So, here it is! The final article in my series to get you writing. The first two were about how to find your idea and how to develop your content. Now: my top tips for knuckling down and actually writing. Getting down to business Turn off the internet! This is the first essential step. Do […]
Michael has been interviewed on various podcasts over the years offering advice and knowledge about self-publishing and running a small business. Here’s a few of his favourites: Conversation with Jaemin FrazerHave you ever dreamt of writing a book, but been held back by doubt, fear and insecurity? That is the topic of this podcast. Michael […]
The minimum length for a book is usually considered to be about 30,000 words. Sounds a bit daunting, right? Not if you have a plan in place before you start. In my previous article, I showed you how to find the right idea for your book for your Small Business. In this instalment, we’re going […]
When I meet people and tell them what I do for a living, a not uncommon response is, ‘I’m going to write a book one day.’ ‘Sure,’ I reply, ‘I’ll read your book while I’m flying solo around the world in the aeroplane I built out of icy-pole sticks.’ The dream of writing a book […]
It’s a new year and after the dumpster fire that was 2020, you’re feeling like you can spend some time in your business again. So what would help promote your business, make you stand out from your competitors and build your profile in your industry? A book would! In this article we introduce you to […]
Can anyone write and publish an entrepreneurial book to build their profile and promote their business? The answer is obviously yes. Below are five tips and myths on what makes a successful entrepreneurial author. First the five tips for becoming a good entrepreneurial author: Success is not about book sales. It’s about building your profile […]
You don’t need to spend big bucks to find out how to become an Amazon bestseller. When you write and publish an ebook for your small business, you can use that ebook to run an ‘Amazon bestseller campaign’, in an effort to get that coveted ‘Amazon bestseller’ logo added to your book cover. If you […]
Not that long ago it was very easy to recognise a self-published book. The design was poor, you didn’t have to look too hard to find errors or other unprofessional touches such as no ISBN or barcode, and numerous other clues. But often the biggest giveaway was obvious before you even opened the book: the […]
This is a question I am asked often: how do I get a foreword or testimonials for my book from people I respect or admire in my industry? There are a number of different ways you can approach this. The first step is usually a polite email or phone call to the person you are […]
Hey, remember when all anybody could talk about was crazy toilet paper panic buying? Already seems like ages ago, back in those days when we were all still going to the movies and having Sunday brunches in a cafe. So, the world has changed, and for most of us we are now at home a […]
18 June 2020: Congrats to Lalita Lowe! Just reached 50,000 words. She survived the ‘kill me now’ stage. First draft almost done…
As I write this in April 2020, the world is just starting to accept that we are dealing with a major international health crisis which will leave very few people untouched and could continue for some time. There have so far been over 114,000 deaths and over 1.8 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 spread over […]
This is a brief guide to the steps involved in self-publishing a book. Includes information on planning, printing, editing, design and distribution...
Many authors are unfamiliar with working with designers, so they can struggle with finding the right designer and providing a good brief...
Most people have a book idea in them. Some of those people write their book and a few will go on and publish the book. How many of them do you think know the why, the reason they wrote their book? For novelists, the why may mostly be to entertain readers and share their story. […]
Do your homework. What other books are out there that are similar to yours? What makes yours different? People must have a good reason to buy...
I asked people to post their self-publishing questions on Facebook, and here are the answers! (Several questions were similar so I’ve combined...
We work with many first-time self-publishers here at PC, and sometimes during the cover design process I sense the author getting a little frustrated when the cover design seems to become more involved than they expected. They underestimate the level of development required to get a finished cover. Here’s how authors sometimes expect the process […]
Just finished writing your book? Congrats! Now it’s time to begin a strategic approach to leverage your thought leadership in the media...
This is a brief guide to punctuation, numbers and other common writing issues. (The focus is on Australian English, so if you’re from the US or...
You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page. Jodi Picoult, bestselling author When you think about writing your book, what goes through your mind? I should write that book, but… it’s too hard? I can’t write well enough? I don’t know where to start? I’m not moody enough to call […]
When you’re at your next conference, networking event or seminar, while everybody else is handing out business cards, how would you like to be...
The publishing industry (just like TV, music, accommodation and many others) has changed rapidly in recent years, and the growth in self-publishing has seen it advance to the point where it’s impossible to distinguish a well-produced self-published book from one produced by a major publishing house such as Penguin. Self-publishing used to have kind of […]
Many first-time self-publishers have the same queries, so here I answers some small business self-publishing questions I hear quite often...
Fitting a square peg into a round hole? This is how it feels sometimes when discussing book design with authors. The one critical error I find most self publishing authors, and some of the bigger publishing houses make, is that they find it difficult establishing where their book fits in. And in my opinion, it […]
Knowing where you fit in the publishing spectrum will help you successfully navigate the process, so let’s consider the different publishing models available to authors. The industry has changed rapidly in recent years and the lines between the different publishing models are now sometimes a little (or a lot) blurred. Still, you can publish a […]
I am a published author. But it wasn’t all plain sailing, let me tell you. I wrote drafts of two whole books before I wrote my draft of...
Your IngramSpark account setup is complete – now what? The first step in moving forward is uploading a book into your account...
I often find myself working with new authors who are somewhat conflicted over the book they want to write...
Once your book is complete, it’s time to get it out into the world. There are two main types of distribution for your print version: bricks-and-mortar bookshops and print on demand. If you have a publisher then they should handle bookshop distribution for you; if you are a self-publisher you will have to do this […]
Publishing a book for your small business can bring all sorts of marketing, promotional and business opportunities, some expected and some not...
It’s important to understand at least the basics of copyright, because using someone else’s material when you don’t have the right to can...
I’ve been around books and publishing my whole life, so I’ve seen people do some rather crazy things with their books. To help you understand...
These sample interior designs are provided to help you decide how the interior of your book should look. We suggest you look at a number of the...
As a book-writing coach who has helped over 600 people to write their first book, I’ve seen many new and aspiring authors hit a brick wall ...
This is a chapter from Michael’s book Stand Out that looks at ways you can use your book to help build your business...
If you're going to manage your self-publishing project yourself, this checklist will help you decide what self-publishing services you need and...
Many excellent books have been written on the general topic of self-publishing and indie publishing...
This checklist will help to ensure you don’t miss any important steps during the editing process, including discussing the level of editing...
This is a chapter from Michael’s book Stand Out that explains the editing process, including the editing stages, the role of the editor and...
If you haven’t read the first installment of Bob’s careening self-publishing journey, click here. If you have, read on...
Writing and publishing a book for your business is a fantastic way to build your profile and promote your business...
We chatted to Brad Beer, author of You Can Run Pain Free!, who has not only seen great book sales, but has also seen his business POGO...