a blog for novel writers
There are a lot of writing blogs out there, and many offer great advice. However, most of the ones I’ve seen are geared toward nonfiction writers. As novel writers, we have different goals and needs. We’re storytellers. We write to entertain.
This blog is about helping you write a better novel as I pass along what I’ve learned about this crazy business. So please, pull up a chair and make yourselves comfortable.
Gayle Martin
© CanStockPhoto
Like most authors, my books are available on Amazon. Print editions, as well as digital editions for the Amazon Kindle. I’ve been doing this for the past fifteen years. However, I would have to give my experience with Amazon’s KDP Direct a mixed review.
I’m well aware that many readers prefer Kindle editions over a printed book. After all, you can carry an entire library of eBooks on your phone or tablet. That said, as an author, my experience with Kindle Direct Select wasn’t what I had hoped for. When you select this option, you’re agreeing to sell your eBook exclusively with Amazon for ninety days. You also have to choose this option if you wish to promote your book on Amazon.
Ninety days is a long time. Then again, I thought it would make a difference in my sales. I tried it for several of my titles, but in the end, it was disappointing. I saw no increase in sales, even with the promotions. So, when I launched my most recent Marina Martindale romance novel, Rivalry, I skipped Kindle Direct Select. I instead launched the book on all platforms on the same day. It seemed to do the trick. I was much happier with my sales.
Amazon is now booting independent authors off its platform for so-called “violations” of their community standards. This is happening without warning. According to Trustpilot, these authors are saying they don’t understand why. One said he was deplatformed because he had just updated his credit card information on his KDP account. Another author said he was deplatformed after checking the status of a book he had published years ago. Again, no one understands why this is happening.
There are other allegations that Amazon is continuing to sell their books, even though they have been deplatfomed, but not paying them their royalties. This would mean that Amazon is, allegedly, infringing on their copyrights. According to my attorney, this is indeed copyright infringement, and it’s also against the law.
As a result of all the controversy, I’m now encouraging my readers to purchase their books from other booksellers. My personal recommendation is Barnes & Noble. You can download the Nook app for free at your app store. If you want a print edition simply contact your local B & N bookseller and they will happy to order it for you. This is a win-win for everyone as it helps support your local community. Another option, at least for printed books, is to support your local, independent book stores.
Deplatforming authors is, unfortunately, becoming a widespread problem with Amazon. I have read several articles about this, including one titled KDP is Eating Its Own Authors. It’s a very informative article indeed.
As a side note, Amazon allegedly has no issues with selling plagiarized books or books that promote hate speech, beastilitly and pedophia. Again, I’m not telling readers where they can and cannot buy their books. I’m simply stating that there are other booksellers out who don’t have the above stated controversy and who would welcome your business.
Gayle Martin
From the Writer’s Desk does not include AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated content. It is written and edited by a real human being. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244
© Can Stock Photo/ kurhan
Social media has cerainly changed a lot, especially in the past few months, but I’m not sure if it’s for the better.
Back when I first started writing books, one of my author friends told me about Twitter. Twitter was a relatively new platform at the time. It took me awhile to wrap my brain around it, but I soon discovered that my friend was right. Twitter was the perfect place to post links to my blogs. I especially liked the hashtags. I used them as keywords to guide readers to specific posts. The hashtags helped me build a following as well. Likewise, if there was a topic of interest to me, all I had to do was type a few hashtags into a search and presto. I could easily find what I was looking for.
Twitter, unfortunately, had a downside. They started censoring people. Granted, none of my blogs are about politics or other controversial subjects. I write contemporary romance novels. The last thing I want to do was risk alienating half of my readers by posting about politics. However, as a writer and an artist, I firmly believe that people should be able express themselves freely, as long as they don’t threaten or bully others.
As we all know, Elon Musk bought Twitter a few years ago. The first thing he announced was no more censorship. I applauded this. People on both sides of the argument have the right to state their beliefs. Unfortunately, Elon also said no more hashtags. This was very disappointing. Hashtags were a means for people to have a more personalized Twitter experience.
