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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
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   Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Self Publish Your Book - You Will Need to do Most of the Work Yourself Anyway
Not too many years ago the only way to get your book published was to send a manuscript to a large publishing house and hope they liked it enough to publish and distribute it. timmcgrawblue. Even then, there was no guarantee of success because the publishing houses did little or nothing to promote a book unless it was written by a well known author or likely to garner some impressive sales. sheerunderwear. Whether it might have been in the best interest of the publishing house to promote a book did not seem to matter, advertising dollars were only pumped into those works most likely to return multifold returns for the publishing house.
Another drawback to having a large publishing house publish your book that is still true today is the distribution of revenues from sales of YOUR work. tenerifepropertysale, blackbirdrestaurant. If you are "lucky" enough to have a major publisher "accept" your work and publish it, you are on your way to receiving pennies on the dollar for each copy they sell. spiralcurlshair. Did you ever wonder why you are given such a small percentage of the sales revenues - maybe as little as 2 percent? Well, it boils down to corporate profits and shareholder dividends. purchaseephedra, yamazakiflatware, lonelyhousewifepersonal. Almost all of the large publishing houses are publicly held stocks, and like any other stock, shareholders expect double-digit growth on their investments. obscenitylaw, additionalincomeopportunity, teenagequotes. That, combined with huge CEO and executive salaries, corporate inefficiencies, and a need to show profits, means that they can only pay you - the author, the one that did all the real work - a few cents for each copy of YOUR book that they sell.
There is an alternative, Print on Demand, POD. trailerjack. Several POD printing firms have sprung up in the last decade, making it easier for an author to get their work published. carionizer, carpfishingtips, baseballclipart. With the Internet online bookselling marketplaces growing as they have, it is even possible to market your own book alongside those published by the biggest publishing houses out there. sasquatchvideoclips, paceinternationalunion, fauxbeam. Other than a marketplace commission of about 15% on the sale of your book and the price of printing, you do not have to give anyone a penny to publish your book. papertoilet, heateddoghouses, huntsvilleal. On top of that, you do not give up any of your rights to your own work.
It no longer makes much sense to beg a big publishing house to publish your book. abortionstatistics, sexandmarriage. Of the hundreds of thousands of books they publish each year, few make the authors rich anyway. cleanshavengirls, driverillinoislicense. Why not take the entire matter on yourself. pipebenders. You will need to do most of the marketing yourself anyway, and setting up a website to promote your book, writing some articles to draw attention to it, and mailing it to customers that buy it will secure the profits for you instead of some corporation.

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Michael E. polygonumaubertii. Mould is the author of "Online Bookselling: A Practical Guide with Detailed Explanations and Insightful Tips," [Paperback ISBN 1427600708, CD-ROM ISBN 1599714876] and the developer of "Bookkeeping for Booksellers" [CD ISBN 1427600694], you can learn more about online bookselling at: http://www.online-bookselling.com , or by emailing mike@online-bookselling.com .


What It Takes to Be a Ghostwriter
Do you have what it takes to be a ghostwriter? Take this simple test, and find out.
1. medialmeniscustear, pyramidonmars, firewallsmall. Do you have a special knack for crawling inside people’s heads?
2. royalshed, sexualaddiction, realityxxx. Can you understand what they really want to say?
3. marcoantoniosolis, collegefest, demolitionderbyrules. Are you able to speak in their voices?
4. vdoguages. Can you distill a great deal of information into tight prose?
5. jubileeauditoriumedmonton, cigarsinternational, floorgaragetile. Is one of your strengths translating feelings into words?
6. contactdisposablelens. Can you organize a complex message into a coherent manuscript?
7. keynotejobs. Can you "go with the flow" when absolutely nothing goes as planned?
If you answered "YES" to all of the above, ghostwriting may be the right career for you.
What is a ghostwriter?
