Indie author, you thought you were in the clear because you chose your own editors and designers and uploaded your books and didn’t get caught in hybrid or vanity publisher fees. Or maybe you did. Either way, there are more sharks waiting for you: it’s called Pay-to-Play Media and Marketing. Pay-to-play means hiring a company or individual to ‘guarantee’ your brand a mention in a publication, for a fee. There are all kinds: paid reviews, paid upfront (higher than $99) book awards, book fair stands, video trailers, ‘blog reviews’, pay-to-play magazine articles, book ad setup, and even high mark ..read more

Sometime in the 1990s I went to see a band called TISM and had a rockin’ good time. This is Serious Mum is an anonymous alternative rock band, which riffs on social themes and has an anarchistic bent. (TISM Insta). Now what the actual has this got to do with book creation, you might ask?  Three things: Bring the energy to your Category of One Now let’s bring that kind of vibe to these thoughts on riding trend waves and […] The post Engage the World in Your Book Creation to Get Traction appeared first on Jennifer Lancaster | Writer and Editor ..read more

You may have heard of doing work to ensure better ‘organic’ traffic on Google, i.e. natural, unpaid traffic. There are certainly many benefits for book authors to capitalise on SEO for their book or author website. (Though this article is not about search engine optimisation). People will generally find your website through a combination of their remembering your author name and/or book title. An especially rare keyword might also work. Google isn’t the only source of free visitors; there is […] The post The Benefits of Organic Traffic for Authors appeared first on Jennifer Lancaster | Writer ..read more

This question underlies everything I do when creating books: how do I write a book that resonates with my market? Always think about a potential market first. Also, consider the barriers and pitfalls that may stop you. (To help yoy, this 1,700 word guide is written by me, Jennifer, an author, author coach and editor). Table of Contents for this Book Writing Guide How long should it take to write a book? How to come up with a good topic […] The post How Do I Write a Book? Your Book Writing Helper appeared first on Jennifer Lancaster | Writer and Editor ..read more

Last week I bought a Kindle book about mastering your own Public Relations. Firstly, if you use a title along those lines, you will attract people wanting to DIY their brand publicity/PR and expecting some handy tips. Let’s see where the use of ChatGPT all went wrong. There were some real entrepreneur stories of success in the eBook, and these were the ideas I wanted to be taken deeper into. When the author used some survey results, the arguments were […] The post If You Use ChatGPT for Book Writing, a Word to the Wise appeared first on Jennifer Lancaster | Writer and Editor ..read more

Sometimes we need a little help to make a new habit. When writing a book, the practice of “writing and researching” needs to become habitual. That’s why reminder apps are so useful. On Google Workspace Marketplace, you’ll find “Intelligent Apps”. When I saw them all, and this Calendar AI assistant, I was “mind blown”. Of Reclaim.AI, one user said, “Overall I think a lot of people dread the idea of mapping out their goals, passions and more menial time obligations, […] The post AI and Systems to Improve Our Writing Habits appeared first on Jennifer Lancaster | Writer and Editor ..read more

For those who have written a book, you may be moving on to create a course or sell something larger. The thing is, when getting up the value ladder, we start having to think about getting multiple sales leads (systematically) and perhaps advertising. Before you do a mini freak-out, let’s delve into what that might involve if you’re committed to NOT making Meta and Google any richer. Capiche? Most businesses selling online advertise on Facebook or Google, then use retargeting […] The post Top Considerations for Authors Planning a Course appeared first on Jennifer Lancaster | Writer and Editor ..read more

In the crowded book market, a well-edited book can make all the difference to reader sharing and reviews. And reviews affect sales. But how do you ensure that your book receives the professional treatment it deserves? In this comprehensive guide, I delve into the essential techniques employed by top copy editors to polish manuscripts to a high standard. Whether you’re aspiring to learn to edit or are already halfway there, let’s equip you with the knowledge to elevate the quality […] The post The Ultimate Guide to Unlocking Copy Editing Secrets for Your Book’s Success appeared first on Jennife ..read more

In the ever-expanding universe of self-publishing, aspiring authors often find themselves at a crossroads, seeking the perfect course to guide them through the intricate web of book creation, book marketing, and self-publishing. Two prominent contenders in this space are Mark Dawson’s (Suzy Quinn host) “Can You Write a Bestseller” and Jennifer Lancaster’s “Book Creation Self-Publish”. In this comparison review, we’ll delve into the nuances of both courses to help you make an informed decision. Course Content and Structure: Led by […] The post Two Courses Compared: Mark Dawson’s “Can You Write ..read more

If you’re looking at several choices to enhance your personal brand presence or generate leads or similar, then this article goes through the most popular ways to expand one’s thought leadership. The biggie: Do I write a paperback book? If writing is your preferred mode of communication—or you want it to be—then writing a full book could be your top choice. Tacked on my wall in 2002 was a tatty piece of paper with my goal written: “Write a book”. […] The post Which Kind of Format Will You Make – a Book, a Podcast, a Magazine, or an eBook? appeared first on Jennifer Lancaster | Writer and Edito ..read more