Self Published Authors

"Self Published Authors" Bi-Monthly Newsletter
Helping self-published authors promote and market their books
and share information and resources.

December 1, 2005 Volume 3: Issue 13
Dan Shaurette
editor@selfpublishedauthors.com
http://www.selfpublishedauthors.com

By Subscription Only! You are receiving this newsletter
because you requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this newsletter.

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. Editor's Notebook
2. Newsletter Submission Guidelines
3. Feature Article by Judy Cullins
4. Resource Links
5. Guest Article by Celise Downs
6. Free Products, Services, Downloads
7. Promotion Article by Sue Paulson
8. Classes & Workshops
9. Publicity Article by C. Hope Clark
10. Announcements/Requests
11. Classified Ads
12. Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information

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1: EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK
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Happy Holidays! Welcome to the December 2005 newsletter for
SelfPublishedAuthors.com. For those of you who are new to the
subscription, I hope you will enjoy this issue. Thank you for
visiting the website and subscribing to the list.

To the regulars out there, I'm glad to see you back for another
issue. In this issue, we have four wonderful articles, as well
as another batch of useful resource links.

If you have questions, comments, suggestions, or if you’d like
to contribute, be interviewed, add an event or have a request,
please reply to this email, or drop a line to me at:
editor@selfpublishedauthors.com

Thanks for reading and enjoy the issue. See you all next year!

Dan Shaurette
editor@selfpublishedauthors.com
http://www.Shaurette.net

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2: NEWSLETTER SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
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The newsletter for SelfPublishedAuthors.com is here to provide a
resource for all authors. Obviously, we want to help you
succeed in your writing, self-publishing efforts, and self-
promotion. I have received a few requests from fellow authors
asking what they can do to promote their books in the
newsletter.

I am always happy to help promote an author and their works in
the newsletter. That's what we're here for. That being said,
the best I can do is one of the following.

If you are interested in writing an article about your
experiences as a self-published author, I would be more than
happy to consider it for publication. If I publish the article,
I will give you space for a signature box that you could use to
promote yourself and your book.

If you would like to send me an ARC copy of your book, eBook
format preferred, I would be happy to review it and interview
you. The interview would most likely be what gets published in
the newsletter, but reviews of recommended books may also be
published. Please note, I have already been presented with some
works to read, so please query me first before sending your
books. I'd rather return a book than form a slush pile.

If you have a book signing coming up, we do try to list those
when they are timely. Remember our newsletter is published in
December, February, April, June, August, and October. If you
host a class or workshop, or have a website that promotes a
writer's resource, please let us know about it. All links about
such events are provided free of charge. Your name, location,
dates, and contact info. will be presented.

If instead you are just interested in placing an advertisement
in the newsletter for your book or website, you can read about
the rates on the website at
http://www.selfpublishedauthors.com/advertise.html -- they are
very fair (only $6 per newsletter issue for a five line ad.)
Advertising requests sent to me, however, will be forwarded on
to Christina Wheeler (contact@selfpublishedauthors.com), the
website and newsletter owner.

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3: FEATURE ARTICLE by Judy Cullins
The Top Ten Checklist to Edit Your Own Writing
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Whether you are writing a book, an article, or your Web site
sales copy, you need to know that your words speak well for you.
Power writing is not easy for most writers, yet when you know
that the benefits of smart editing =more clients and customers,
you will want to use the 10-item check list below.

Use This 10 Checklist to Edit your Own Work

1. Start your introduction with a question or startling fact.
You must hook your readers with something that reaches their
emotions. Make it you-centered. Include a few key words in your
first sentence to attract the search engines.

2. Make your introduction only a few sentences. Your readers
want a benefit early one so they will want to read more. Make
the rest of your article support your thesis and first
paragraph.

3. Make all of your sentences short. Since standard sentence
length is 15-17 words, make most of your sentences under that
number. Complex sentences and multiple phrases make the reading
tougher and slower. Make it easy for your readers to get the
point fast.

4. Avoid dull, slow passive sentences. Start them with a
subject, then follow with a verb to avoid passive construction.
"The coach marketed her business and books through submitting
articles online" is an active sentence. "The coach's books were
marketed online through submitting articles" is passive.
Drop linking verbs such as "is," "was," "seemed," or "had."
Replace them with power, active verbs. Instead of "she is
beautiful," you could say,"Her beauty compels you to stare at
her".

5. Aim for compelling, clear copy. Write for the 8-10th grade
reader. Always think "What's in it for them?" Your reader wants
to get to the heart of your book chapter, article, or Web copy
fast. While a short story is fine, make all you write clear and
easy to read. That's what makes readers finish a chapter and
want to read more. That's what makes the web visitor stay with
your site more than 10 seconds.

6. Use specific nouns and names. General references don't engage
your readers' emotions. Let them see the size, color, shape.
Rather than say, "Write your book fast to make lifelong income,"
say "Write and finish your book fast so you can take that long
vacation to a Caribbean island such as Tobago." Money isn't a
specific pull, but a vacation is.

7. Let go of adverbs. Words like very, suddenly, and sparingly
that tell instead of show. People want to see and feel and don't
pay much attention to adverbs. Use adverbs only at Christmas.

8. Don't use pompous words. Use the shortest, most well-known
word. Instead of "utilize," try "use." The more syllables in a
word, the harder to get the point across. Let go of unneeded
adjectives. Instead of "Kathy is a super-intelligent person, you
can say "Kathy, a genius, can sell a bikini to an Eskimo." .