Before Elon, I’d get a bump in blog traffic whenever I posted a link on Twitter. I also posted links to free samples from my books. I typically posted them on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. As a result, I’d see a bump in sales. Now it’s all changed. My Twitter feed is nothing but politics. Rarely do I see a tweet about someone’s book launch or their newest book cover. Nor am I getting the bumps from my Tweets that I used to get. So, I’ve stopped posting on Twitter. Nowadays it’s just politics, politics, and more politics, Some of us are interested in things besides politics.
I’ve been on Facebook for over a decade. It used to be a lot of fun. People shared photos of their kids or grandkids. They shared their vacations, family weddings, graduations, new babies, and so forth. I also reconnected with old friends and relatives I hadn’t heard from in years. Then Facebook came up with it’s own means of censorship. Facebook jail.
If you so much as said so much as boo to someone, Facebook jail. Did you share your latest blog post about your favorite hobby to all your groups about the same hobby? Uh-oh! Facebook jail. Facebook “community standards” were constantly changing. What was okay to post two years ago isn’t okay to post today. This means that humor meme you shared two years ago, which met community standards at the time it was posted and hasn’t been seen by anyone in two years, suddenly landed you inFacebook jail. And how did Facebook know it was there? Some Facebook censor, with too much time on their hands, went on a fishing expedition. This is the kind of crap that turns users off, so they close out their accounts and leave.
Then came Facebook ads. At first they were few and far between. Most advertisers were small, mom and pop businesses. Sometimes I’d buy a t-shirt, or a piece of costume jewelry. I also believe in supporting small businesses whenever possible. Unfortunately, big corporations have all discovered Facebook, and they’ve taken over the platform. My feed used to be my friends’ posts. Now it’s ad after ad after ad, or posts from business pages I don’t follow. Where are the posts from the pages I chose to follow? Why am I not seeing their posts? It’s a mystery to me.
I used to post several times a day on Facebook. Then I dropped down to one or two posts a day. Now I rarely post at all. Today all I’m seeing in my feed is stuff I don’t want to see. I want to see my friends’ posts, but they’re hidden among all the ads. As a result, I’m spending less time on Facebook. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’m spending more of my time to doing productive things. Apparently, I’m not the only one. Many of the people I know off Facebook are telling me they’re spending less time there as well.
Social media was a way for the average person to have a voice and connect with people with similar interests. Now it’s been hijacked by big corporations. As a result, the average user is leaving. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before the big corporations start noticing that fewer eyes are looking at all their ads. Hopefully, they’ll get a clue and quietly disappear, but I’m not holding my breath. After all, Zuckerberg has to pay for that multi-million dollar mansion in Maui. I’ll keep using social media to share my blog posts, but I’m using Instant Messenger more frequently to keep in touch with my Facebook friends. I also have a newsletter so I can keep in touch with my readers.
I tried Instagram a few years ago to promote my art photography. I didn’t much care for it. Instagram was mostly kids, sharing silly stuff. My target audience is adult women who are avid readers. Somehow I can’t see serious book lovers on such a platform. It’s also owned by Meta. If Meta allowed big corporations to hijack Facebook, then I have no doubt that they’ve taken over Instagram as well. While I don’t see and end to social media, I am of the belief that social media, as we used to know it, is fading away, and we’ll be spending our time someplace else. Like doing things with family and friends, the way we used to do, back in the day.
Gayle Martin
From the Writer’s Desk does not include AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated content. It is written and edited by a real human being. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244
Photo by Pond5
Not too long ago a prospective author posted an interesting question on an online forum. He wanted to know why he had to have a website, as he didn’t see the need for one.
His question received many responses. Everyone who posted a reply recommended that he have a website, including yours truly. Websites are an invaluable tool for helping authors build their brands and market their books.
Obviously, your website should include information about your book. Your home page should have a warm welcoming message along with your book cover. You’ll also need an author bio page. Typically called an About the Author page, it should include a good headshot photo. If you write nonfiction, your bio should emphasize your expertise on the subject matter. If you write fiction, your bio can be about what motivated you to start writing. In my author bio, I talk about how I wrote a cookbook and later ended up writing contemporary romance.
You may also want to include a blog on your website. Blogs are a great way to talk directly to your readers. Your readers want to get to know you as a person, so your blog is a great place to talk in detail about the story behind your book or what it’s like to be an author. If you write fiction, you can post character bios as well as excerpts from your novels. Most importantly, you want to include links to where readers can buy your books.
