Comments for Publish My Works Resources Blog http:/www./publishmyworks.net Helping You Self Publish Your Work! Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:45:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 Comment on How to promote my book? by ThinkDamnit http:/www./publishmyworks.net/27214/how-to-promote-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-2103 ThinkDamnit Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:45:53 +0000 #comment-2103 If you've been self- or POD-published, there are plenty of things you can do to publicize your work. Of course, most of the better ideas will cost you some money, but if you're looking to pinch some pennies you might consider sites like this a good starter. Simply mention your book enough and the word will slowly start to spread. Also, if you get a chance to attend writers' conferences, keep an eye out for opportunities to listen in on a professional publicist speaking. There might also be some useful tips for self-marketing on POD and self-publishing websites. Be creative with your self-marketing, and don't let the initial deadness of sales discourage you from being persistent! -Cook If you’ve been self- or POD-published, there are plenty of things you can do to publicize your work. Of course, most of the better ideas will cost you some money, but if you’re looking to pinch some pennies you might consider sites like this a good starter. Simply mention your book enough and the word will slowly start to spread. Also, if you get a chance to attend writers’ conferences, keep an eye out for opportunities to listen in on a professional publicist speaking. There might also be some useful tips for self-marketing on POD and self-publishing websites.

Be creative with your self-marketing, and don’t let the initial deadness of sales discourage you from being persistent!

-Cook

]]> Comment on How to promote my book? by catluva http:/www./publishmyworks.net/27214/how-to-promote-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-2102 catluva Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:45:53 +0000 #comment-2102 I saw something on the barnes and noble website that pretty soon they were going to start publishing e books. check them out. I saw something on the barnes and noble website that pretty soon they were going to start publishing e books. check them out.

]]> Comment on How to promote my book? by calliecappy18 http:/www./publishmyworks.net/27214/how-to-promote-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-2101 calliecappy18 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:45:52 +0000 #comment-2101 Online reviews and blog tours are the least expensive way to promote your book, but they can be time consuming. You'll need to research online sites who review books in your sub-genre. Offer to send the site owner a free copy of your book for review. If the site is a blog dedicated to readers and writers in your sub-genre, you can contact the owner about making a guest appearance. Be sure to offer a copy of your book as a 'prize' to one person who comments on your post. I recommend you try to set up at least ten such guest blog appearances in a short span (about 2--3 weeks) in order to build up buzz about your book. Using social networks like FaceBook, My Space, and Twitter is another good way to reach potential readers without spending a lot of money. Again, offer friends and followers something other than a hard sell "buy my book" approach every day. Be friendly and upbeat. It takes time, but eventually will pay off. Finally, be sure you have a website where people can read about your book(s) and include links on where they can purchase them. Best of luck. Promotion is difficult and time consuming but is all part of a successful publishing career. Online reviews and blog tours are the least expensive way to promote your book, but they can be time consuming.

You’ll need to research online sites who review books in your sub-genre. Offer to send the site owner a free copy of your book for review. If the site is a blog dedicated to readers and writers in your sub-genre, you can contact the owner about making a guest appearance. Be sure to offer a copy of your book as a ‘prize’ to one person who comments on your post. I recommend you try to set up at least ten such guest blog appearances in a short span (about 2–3 weeks) in order to build up buzz about your book.

Using social networks like FaceBook, My Space, and Twitter is another good way to reach potential readers without spending a lot of money. Again, offer friends and followers something other than a hard sell "buy my book" approach every day. Be friendly and upbeat. It takes time, but eventually will pay off.

Finally, be sure you have a website where people can read about your book(s) and include links on where they can purchase them.

Best of luck. Promotion is difficult and time consuming but is all part of a successful publishing career.

]]> Comment on How many words long do publishers of fiction novels usually require a work to be? by David C http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26983/how-many-words-long-do-publishers-of-fiction-novels-usually-require-a-work-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-2100 David C Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:04:38 +0000 http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26983/how-many-words-long-do-publishers-of-fiction-novels-usually-require-a-work-to-be/#comment-2100 Last year I attended a seminar held by a panel of five published authors. Somebody from the audience asked a similar question. One author gave an answer that was agreed on by the rest. And it was something like this: It is a matter of marketing. Most marketers in publishing houses like to sell books from new authors that aren't more than three-hundred pages. They didn't get into the number of words, but the more "white on the page" the better. But if you are an established author with a substancial fan base you may have the freedom to type away. They (the marketers) feel the average person will not want to buy such an encumbersome book. They think we is dumb. Last year I attended a seminar held by a panel of five published authors. Somebody from the audience asked a similar question. One author gave an answer that was agreed on by the rest. And it was something like this:

It is a matter of marketing. Most marketers in publishing houses like to sell books from new authors that aren’t more than three-hundred pages. They didn’t get into the number of words, but the more "white on the page" the better. But if you are an established author with a substancial fan base you may have the freedom to type away.

They (the marketers) feel the average person will not want to buy such an encumbersome book.

They think we is dumb.

