Getting Your Book Published - How to Choose the Right Editor For You and Your Manuscript

by L Murdock
There are a lot of things you should consider when hiring an editor to help you hone writing chops and polish your manuscript.

• Experience/skill level/past successes (How did your editor become an editor? Who has he or she worked with?)
• Pricing structure/total cost (Make sure you're getting what you're paying for!)
• Personality (Do you click?)
• Areas of expertise (Does the editor know your genre? If your book is too close in plot to another book on the market, would the editor notice?)
• Business philosophy (Can you ask questions after the edit is complete? How accesable is the editor before/during/after the edit or eval is complete? Is this a person you can count on?)

The process can certainly be confusing, but following the 5 steps below should keep you on the right track.
1. Go with your gut. For a full-length book, you'll likely be working with an editor for at least a few weeks; I've worked with some of my writers over several years and several books. The editing and evaluation process works best and will be the most valuable to you if you can develop a friendly, easy relationship with your editor. Early conversation - whether by e-mail or phone - should leave you feeling confident that you're working with someone who wants to help you succeed. If you don't feel comfortable with one editor, move on to another.
2. Get a second opinion. I always recommend that writers ask for references, particularly when they're looking for an editor to perform a good deal of work (line edits, developmental editing, extensive copyediting, manuscript evaluations and critiques, etc.). Go ahead and ask an editor if you can talk to one of his or her previous clients - they'll be able to give you unique insight into the process and the value of the services you're considering.
3. Do your research. Google the editor's name and/or business name. Look for any complaints or warnings other writers may have published online. At the very least, ask the editor about any troubling posts. Of course, Google has its limitations - don't worry too much if you find that your editor's name brings up a whole cast of strange characters - there are at least 5 other Lindsay Murdocks that pop up on my GoogleAlerts - one of them actually lives only a few towns over!
Also, although I've mentioned it before, I have to reiterate - check any editor you're considering hiring against the Preditors and Editors database. Not all freelance editors are listed there - but if an editor does have complaints against him or her, chances are those complaints are documented on this site.
4. Take a taste. When you order an expensive bottle of wine at a restaurant, the server will have you take a sip before serving the rest of the bottle, just to make sure you like it. An editor should do the the same - offering you a sample edit so you can see precisely what you're getting for your money. I offer a free ten page sample edit or evaluation to ALL potential clients. Most editors I know will do the same.
5. Get it in Writing. Some editors use written contracts, some don't. At the very least, get a detailed description of what you're getting for your money, what your options are, what deliverables you can expect when, how much it's going to cost, and when payments are due. Ask questions and get answers. Remember, your editor is a professional who will be working for you.
BONUS: Be nice, and expect the same from your editor. We're all in this together!
Good luck!

Lindsay is a freelance editor and publishing consultant specializing in Manuscript Evaluation and Manuscript Critique. Read more on her blog at http://www.murdockediting.blogspot.com or her website, http://www.murdockediting.com

Website Copywriting Tips to Help Your Content Resonate

by Paul Leonard

Contrary to popular belief, being a website copywriter isn't easy. In fact, successfully copywriting content for your website can be downright tough, even without the added complication of SEO. Use the appropriate language and people will remember you - and everything you say - for all the right reasons. Use the wrong language and you could inadvertently be saying goodbye.

If you're dealing with customers face to face, it's easier to get your language right. For instance, if you own a shop, your customer is right in front of you. You can see who they are, how old they are, what mood they're in. You can pick up on all sorts of visual cues and tailor your language accordingly, without even really thinking about it.

Website copywriting is different

It's stating the obvious, but communicating with your online clientele as a website copywriter is different. You can't see your customers. You can't gauge how they are reacting to what you say, your products, your prices, anything. With this in mind, and assuming you've already done some due diligence research into your market, here are some simple website copywriting tips to make your content more engaging and effective.

