Manuscript Writing

Books, Big Screens, Hardcovers, and more starting out with writing your first screenplay. A couple of author friends are finding themselves writing screenplays for their books right now. How FUN. WRONG, they will have great movies/TV shows in the end, but you heard it on THE BOMBSHELL BOOK REVIEW last night from Nicole Paquin herself. Screenplay writing differs completely from manuscript writing. If you’re thinking about taking your books to the big screen, you have to do the research, and who better than to ask to seek out other than LOLO Paige and Nicole to see what it all entails and get some terrific advice from. These two fantastic authors are extremely busy, so make sure you’re ready to do the work before dropping into their DMs.

Hardcovers

There are options for hardcovers out there, but many people don’t realize that. Amazon has a beta program, and LULU is another option as well. Some of those other options will leave you to print upfront, then sell on your website and have to ship yourself, but for most, this option is too time-consuming and involved, so we pick the dropship methods. Amazon’s program is currently In Beta Mode and doesn’t allow it for everyone, but there is an excellent article in Medium that you can check out.

Blub matching book

Your blurb has to match your text. As a reader, there is nothing worse than reading a fantastic blurb, then diving into the book, and it has nothing to do with what I just read. Sure, as an author, you just did your job and had someone read your book, but you will never get me as a reader to read another one of your books. I will have a foul taste in my mouth for what you write. As an author, I hate writing blurbs; therefore, we have someone write them for us sometimes. We get all giddy when the blurb sounds fantastic, but make sure it matches the book, or you will lose readers.

Book Plates

Some people do it, and some don’t. I think it is a great idea personally. Bookplates allow you to sell your books through Amazon. Yet, you can sell a bookplate through your website for people to get a signed (whatever you think is appropriate, sticker, bookmark, etc.) to insert into their book, so they have something personalized from you. Selling those items also gives you a little extra income. This will gain you some different reader experiences and get your readers closer to you.

SWAG

As an author, if you can find something reasonable, you should have some swag for your brand. You want your readers not just to love your book but to love your brand. There are many small businesses, along with veteran-owned ones, that offer these options. We at The Authors Porch go through veteran-owned business Really Designs? as we just started offering t-shirts for all writers. They do niche down into specific branded items, and you can reach out to them via Facebook if need be or through their website, which is on their Facebook page. They are freaking fantastic.