Your website needs to be visually appealing. Along with your book cover on your home page, you should also include at least one photo in each of your blog posts as a good photo will help entice the viewer to read the post. Keep in mind, however, that using someone else’s photo without their permission could create some serious legal issues. I either use my own photos, or I purchase them from a stock photo company. I really like Pond5. They have plenty to pick and choose from, but be sure to read the licensing agreement before you make your purchase. Some photos are for editorial use only, so be make sure it includes commercial use. If possible, credit the photographer in the caption.
If you plan on advertising your book on social media you’ll probably need a privacy policy page. My webmaster wrote my privacy policy copy, however, you can find suggested privacy policy text online. You may also want to include a Q & A page. Think of the questions people typically ask you in person. If you have a newsletter, be sure to include a sign up form on your home page.
Your website should look as professional as possible. Some website hosts offer do it yourself website templates, but they have limitations so you may not be able to create the look you want. For best results I recommend hiring a professional website designer. They know html coding far better than most of us do, and they can also recommend the best website hosts. The more professional your website, the more likely visitors will take you seriously as an author.
Gayle Martin
From the Writer’s Desk does not include AI generated content of any kind. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244
© Gayle Martin Photography.
I’ve been following a woman on YouTube for some time who is about to publish her first book. I’ll call her, “Denise.” Denise talks about the everyday things we can all relate to; schools, kids, pets, healthy eating, gardening, elderly parents, the weather, and so forth. She’s a very intelligent, articulate woman. Her content is always interesting and thought provoking.
When Denise first started talking about writing a book I offered to help, free of charge, with the typesetting and cover design. She gives a lot to her community, and I wanted to do what I could to help make her book a success. I also told her I would walk her through the self publishing process. She asked me if I could publish her book for her. Unfortunately, my publishing company, Good Oak Press, LLC, isn’t set up to publish books for other authors. While I could do most of the work on my end, I wouldn’t be able to provide an ISBN number or upload her files.
Denise has just uploaded a new YouTube video about her upcoming book. However, instead of using KDP Direct Publishing and Draft2Digital, as I had recommended, she’s decided to pay a publisher seven-thousand dollars to publish her book. (Which is the first a big red flag.) She’s so excited. This unnamed publisher is also going to advertise her book. While I honestly hope it works out for her, I have some serious doubts. Denise has no idea that she’s taking an incredibly big risk.
There are a LOT of bad actors in the book publishing world. They charge huge sums of money, such as seven-thousand dollars, but don’t deliver on their promises. In the industry, they’re known as vanity publishers. They prey on unsuspecting authors, which is why I consider them predators.
Denise is asking her YouTube followers to help her cover the cost with five hundred dollar donations. The donor will get a dedication page at the front of her book where they can make a personal dedication to anyone they so choose. She’s also telling her prospective donors that her book is going to be on The New York Times Best Seller list. I’m not sure if the publisher has promised her this, or if Denise has assumed it on her own. Either way, it’s another red flag.
There isn’t a first-time author out there who doesn’t want their book on the New York Times Best Seller list. In fact, it’s part of The Author Myth. Unfortunately, The New York Times Best Seller List is only for the big, mainstream publishers, such as Random House. There are other best seller lists out there which she may qualify for, but she would have to sell a substantial number of books in order to get there. I believe the NYT list requires a minimum sale of five-thousand copies a week. While not impossible, it is extremely difficult for an unknown first-time author to have this much sales volume.
To her credit, Denise does have an one advantage most author’s don’t. She has a successful YouTube platform. Let’s say she has fifty thousand subscribers to her YouTube channel. That’s a good number. No doubt some of them will buy her book, but how many is anyone’s guess.
I’ve also advertised my books on social media as well as on Amazon. While advertising does indeed help boost my sales, it can also be expensive because those pay-per-click ads can run up in a hurry. I don’t know how much her publisher is charging her for advertising, but I’d be willing to bet she’d get a better rate if she did her own ads and promotions herself instead of going through a third party.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of authors and publishers upload new books on Amazon and other platforms each and every week. Most, if not all of them, want to have a bestselling book. There’s a lot of competition out there, and the book market is oversaturated. It takes time and effort to build a following, and people who enjoy watching YouTube videos aren’t necessarily interested in reading.