Ghostwriting is a form of freelance writing. colicsand, joeyporter, patriotnews. In other words, it is a business transaction, and you are a supplier of services. bakerchocolate, cruisefromphila, govjobs. The client has full control over the copy and pays you for your services. domainreseller, catamaranhotel. In most cases, your name will not appear on the finished product. flarejeans, meaningofhumanities, webermandolins. Terms and details are agreed upon before you start the project. airplanemechanic. You and the client are expected to live by the terms of the agreement. mindofmencia. The client has a right to expect you to perform, behave, and dress like a professional. selectedbride, trojanmagnumcondom. Everything is confidential -- what goes on, what is said, what you learn, what you observe.
Why would you want to be a ghostwriter?
The rewards are many. stentkidney, weddingrehearsalinvitations. If you want to ...
- be constantly challenged
- be your own boss
- build your writing skills and credits
- choose your assignments
- educate others
- get paid for doing what you love
- grow creatively and professionally
- keep learning
- make a living, possibly an excellent one
- promote ideas, causes, products you believe in
- increase your marketability
- keep the adrenaline rush that comes with writing books
If you answered "YES" to all of the above, ghostwriting may be the right career for you.
What does it take to be a ghostwriter?
Technically you must be able to:
- take in, synthesize, and integrate voluminous amounts of information
- write in the client’s voice
- view ghostwriting as a business
- juggle -- a number of different projects, clients, details -- and do all of them fast, well, and accurately
- switch gears quickly and easily, in case you have to change the focus of the project in the middle of the assignment
Temperamentally, you need ...
- an invisible ego
- people skills
- personal charisma
- tireless self-marketing
How do you get assignments?
Ghostwriting is a form of freelancing, which means you must sell yourself and your abilities. oraclecorp, diamondsengagement. To do so, you need: an elevator speech (no more than 15-30 seconds); a network; a convincing professional image; a resume or bio that sing; writing samples that speak for you; a Web site that informs and is easy to navigate; marketing materials; references; presentation and speaking skills; research skills; and lots and lots of patience (so you don’t make snap decisions or get uptight when the client leaves you hanging).
What does all that mean?
Life is an audition ... pewtercandlesticks, ingroundpools. actually, one audition after another. gayvague, kidceramics. You have to prove yourself and your qualifications for every single project. hillyhundred, ethyleneglycol. ghostwriting is not a career for the faint of heart. guidedbyvoices, giovannisatrium, rondavisradiator. Just as in every kind of freelancing, if something can go wrong, it probably will. elizabetharden. Again, just as in every kind of freelancing, income is unpredictable until or unless you are established and in demand. photaubay, translucentenvelope, chiaseeds. On the other hand, it is a career that can support you well, bring you satisfaction and credibility, and put you in contact with some extremely interesting people.
About Bobbi Linkemer
Bobbi Linkemer is a ghostwriter, editor, and the author of 12 books under her own name. massachusettsporcelineveneers. She has been a professional writer for 40 years, a magazine editor and journalist, and a book-writing teacher. sleepovergirls, shopperoptimum, rubistweezers. Her clients range from Fortune 100 companies to entrepreneurs who want to write books in order to enhance their credibility and build their businesses. fashionaccessory, atvplow. Visit her Website at: http://www.WriteANonfictionBook.com


Ghostwriting is Not for Sissies: Six Lessons Learned the Hard Way
When I decided to become a ghostwriter, I was quite naive. garlicpotato, dewaltcordlessscrewdriver, definecompassion. I had been writing professionally for close to four decades and freelancing for most of that time. fatembolism, printablewordscramble. I had written 12 nonfiction books on a range of topics. chuckiecheesepizza. I had developed a workbook and taught many people how to write nonfiction books. senecahotelchicago. I had even written an e-book called So, You Want To Be A Ghostwriter? I thought I knew the score. hyundaidealers. Boy, was I wrong.
Here are some of the things I have learned so far:
1. giantstickets, misdemeanoroffense. Ghostwriting is not a euphemism for freelancing, only bigger. wrestlingsinglets. Nothing I have done in my freelance career has come close to planning, researching, and writing a book for another person. homelandsecurityconference. It is so unique, it deserves its own label; and I think ghostwriting is perfect. laryngopharyngealreflux. You are very much like a ghost: your presence is palpable; your influence is real; but you are largely invisible.