]]> Comment on How many words long do publishers of fiction novels usually require a work to be? by Persiphone_Hellecat http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26983/how-many-words-long-do-publishers-of-fiction-novels-usually-require-a-work-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-2099 Persiphone_Hellecat Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:04:38 +0000 http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26983/how-many-words-long-do-publishers-of-fiction-novels-usually-require-a-work-to-be/#comment-2099 Industry standard is 250 words per page. The average novel today runs anywhere from 100,000 to 140,000 words or thereabouts. The above answer is way off. 40 thousand words would make a novel 160 pages long - way too short. And I have personally written short stories of 12 - 20 thousand words. Pax - C Industry standard is 250 words per page. The average novel today runs anywhere from 100,000 to 140,000 words or thereabouts. The above answer is way off. 40 thousand words would make a novel 160 pages long – way too short. And I have personally written short stories of 12 – 20 thousand words. Pax – C

]]> Comment on How many words long do publishers of fiction novels usually require a work to be? by Diana P http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26983/how-many-words-long-do-publishers-of-fiction-novels-usually-require-a-work-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-2098 Diana P Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:04:38 +0000 http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26983/how-many-words-long-do-publishers-of-fiction-novels-usually-require-a-work-to-be/#comment-2098 I don't remember where I got this from: Novel:          40,000 words or more Novella:       17,500 - 40,000 words Novelette:     7,500 - 17,500 words Short story:  under 7,500 words I don’t remember where I got this from:

Novel:          40,000 words or more
Novella:       17,500 – 40,000 words
Novelette:     7,500 – 17,500 words
Short story:  under 7,500 words

]]> Comment on How many words long do publishers of fiction novels usually require a work to be? by loryntoo http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26983/how-many-words-long-do-publishers-of-fiction-novels-usually-require-a-work-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-2097 loryntoo Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:04:38 +0000 http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26983/how-many-words-long-do-publishers-of-fiction-novels-usually-require-a-work-to-be/#comment-2097 For your information a "word" is five characters long. To get an accurate word count on your manuscript, do not use the built in word counter. It doesn't use the standard measurement. You take the CHARACTER COUNT and divide by 5. You can also do an estimate by figuring 50 pages double-spaced with 1" margins and 12pt font equals 10,000 words. The length of novels varies by genre and by publisher. Romance novels are shortest at 55,000 words (Harlequin main line). Outside of romance you need to figure on a minimum of 75,000 words. In science fiction, they like 80,000 to 100,000 words, but will let you go longer if the story is worth publishing. For your information a "word" is five characters long. To get an accurate word count on your manuscript, do not use the built in word counter. It doesn’t use the standard measurement. You take the CHARACTER COUNT and divide by 5.

You can also do an estimate by figuring 50 pages double-spaced with 1" margins and 12pt font equals 10,000 words.

The length of novels varies by genre and by publisher. Romance novels are shortest at 55,000 words (Harlequin main line). Outside of romance you need to figure on a minimum of 75,000 words. In science fiction, they like 80,000 to 100,000 words, but will let you go longer if the story is worth publishing.

]]> Comment on How many words long do publishers of fiction novels usually require a work to be? by Darlene M http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26983/how-many-words-long-do-publishers-of-fiction-novels-usually-require-a-work-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-2096 Darlene M Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:04:38 +0000 http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26983/how-many-words-long-do-publishers-of-fiction-novels-usually-require-a-work-to-be/#comment-2096 It depends on the publisher and what genre of book you are writing. I finished a novel in January that is 96,000 words. The publisher I am working with wants the style of book I am writing to be around 100,000 words, give or take a little. I've seen some publishers requesting 40,000-50,000 words. Look up publishers on line who publish your genre of work and go from there. A good place to start is the Writer's Market Guide. You can get it at the library, but I would recommend buying one to have on hand. It is very handy for writers and lists tons of publishers and their requirements. Good Luck It depends on the publisher and what genre of book you are writing. I finished a novel in January that is 96,000 words. The publisher I am working with wants the style of book I am writing to be around 100,000 words, give or take a little.

I’ve seen some publishers requesting 40,000-50,000 words. Look up publishers on line who publish your genre of work and go from there. A good place to start is the Writer’s Market Guide. You can get it at the library, but I would recommend buying one to have on hand. It is very handy for writers and lists tons of publishers and their requirements.

Good Luck

]]> Comment on How many words long do publishers of fiction novels usually require a work to be? by Maryn Bittner http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26983/how-many-words-long-do-publishers-of-fiction-novels-usually-require-a-work-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-2095 Maryn Bittner Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:04:38 +0000 http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26983/how-many-words-long-do-publishers-of-fiction-novels-usually-require-a-work-to-be/#comment-2095 Slightly different take on what makes a word, FWIW. To publishers, a word is six characters (including spaces), not five. Margins should be set at 1.25 inches left and right, for a 60-character line in any Courier 12 font, with top and bottom margins and headers set to get 25 lines to the page. Voila, 250 words per page. Many genres consider the absolute minimum word count to be 60,000, although like with anything else, there are exceptions. Slightly different take on what makes a word, FWIW. To publishers, a word is six characters (including spaces), not five. Margins should be set at 1.25 inches left and right, for a 60-character line in any Courier 12 font, with top and bottom margins and headers set to get 25 lines to the page. Voila, 250 words per page.

Many genres consider the absolute minimum word count to be 60,000, although like with anything else, there are exceptions.

]]> Comment on How to get poetry published? by Milieu http:/www./publishmyworks.net/26812/how-to-get-poetry-published/comment-page-1/#comment-2094 Milieu Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:40:03 +0000 #comment-2094 Hallmark has their own writers, the occasional contest, look to their website for details. If you're looking to market your own cards, then yes, you may be looking at putting some cash up front. Hallmark has their own writers, the occasional contest, look to their website for details.

If you’re looking to market your own cards, then yes, you may be looking at putting some cash up front.

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