I’ll end by saying I found her video jaw dropping, to say the least. However, I’m biting my tongue and not saying anything on her YouTube channel. She’s made up her mind, and I highly doubt she would listen if I tried to warn her. Nor do I want to be perceived as an, “I told you so,” if things don’t turn out the way she’s hoping. I won’t be donating five hundred dollars either because it would be a conflict of interest. Remember, I offered to do her typesetting and cover art free of charge, and I didn’t get so much as a, “Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll pass.” In fact, I was waiting for her to get back with me about when she wanted me to start the typesetting when I saw the video, and I honestly feel like I’ve been blindsided.
I hope, for her sake, that things go the way she is hoping. However, having been in the small press publishing business for over a decade, I know how things work. The red flags are there, so in all likelihood, she’s working with a vanity publisher who’ll produce low-quality books which may end up in her garage because they’re not marketable. It’s also entirely possible that she may not have the option to republish her book herself, because she may have signed the rights over to the vanity publisher. It’s yet another reason why I call them predators.
Gayle Martin
From the Writer’s Desk does not include AI generated content or use AI software of any kind. It is written and edited by a real human being. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244.
© Can Stock Photo / Pixelbliss
Paying for book reviews is a topic which comes up from time to time in online discussions. To some it may sound like a good idea. However, paying for reviews is considered unethical, nor is it without risk. We all know good reviews help authors sell more books. However, reviews aren’t intended to help authors. They’re meant to help readers.
I do a lot of online shopping. Whether I’m buying a book, a sweater, or a toaster, I like to read the reviews before I buy. I want to know what other people thought about the product. Were they satisfied with their purchase? Would they recommend the product to others? For me, it’s not about the seller’s description. It’s about what other customers thought of the product. Book buyers are the same way. Readers want to know if other readers liked the book, and they want unbiased opinions. Herein lies the problem with paying for a review.
Those who write paid reviews aren’t in it for the reader. Nor are they in it for the author. They’re in it for the money, and who wants to pay someone for a bad review? Someone recently sent me an unsolicited email offering to write a review for one of my Marina Martindale novels. This person included their website in their email, which I immediately looked up. To their credit, their website was well done. It included testimonials from some of the authors they’ve reviewed, but then something else caught my eye. It stated that if they were to write a bad review, they would refund the money to the author. Really? How interesting. They offer a money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied with your review. Therefore, there’s no incentive for them to write a bad review. So, are their reviews really honest? Who knows.
I also tried to find out more about their pricing. Unfortunately, all I found was a vague reference about the price being determined by the individual book, but no specific information about how they go about making this determination. Interesting. So those authors who take them up on their offer could be pay anywhere from a few dollars to several hundred dollars for a review. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I like to know how much a product or service costs before I buy.
Here’s the bottom line. Paying someone to review your book is unethical, and your readers deserve honest reviews. You’re also taking some big risks. Chances are, these folks will want you to pay them upfront, and once they have your money, they may or may not review your book. I’ve also read horror stories about people offering to review books prior to publication, otherwise known as Advance Review Copies or ARCs. The unsuspecting author then sends the reviewer a copy, only to discover later on that the “reviewer” has pirated their work and is taking credit for something they didn’t write.
Then there is another big risk. Amazon does not allow paid reviews. Amazon will remove them, and perhaps delete the author’s account as well. They’re not bluffing when they state this. I’m reading all kinds of stories on online forums where Amazon really did delete an author’s account for violating their community standards. When it comes to selling books, Amazon is the king. I would highly discourage anyone from doing anything which could put their Amazon accounts in jeopardy.
I did not respond to the individual soliciting a paid review of my book. That email has been deleted. I instead contacted my webmaster, and we did an update on my website, clearly stating on my contact form that Good Oak Press does not pay for book reviews, and that we consider paid reviews to be unethical. Our readers deserve honest reviews, not gaslighting. In the meantime, here is a link to Amazon’s Community Guidelines for Customer Reviews.
Gayle Martin
From the Writer’s Desk does not include AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated content or use AI software of any kind. It is written and edited by a real human being. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244.
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© CanStockPhoto/ShutterM
Someone posted an interesting question in one of my Facebook author groups. She wanted to know if a Facebook business page was a good marketing tool. I gave her an honest answer. I said that while it wouldn’t hurt to have one, Facebook business pages themselves are NOT good marketing tools. The reason why has to do with Facebook algorithms.