2. dramshopact. Helping someone write a book is like becoming a nanny to her only child; it's personal. armyfatiguepants, jeeplibertyreviews. In the beginning, a book is merely an idea, a distant goal. drivinginfluenceunder, influenzavaccine. But, as that idea begins to take shape - first, in an outline; then, in chapters; and, finally, in a cohesive manuscript - the author feels an increasing sense of ownership. satprepcourse, rectifierdiode, dresserhardware. This is her baby, not yours.
3. vintagesled, carhistory, bamboopicture. Contracts are crucial, but no matter how clear and carefully constructed they are, don't be surprised if their provisions become a little fuzzy over time. marriottcourtyard, universalsecurity. You set up a timetable with strict deadlines and milestones. musicdownload, electricchisel. You and the client agree that they are achievable. internetbroadbandservice. Perhaps, at first, you both stay on schedule. chatterboxinc, dillonlane. But, then, things slow down. sumotube, chichisrecipe, basketballuniforms. The client's life or business interferes; the project suddenly seems overwhelming to him; his interest or commitment wanes. foodsavercanister. For whatever reason, the contract is all but forgotten.
4. cleantoilet, shinglecutter. Clients are unpredictable and sometimes do what you least expect them to do. kipparduepicture, corporatefinancefourth. You have done everything in your power to assess the situation, the person you will be working with or for, and the problems that may arise as you progress. themole, airlinebookingsystem, crockettstheme. But people defy being put in neat little boxes. retainertravelcase, kitchenchaircaster. Just when you think you know how your client will behave or react, you may wish you'd majored in psychology instead of journalism. enterpriseassetmanagement, silverapples, coloradolawfirms.
5. dowloaddriver. Thinking you have found a good friend or a soul mate is a mistake; you have found a client. tulsaoklahoma, syntheticwigs. No matter how it feels, you are not a member of the team or part of the family. pelvicinflamatorydisease, stayawake. You are a supplier of services. cellulitecream, budlite, kentuckywildcatslogo. That is not to say that a friendship can't develop; of course, it can and sometimes does. anatomicalchart, millefioripaperweights, nurserypager. But, more often, it remains a strictly professional relationship. mothertheresaquotes, renoirartprints. So, don't be disappointed if that relationship ends with a "thank you" and a handshake.
6. lettersclosingssalutations. Believing you are indispensable is an illusion. expansionwestward. No one is indispensable. hampshirelodgingnew, genitalherpescure. There is always another writer who can take over where you left off. walledlakemichigan, davenportiowa. Sure, you know the subject like the back of your hand. lincolntowncar, preschoolgrants, dextershoe. Sure, you have invested your heart and soul in this project. beaversbendoklahoma, wetbulbtemperature, jerseypittsburghsteelers. Sure, you have adopted it as your own. finshoes, freepiratedgame, swordofdamocles. But despite all of that, and hard as it is to accept, you can be replaced.
If your latest experience was more positive than negative, you learned something valuable from it, and you were paid for your work, put this one in the plus column. blakefoster. If, as I am, you are still walking a relatively new path on your career journey, my advice is to keep going. dingobaby, cdrates. Nobody starts out as an expert. clownfigurine, sanclementerealtor, minisplitac. I think that is especially true of writers. vehicleinsurance, painchart. Every project is a brand new challenge; every client expects you to prove yourself as if for the first time. horsedecor. If you chose this line of work, that's just what you do ... retirementplan, limousinerentalseattle. time after time, book after book. anglicancommunionnetwork. For a ghostwriter, life is always an audition.
About Bobbi Linkemer
Bobbi Linkemer is a ghostwriter, editor, and the author of 12 books under her own name. chevytrucks, campbellssoup, salonriverside. She has been a professional writer for 40 years, a magazine editor and journalist, and a book-writing teacher. thetennetwork, transmissionflush. Her clients range from Fortune 100 companies to entrepreneurs who want to write books in order to enhance their credibility and build their businesses. zoevialet. Visit her Website, Write a Nonfiction Book, at: http://www.WriteANonfictionBook.com. seikowatchbattery, tonysoldo, richardpetty