The power of 'you'

Remember, as a website copywriter you're talking to a person - one customer, not some vague group or demographic. Personalize your copywriting by using 'you' to address your audience. 'You' immediately means you're talking directly to the person who's in front of their monitor looking at your website. You're engaging with them as an individual, while also giving your content a warm and inviting tone.

Using 'you' also helps you get into the right headspace. As soon as you make sure you address your reader as 'you' you'll automatically find yourself using more appropriate and conversational language. This is especially helpful if you're used to copywriting more formal documents, such as official letters and contracts instead of advertising or marketing material.

The first person, not the third

You can usually tell when a company has written their own marketing or website content in-house - more often than not, inexperienced website copywriters write in the third person. Rather than 'we' their copy refers to the business by its name, subsequently referring to the business as 'it.'

For example:

"Acme Grommits is an international grommit manufacturer with distribution centres throughout the world. Its reputation for excellence is unparalleled."

This is a copywriting mistake.

Firstly, it can be confusing and misleading, especially in situations where you're talking about partnerships or alliances with other companies. Before you know it, your reader doesn't actually know which business 'it' is.

Secondly, it simply doesn't engage your reader. It gives your copy a detached feel. Using 'we' and 'our' and 'us' in conjunction with 'you' creates a more immediate link between your business and your online audience, like so:

"Here at Acme Grommits, we're one of the world's leading grommit manufacturers, with an unparalleled reputation for excellence. You'll find our distribution centres throughout the world."

Ask questions

People like to be asked questions. Questions make you feel important and involved. That's why using website elements such as feedback forms or email surveys as a two-way conduit for dialogue with your customers is so effective. By involving your customers and asking for their input, whether it be feedback on your website or recommendations on what products they would like to see, you're developing a relationship.

The same applies to your website copywriting. Using questions within your copy, even if they are rhetorical, not only engages your audience, it makes your content feel more natural. After all, we all use questions when we're trying to make a point, don't we?

Strike the right tone

Before you start copywriting, consider your business as a brand in the context of the marketplace and your competition. If your business were a car, what make and model would it be? Is it a Mercedes or a Ford, a Ferrari or a Volvo?

By asking yourself these questions, and thinking about the style and tone of language other brands use to communicate, you'll be able to identify the right copywriting style and tone for your business and website. Big-name brands put a huge amount of money into researching their brand and the language they use to differentiate themselves, so you should take the time to consider your website copywriting style and tone too.

Use your imagination

This is the most important bit; the best way to ensure you're doing a good job as a website copywriter is to imagine your customer is sitting in front of you. Imagine you're talking directly to them. If it helps, picture someone you know who fits your demographic - a neighbour, a friend, whoever.

Imagine you have 10 seconds to make the right impression and convince them to find out more about what you and your business has to offer. What do you say? Just as importantly, how do you say it? By going through this exercise, you'll find it easier to write more convincingly, and that's half the battle when it comes to being an effective website copywriter.

Paul Leonard is a freelance advertising, website and SEO copywriter and founder member of Caboodle Copywriting, a freelance copywriting team based in Perth, Western Australia (WA). He has extensive international advertising and website copywriting experience, having worked with brands including Harrods, IBM and Amnesty International. To find out more about Paul and Caboodle Copywriting, visit http://www.caboodlecopy.com/

Practical Article Marketing Tips - Discover How to Launch Your Articles on Twitter For More Traffic

by Jeff Herring

Combining Article Marketing and Social Networking is a very powerful traffic generation strategy for your online business. Here's just one strategy you can use when you learn how to launch your articles on Twitter.

5 powerful steps

A couple of words of explanation: Twitter is a powerful "micro-blogging" platform where you can send out messages of 140 characters on less. These messages are called "tweets." When someone repeats your "tweet" this is called "re-tweeting" or "RT." I know, but that's what they are called.

Step 1 - Tweet that you are sitting down to begin a brand new article. Include the topic of the article and even the title if you have crafted one yet. This begins to build anticipation and gets people ready to "re-tweet" the announcement of your article.

Step 2 - Tweet that you have completed the article and submitted it to EzineArticles.com. Ask people to watch for it and RT for you. Further builds anticipation for your new article.