Facebook business pages are free. They’re also easy to set up. I had my Marina Martindale Facebook page up and running pretty quickly. It’s also easy to start building followers. I invited all my Facebook friends, and many, if not most, accepted the invitation.
While most of your Facebook friends may accept your invitation, few, if any, will actually buy your books. I also have business page for my photography, and I have a follower there who hits the like button on each and every photo I post. I could post a photo of a roll of toilet paper, and she’d probably give it a like. Maybe she thinks hitting the like button will help me. It doesn’t. If you want to support an artist on Facebook, whether it’s me or another artist, then stop hitting the “like” button and hit the “BUY” button instead. Unfortunately, no one ever does. People don’t go on Facebook to shop. They go on Facebook to be entertained.
Your business page may have hundreds, if not thousands, of followers. However, only a very small percentage of your followers will actually see your posts. Even if you spend the money to boost a post or advertise your page, only a limited amount of people will see it. For whatever reason, Facebook algorithms were set up this way. In my opinion, this is borderline fraud. If I have three hundred people following my page, I expect my post to show up in all three hundred Facebook newsfeeds. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Facebook just doesn’t see it that way.
Based on my own experience, the best tools for getting your books noticed are websites and blogs. I know money is an issue for many authors. If it is for you, then I recommend Blogger. It’s a free Google blogging platform. It may look a little dated because Google no longer supports it, but it still has many nice templates to pick and choose from. Then, once you select a template, you can change the backgrounds and colors to customize it. You can also point it to your own dot com name
For those with more technical skills I recommend WordPress. Unlike Blogger, which has its own host, you need to find a WordPress host. Prices can vary, so be sure to shop around. WordPress also has dozens upon dozens of templates and themes to choose from, as well as all kinds of bells and whistles. I started this blog on Blogger and moved it to WordPress a few years later. It uses the twenty sixteen theme, which is clean and simple. I later found a WordPress guru, and when my Marina Martindale webpage expired, I had her build me a whole new WordPress website and combine it with my Marina Martindale blog. I also had her build a website for my Luke and Jenny series of children’s books, and I created a WordPress blog for Rosie’s Riveting Recipes, my WWII historic cookbook. It too uses the twenty sixteen theme.
Facebook business pages are free, but their range is extremely limited. Too few people will ever see your posts. If you’re serious about marketing your books, whether it’s one book or a dozen books, you will need a website or a blog. Your website is also your own personal platform. You don’t ever have to worry about somehow unknowingly violating Facebook’s constantly changing “community standards.”
Gayle Martin
From the Writer’s Desk does not include content generated by AI (Artificial Intelligence) software of any kind. It is written and edited by a real human being. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244.
© Can Stock Photo / tangducminh
There are good people out there giving good advice for writers and those who want to become writers. Some, like yours truly, have traditional blogs. Others, such as Dale L Roberts, use YouTube. I stumbled on his channel when he posted a video comparing the print quality of several well known POD (print on demand) book printers. While I was there I clicked on the subscribe button as he had some good information. However, I have unsubscribed from his channel, and I did so for a very good reason.
Those of you who follow this blog know that I am very much opposed to using AI software of any kind for writing books. In fact, I recently wrote a blog article called, AI Will NOT be Writing my Novels. Another reason why I am opposed to AI is because AI cheapens our profession.
Once was a time, if you wanted to be a writer, you had to have talent. You also had to learn your craft. In other words, you had to pay your dues. Now, thanks to AI, any would-be-if-they-could-be can buy AI software, and with a few clicks of a mouse, have an instant book that they actually didn’t write. A machine wrote it for them. They’re just putting their name on it and saying they wrote it. No, this isn’t the same as using a ghostwriter. A ghostwriter is a real human being who also paid his or her dues.
So this morning I’m on YouTube, and here’s Dale L Roberts touting the latest new AI software for writers which allegedly mixes human creativity with AI technology. Gee, Dale, I’ve only been writing books without AI for about twenty years now. How did I possibly manage to do it on my own, using real human editors and proofreaders, and not use AI?
