, which will in turn rank your web site higher in the search engines.

Virtual Book Tours (VBT) also known as Virtual Author Tours (VAT) are fast becoming the best way to market your book online. Here are 10 tips to help you create a successful virtual book tour:

1.   Create a Web page

Set up a Web page specifically for the Virtual Book Tour (VBT). This is where you will send potential tour stop hosts so they can sign up to join your VBT. This site should also capture contact information and put it in your shopping cart system for future email promotions.

2.   Create a book trailer

Create a dynamic book trailer. Don’t skimp on this step. This will be one of the main reasons people sign up for the book tour. A good book trailer acts along the lines of a movie trailer. It’s your hook to draw people in, get them curious and asking for more.

3. Do your research

Spend a lot of time carefully doing Internet research to find areas that fit your target market. (Are you writing about self-help, women’s issues, business, a fantasy novel?). Search more than just blogging sites. Search for web radio, newsletters, article submissions, and social networking sites.

4. Create a killer pitch letter geared to your target market

Create a pitch letter, stating who you are, what you are doing, and add links to the Web site and the book trailer. Personalize the letter and specifically gear it to your target audience, and make sure it doesn’t sound canned or come off as a mass email.

5.   Offer more than blogging

Again, offer more than just blogging as a means for your tour stop hosts. Podcasts, Q&A sessions, live interviews, phone interviews, articles for newsletters, Internet radio interviews, all work, as well as blogs. The easier you can make it for your tour stop host, the better response you’ll receive.

6.   Create a tracking spreadsheet

Create a spreadsheet including all the sites you’ve found, the contact information, when you contacted them, what you can offer that particular contact (i.e., will you blog for them, do a Q&A session, live interview, podcast?) and make a column for responses. Then use an online calendar (Outlook, Google, Yahoo all have calendars that will work just fine) to see who’s doing what, when, and where.

7.   Follow up at least four (4) times

Once you have all these steps in place, you are ready to start contacting each person on our list along with their personal pitch letter. If you don’t get a response right away, follow up (at least four times) with a different pitch letter each time. (It’s not as necessary to personalize these follow up letters.) And, don’t waste time with those that don’t respond after the fourth try. Move on to a new group of contacts. If you’ve written a good pitch letter, most of your responses will come in after the first or second try.

8. Start your own blog

Post what’s happening with your VBT in your blog. Add each tour stop date and plug the tour stop host’s company, their Web site and their contact information.

9.   Send Goodies

Offer to send a copy of your book to your tour stop host along with other possible freebies, (i.e., a workbook, a report, an audio CD, etc.). And don’t forget a thank you note.

10. Ask for referrals

Ask your tour stop host for referrals of people they know that would benefit from your book. You’ll find that if you offer quality content and are passionate and enthusiastic about your book then others will be too.

The only Virtual Assistant to be featured on network television, listen to my interview with Melanie O’Kane talk about my new book, Grammar Done Right, as well as how using an editor and author’s assistant can help your business grow. Inquiring minds also wanted to know what it was like to be showcased on the Today Show.

Buy Grammar Done Right at www.grammardoneright.com
Buy A-Z Guide: The Best Ways to Work with a VA at www.vandeservices.com

 Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 17 at 7:00p (CST).

I am interviewed by host Sandra Yancey founder and CEO of eWomenNetwork.  We’ll talk about how an author’s assistant can help writers and authors take their writing concepts to publishing success!

The show is broadcast live from the Dallas, Texas studios of WBAP News/Talk 820, an ABC/Disney Company, and the #1 listened-to radio station in Texas.

WBAP is heard in 80% of the USA . Most people will be able to hear the eWomenNetwork.com show right from their radio by tuning to 820 on the AM dial (in Dallas).

All others, please listen on the web at: 
 http://www.ewomennetwork.com/radioshow.html

Karen is a freelance editor and certified author’s assistant, committed to helping authors take their writing concepts to publishing success by helping them through all steps of the publishing process.

Karen is also the author of The A-Z Guide: The Best Ways to Work with a Virtual Assistant and Grammar Done Right! A clear, commonsense approach to grammar and style.

I’m please to announce that one of my author clients is in the midst of a whirlwind Virtual Book Tour.

Gabriella Goddard’s Gulp! The 7 Day crash course to master fear and break through any challenge” is the ground-breaking guide that can change your life . . . in one week!

Gulp! is one of those moments at the crossroads of life that call for you to step out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s taking a new business opportunity or leaving a bad relationship, you know in your heart that it’s time to take on your fears and insecurities and make the decision that can lead to the life you’ve always wanted. But how do you overcome the endless second-guessing that leaves you forever on the precipice of change?

View the book trailer and join the book tour at: http://www.gulptogether.com

Visit the author at: http://www.gulptime.com

If not now . . . then when?

GRAMMAR TIPS from The Red Pen EditorDid you miss me? I sure did miss you!Can you believe that I have been sending out weekly grammar tips since March of 2005 and that I have accumulated over 100 tips? I know, I couldn’t believe it either!

I look forward to sending you more great Grammar Tips in 2008.Next week . . . Is your sentence active or passive?Happy Writing!
– Karen Reddick, The Red Pen Editor

Hi, all my aspiring (and seasoned) virtual assistant friends!
You should take advantage of the teleseminar below where you can get your questions answered and learn how you, too, can become a successful virtual assistant.

F r e e Teleseminar sponsored by The Univeristy of Virtual Assistants (www.uofvas.com)

So you want to be a VA?

Bring your questions and get the answers on how to start your business, what skills and experience you will need, what technology you should have, what VAs do and how they do it. Get the answers to those burning questions about launching your VA business!

The teleseminar is f r e e of charge and limited to the first 15 participants. Hurry! There are only a few seats left!

When: Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at 9 a.m. MDT (11 a.m. EDT, 10 a.m. CDT, 8 a.m. PST)

Where: Via telephone. Conference call information will be sent via email once you have registered.

To RSVP send an email to
Cheryl@UofVAs.com. You are welcome to include your question in the text of the email and I will personally answer it for you during the teleseminar!

If you have any other questions about the teleseminar, please call Cheryl at 1-877-244-6974 (ex. 4 to leave a voicemail).

I hope to see you there!

Karen Reddick,MVA/Owner
Author Support / Editorial Services
Celebrating 6 years in business!
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 Webs: http://www.VandEServices.com * http://www.TheRedPenEditor.com
 Podcast: Red Hot Grammar Tips Podcast

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 Not exactly sure how a Virtual Assistant
can help grow your business? Buy this e-book:
A-Z Guide: The Best Ways to Work With a VA

I’m always searching for great books to share with my readers and sometimes those great books just happen to land right in my lap.

Copywriting 101 by Allison Nazarian is one of those books. This do-it-yourself guide to writing your marketing copy correctly, persuasively and stress-lessly is a wonderful guide for Small Buisnesses, Entrepreneurs, Coaches & Consultants who want to add more polish, professionalism, and power to their writing.

The book is full of tools, tips and ideas on writing effective copy for your marketing materials, blogs, newsletters, or anything you want written well.

 I especially loved the writing exercises Allison takes you through in several of the chapters. It’s like having a live, hands-on coach right there with you.

This book is a must have for anyone wanting to master the art of successful copy.

Find out more at Get It In Writing http://www.GetItInWriting.biz or email Allison at info@GetItInWriting.biz

Happy Writing!