Step 3 - EzineArticles.com publishes your article - When you set up your account properly, EzineArticles.com "auto-tweets" your article to Twitter and a tweet is sent out announcing you article, with a link directly to your article.

Step 4 - You come in after the "auto-tweet" and let your followers know the new article is out and you provide the link. You can also ask that people RT it if they like it. You want to do this several times over the next few days, at different times each day, as people come in and out of Twitter all day long.

Step 5 - Many of the people following you on Twitter "re-tweet" your article and your article begins to go viral across Twitter. This is in addition to the multitude of people (15 million a month at the time of this writing) that come to EzineArticles.com to view articles.

My niche of Article Marketing is a very small sliver of a niche in Internet Marketing. I'm happy if a new article of mine receives 100 views in a month. With this strategy I've been getting 90 views in 90 minutes leading to hundreds of views in a month.

And yes, I am using this strategy about this article.

And to learn more great traffic and business building strategies with your articles, I invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to 5 Audio Samples when you visit http://www.AMTeleSeminarClub.com

Scroll down to The Club Sampler section, fair enough?

From Jeff Herring - The Article Marketing Guy & The Great Article Marketing Network

6 Simple Steps For Turning Your Articles Into an eBook Or Special Report

by Denise Willms

Have you been thinking it's time to finally write that e-book or special report? Perhaps you want to give it away to gain more subscribers for your list. Or maybe you would like to increase your passive income by selling an e-book or report.


Whatever your reason for creating it, turning your articles into an e-book is an easy way to repurpose content you've already written. Here are some steps to follow to do just that:

1. Compile articles that are on a similar theme so they work together as a book or report. If you've written an article series, or have several articles that are on one topic, these would be good candidates for your e-book or report. If you don't have this in place, take some time to write what you're missing.

2. Organize your articles into a logical format. I like to write a short introduction and conclusion for the book as well, so it feels like a book or report, not like a few articles put together.

3. Depending on how long you're making your book or report, you also might want to add a table of contents, to make the e-book easier to use.

4. I usually format the articles and content in a Word document and then publish it as a PDF to create the e-book or report. For this, I use Adobe Acrobat, but there are some good free programs as well.

5. You'll also want to add some active links to your new document, so they can visit your website or any affiliate links you have in there. If you use a table of contents, you can link that to the various articles throughout the book.

6. For an e-book, you'll want to add a professional looking cover. If you're like me and don't do graphics, you can hire a designer to create one for you.

One more quick tip - ask some of your online friends or clients to review it for you and use their testimonials on your sales page or download page. Now that you've published your first e-book, the next step is to let your market know how much it can benefit them.

Denise Willms is a professional article writer who specializes in creating content for moms. Visit http://www.wahm-articles.com/ to download her free ebook, Get Started!! Making Money by Writing WAHM Articles and learn how you can tap into this lucrative market

Five Reasons to Independently Publish Your Next Book

by Tom Cannon

For generations, the only publishing option available to would-be authors, was the traditional method of publishing, where you submitted your manuscript to one of the big publishers and hoped for the best. Modern technology has changed that paradigm. Now, anyone with a computer and an internet connection can successfully publish a book, in a plethora of formats. And most surprisingly of all, especially for those who grew up linking publishing success with the big publishing houses, is the fact that bestsellers don't have to originate in New York or London anymore.

Interesting facts about the ever-changing world of publishing:
• Independently published authors are selling millions of volumes each year - proving that creative thought can originate outside the walls of the BIG publishing houses.
• Books by independently published authors have earned their own recognition award: Independent Publisher Book Award.
• The success of electronically published books (ebooks), with millions in annual sales, have proven it is no longer necessary to print your book traditionally.

During the rise of independent publishers, the traditional publishing houses did everything they could to convince the world that their select few authors were the only people capable of telling (writing) a good story, or creating quality books. How arrogant! Certainly, we honor them for giving us some great reads through the centuries, but thanks to independent publishers, we are beginning to realize how limited the offerings were with the BIG houses.