So, once again, I point out in the comments that real writers have talent, and if you want to be a writer you should take some writing classes. So, he attacks my comment. It’s his platform. He is free to attack me if he wishes. However, I don’t have to take his crap! So, I deleted my comment, and unsubscribed from his channel. I am also speaking my mind on my platform, not his, and if Dale L Roberts doesn’t like what I have to say then too freaking bad.
AI does not make you a better writer. AI just makes you a lazy writer. Or a fake writer. Let me say it again, just for you, Dale. AI cheapens our profession. If you’re serious writer, you do not need to use AI. You already have the talent, and the skills, to write your own original content in your own, unique writing voice. You’re also the kind of writer who doesn’t believe in using software which can plagiarize other writers’ work.
If you want to follow Dale L Roberts on YouTube you are certainly free do to so. However, because I am very much opposed AI writing software for the reasons I have mentioned above, I can no longer recommend him as a good information source. If you want to be a writer, take some writing classes. Join professional associations. Network with other authors and learn from your peers. As for me, I’m standing by my principles. I worked damn hard to learn my craft. Therefore, I will continue to write my own unique content without using AI software of any kind, and without Mr. Dale L Roberts’ approval.
Gayle Martin
From the Writer’s Desk is written, edited, and maintained by a real human being. It does not include content generated by AI (Artificial Intelligence) software of any kind.
No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244
Photo by Gayle Martin
One thing we writers have in common, regardless of our genres, is our own unique writing voice. What’s a writing voice? Simply put, a writing voice is the way you organize your thoughts and put them into words. No two of us do this exactly the same way. For example, some writers are more descriptive. Others are more direct. Danielle Steele and Rosamunde Pilcher are two of my favorite authors. Both are amazing story tellers, but their writing voices are very distinct. I would never confuse a Danielle Steele novel with a Rosamunde Pilcher novel.
The other day one of my Facebook friends posted about having a hard time writing his novel. As writers, we all have our moments. However, he was trying to write like another author. I responded with, “You need to write like you, not like someone else.” He response was to let me know he’d changed the narrative from third person to first person, and he was a lot more comfortable writing in the first person. I’m not a big fan of first person narratives myself, but some readers like them, and if it works for him then thats’s what matters. There is no right or wrong narrative.
So, how do you find your writing voice? The best way I know would be to start writing. Grab a notebook and a pen, and start keeping a journal. Writing classes can also be a big help. Every community college offers writing courses of some kind, and they’re usually very affordable. I also recommend taking the classes in person if at all possible. Having a real live instructor makes a huge difference. Other students can be helpful as well. If you’re unable to take a class in person there are online Master Classes for writing. As you learn more techniques, and become more comfortable with writing, you’ll discover your writing voice.
While other writers can certainly influence us, we should never set out to emulate them. There was only one Mark Twain, one Jane Austen, and one Edgar Allen Poe. No one could ever replace them. Likewise, there is only one you, so write like you.
Gayle Martin
From the Writer’s Desk is written, edited, and maintained by a real human being. It does not include content generated by AI (Artificial Intelligence) software of any kind.
No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244
Cover illustration by Wesley Lowe. Cover design by Good Oak Press, LLC
Some first-time authors find ISBN numbers confusing. It’s actually quite simple. An ISBN number is an identification number for a book. It’s sort of like a Social Security number, but for a book, not a person.
If you plan on selling your book, (and who isn’t?) the book seller will need the ISBN number. It’s also included in the barcodes. Every item we buy has a barcode number. I’m even seeing little barcode stickers on fresh produce. The days of cashiers punching prices into a cash register by hand are long gone. An ISBN number is also required if you plan on selling your books online.
I purchase my ISBN numbers in bulk from Bowker. They sell them individually, or in lots of ten to one thousand. I prefer to buy mine in lots of ten. It comes to just under thirty dollars per number. The bigger the lot, the less per number. If you were to buy one thousand, each would cost a dollar and fifty cents. However, as prolific of an author as I am, I don’t think I could write a thousand books in my lifetime. Therefore, I will stick with buying lots of ten. There are also ways to get an ISBN number for free, which I will explain later.
ISBN numbers are registered to the publisher, not the author. I registered a trade name with the State of Arizona when I first started writing books. (As I was living in Arizona at the time.) Registering a trade name is optional. However, if you plan on publishing more than one book, I highly recommend using a trade name. It makes you look more professional.