Independent publishers have brought a breath of fresh air to the publishing world. Thanks to independent and niche publishers, the book world, which had been declining for years, is now rising like a phoenix from the ashes. A brief examination of sales data from the independent publishers, reveals what the problem was: the BIG houses were suffocating readers with their restrictive book categories and cookie-cutter ideas. (Visit my website to read my blog: How to Write a Bestseller - An Unexpected Plan That Might Surprise You)

Independent publishing has helped explode the book market. Books that were formerly rejected by the BIG houses, for the simple reason that their topic didn't fit neatly into the existing categories, or traditional molds are selling millions of copies annually. And guess who wins? Every reader who loves great books, and every author who has a great story to tell, that's who! Isn't it good to breath again?

The top five reasons you should independently publish your own book:

1. Creating quality books independently has never been easier. Thanks to technological advances in computers, and the expansion of the internet, almost anyone can publish professional-quality books on their own. You no longer need to pay someone huge money to help you publish your book. Do some research, and you'll find many ways to publish your book inexpensively. First-time publishers need to check out Lulu.com. It's a great place to start. They provide easy-to-use templates, and offer simple instructions to guide you through the process. Once you learn how the process works, you can find less-expensive options available, but the learning curve increases with most of them. That's why I recommend starting with Lulu, especially if you are printing only a few books to start.

2. Why waste your time and energy trying to convince some stuffed shirt in New York that you have a great story to tell, only to be rejected again and again? By publishing independently, you can devote your time and energy marketing your book directly to readers, instead of trying to catch the attention of an editor. For most authors, the experience will be much more rewarding in every way. (Visit my website to read upcoming article, Ten Easy Steps to Publish Your Book Independently)

3. You'll make more money publishing your book independently. Yes, you read that right. Most authors, especially first-time authors, never make much money with their book. In fact, many authors never make more than the author's advance. Compounding that problem, is the short shelf life of a traditionally published book. Considering your book will only have a few months to start earning well, or be pulled off the shelf, you can see how the possibility of future earnings you're your traditionally published book becomes almost non-existent. Such is not the case with independently published authors. I know several independently published authors who are still making sizeable incomes from their books, decades later. Note: consider joining the thousands of authors who sell millions of copies ever year, electronically. Ebook sales are skyrocketing. If you enjoy writing short stories, or novella-style books, this may be the niche for you.

4. You retain all intellectual copyrights to your manuscripts - not the BIG publishing houses. (A word to the wise: never sign away your copyrights to any printer, agent or independent publisher. Read the fine print, or have a lawyer look over the contract). Think about it: you created the work, so why sign away your rights to a publisher or agent? If you do, you'll be sorry for that decision later, because your copyright means money to you. Sign it away, and you'll get nothing for your creative efforts. Retain your copyrights, however, and the potential for creating personal wealth from your work, will forever reside in your hands.

5. You are only an internet connection away from potentially selling thousands, or even millions of books. Skeptical? You shouldn't be. Every day, more and more independent publishers are proving old-school thinkers wrong. So tell me again - what made you think the next bestseller couldn't possibly be you? Exactly.

Independent publishing is the new frontier of the book industry. Nobody knows what the future may hold, but for authors, succeeding in that world has never been easier. Why wait another minute to publish the book of your dreams, when, with a well-written manuscript, and a high-speed internet connection, you can be on your way to publishing success.

(Visit my website to read my blog: Ten Reasons YOU Should Write a Book Now)
Tom Cannon is an experienced author, and has written numerous books, including; "Two Faces in the Mirror," "Servants of the King," "Mountain Empire" and "Changing Natures."

Tom is the director of Destiny Ministry, Inc., and ministers worldwide in conferences, churches and seminars.
For more information on this topic, or to purchase books, head on over to Amazon.com, http://www.TomCannon.org, or http://www.DestinyMinistry.net bookstore.
Email: destinyministry@gmail.com
Read more blogs at: TomCannon.org