Bowker has included many other services since I first started working with them. Those authors who wish to start up own publishing company can do so through their partnership with Martin Publishing Services. (Please be aware that I not related to Melinda Martin, nor am I affiliated in any way with Martin Publishing Services.)
Not to worry. There are book distribution platforms which offer ISBN numbers. When I left Ingram, I needed new ISBN numbers for my print books. Even through I had purchased them from Bowker, Ingram was the original distributor. This created a distribution issue for Draft2Digital, so they offered me free ISBN numbers for their print editions. The book covers for the Ingram and Draft2Digital editions are identical, and they have the same content. The only difference is the ISBN number.
Most authors will publish an eBook edition and a print edition of their book. Some may also offer an audiobook. However, each edition of your book will need its own ISBN number. While each version may have the same content, each edition is a different product. Therefore it is unique. The same rule applies if you were to offer a second edition of an older title. Because the second edition will include different content, it will need a new ISBN number.
There are, unfortunately, a lot of bad actors out there taking advantage of newbie authors. One common scam is to offer free or highly discounted ISBN numbers. The numbers are either fake, or they may have been assigned to a book which is no longer in print. Only buy an ISBN number from a trusted source, such as Bowker. As mentioned before, some distributors, such as Draft2Digital may offer free ISBN numbers. However, there may be limitations to the distribution channels.
Once you assign an ISBN number to a book title, the title cannot be changed. I typically assign my print edition ISBN number to my manuscript while I am writing. However, I have not yet done so with the current book I’m working on. When writing fiction, you’ll find that characters can have minds of their own. This means they will sometimes take a story in an entirely different direction than originally planned, as is the case here. So, for now, I’m considering the title as a working title only. Once the manuscript is complete, I’ll ask my editor if she thinks the title fits the story. If so, great. If not, then I haven’t blown $29.50 on an ISBN number which I may never be able to use.
Gayle Martin
From the Writter’s Desk is written, edited, and maintained by a real human being. It does not include content generated by AI (Artificial Intelligence) software of any kind.
No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244
Photo by Pond5
One my Facebook publishing groups seems to attract a large number of first-time authors. Many of them are even more clueless than I was when I was getting started, and trust me, I was pretty darn clueless. I’d written a historic cookbook called, Anna’s Kitchen, and I thought I knew it all. Let’s just say I’ve come a long way since then. Even so, I’m sometimes flabbergasted at some of the things people are posting. One example would be a prospective author who couldn’t afford to pay her illustrator. She wanted to know if it would be okay to split the book profits 50/50 instead?
Umm…no!
There are many myths out there about writing and publishing books. One of the biggest, and most persistent, is that authors make big bucks from their book sales. Some do, but they’re the exception. In reality, most authors need day jobs if they want to pay their bills. Their book royalties are income supplements at best. For some, it’s only beer money.
There are out-of-pocket expenses which come with writing and publishing books. This includes editing, proofreading, and cover design. Laptops and tablets cost money. Pens and paper cast money too. I realize money may be an issue for many of you. If so, you may be tempted to do it all yourself. My advice, however, is don’t. Very few people have the skillset to do it all, which means you will have to hire people to do certain tasks.
As noted, it’s easy for someone who has never written a book to assume their book will make a profit. Therefore, they may think it’s perfectly okay to offer to share a portion of their future profits, or royalties, in lieu of paying for the work. However, this isn’t how the book business works. The people proofreading your manuscript and designing your book cover have bills to pay. Asking them to work on spec is, at the very least, unprofessional. Would you ask a plumber for free? Probably not. So why would you expect a creative professional to work for free?
What about asking your spouse, or your best friend, or your great-aunt Mary? Again, I don’t recommend doing this. Family and friends usually aren’t qualified to do the task. But let’s say you need an editor, and your great-aunt Mary just happens to be a retired English teacher. Sure, you could ask her. Keep in mind, however, that she may say no, or she may expect a favor from you in return.
The fact of of matter is that you have to pay your people for services rendered. If you can’t afford to pay them, then you can’t afford publish your book. At least for now.
Gayle Martin
From the Writer’s Desk is written, edited, and maintained by a real human being. It does not include content generated by AI (Artificial Intelligence) software of any kind. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any manner, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244