9. Appeal to the senses of sight, sound, and emotions. Telling
is not an effective. Instead of "Buy this book today because it
is so useful," say, "Would you like to double, even quadruple
your Online income in four months?"

10. Cut redundancies. Don't talk down to your reader with too
much repetition. Be willing to part with your "precious" words.
The first edit usually reduces your words by 1/4 to 1/3.

If you are a professional who wants your writing to reflect
that, be sure to follow the editing tips above. With active,
thoughtful writing, you'll gain confidence that your writing
will attract and sell.
___

Copyright © 2005 Judy Cullins. Reprinted with permission.
Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works
with small business people who want to make a difference in
people's lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a
consistent life-long income. Judy is author of 10 eBooks
including Ten Non-Techie Ways to Market Your Book Online.
She offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines,
"The BookCoach Says...," "Business Tip of the Month,"
blog Q & A at www.bookcoaching.com and over 200 free articles.

Email her at Judy@bookcoaching.com or Cullinsbks@aol.com
Phone: 619/466-0622 -- Orders: 866/200-9743
Print "Write Your eBook or Other Short Book Fast!" at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1597720208

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4: RESOURCE LINKS
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I SHOULD BE WRITING - Writing Podcast (Weekly - 15 Mins.)
This Podcast (audio blog) hosted and produced by Mur Lafferty -
a wanna-be fiction writer - is for wanna-be fiction writers.
Mur has been a freelance writer for 4 years, published in over
14 RPG books and 4 magazines, but still has not succeeded in the
fiction market. She does have an impressive rejection
collection, though. Mur answers questions, interviews published
authors, and works to get published and takes you along for the
ride. Because you should be writing.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/IShouldBeWriting
http://shouldwrite.blogspot.com

IBLIST.COM - The Internet Book List
This project has taken on new form, and is rapidly becoming a
great new database of fictional works. Anyone can join the site
for free and add information about their favorite books and
authors. Reviews can also be posted about the works.

Currently, they are only accepting fiction books in English
(or translated into). Once submitted, the information will be
reviewed before posted to the public for reviews and enjoyment
http://www.iblist.com

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5: GUEST ARTICLE by Celise Downs
What's in a Name? - Giving Birth to your Characters
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So you've got your plot outlined, a title lined up and the
research is done. You're ready to start writing your novel.
But wait. Now comes the fun part: creating names for your
characters. One of the best things about being a writer --
besides the innate ability to create imaginary worlds -- is
giving birth to a character and then bestowing a name upon him
or her. True, you didn't carry the character in your womb for
nine months (especially if you're male). But he or she could've
been in your head for nine months...or nine years. So choosing a
name for your characters seems almost as important as the one
you would give your own child.

The name you decide on will dictate the reader's perception of
that character, so select wisely. If your character is an
agoraphobic scientist, he or she should not be named Brittany or
Rick. Does this bunch of hoo-hah sound familiar to you? Raise
your hand now, don't be shy. I thought so. Now let me remove the
rose-colored sunglasses so you all can see the harsh light of
reality. The reality being that having a common name conjures up
a stereotypical image. What picture forms in your head when you
hear the name Tiffany? Pretty, popular, blonde-haired
cheerleader? What about the name Melvin? Skinny guy with glasses
and a pocket protector? Now what comes to mind when you hear
something unique like Lyric? Or Dax?

We as writers have been blessed with a wonderful gift. We are a
rare species unto ourselves in such a way that we can build
alternate realities for the public to enter. We are storytellers
that pull ideas out of our bu-that is-minds, invent our own
language even, and the only names we can come up with for our
characters are Johns, Susans, Kathleens, and Sams? Unacceptable.
These are perfectly good names, don't get me wrong, but they're
safe names. I used to be in an online critique group and someone
said that if your main character has an unusual name, the
secondary characters should have more common names; that way, it
won't be so confusing to the reader. My initial response wasn't
printable, but I can tell you that it sort of went a little like
this: "Who died and made you Ruler of the Writing World? Heaven
forbid we throw our readers a curve ball every once in a while."

It's called variety, folks. In the Dictionary, this word is
defined as "the quality or condition of being various or varied;
diversity." If you don't step outside your comfort zone and
offer your readers some different flavors, you're not going to
sell any books. I decided from the get-go that all the
characters in my books were going to have unique names. I wanted
to stand out from the pack and dance my own little jig. So here
are some suggestions on finding primo names for your characters:

1) Books, Magazines, and Newspapers - These are wonderful
sources. In magazines and newspapers, a story, a self-help
column or even a product ad could house a name that would be
worth writing down. People use baby books to choose names for
their children, so why not do the same for your characters?
These books can be very in-depth, stating the meaning of the
name as well as its origin. I've used The Writer's Digest
Character Naming Sourcebook (1994, Sherrilyn Kenyon with Hal
Blythe and Charlie Sweet). It features more than 20,000 first
and last names and their meanings from around the world: Norse,
Slavic, Teutonic, Arthurian Legend Names, and more.

I've also discovered the hidden cache of names in other people's
books. I'm severely addicted to the adult romance books that
come out every month: Harlequin Blaze and Temptation, and
Silhouette Desire. And my favorite authors are Janelle Denison,
Kristine Grayson, Carly Phillips, and Julie Kenner. Every once
in a while, I'll find a name in their books that I can add to my
continually growing list. Science fiction, time travel and
fantasy books are good for names as well.

2) Walk of Fame - Hollywood actors and actresses may have been
born with common names like Julia and Brad, but that doesn't
mean their offspring have to suffer the same fate. Will and Jada
Smith's children: Willow and Jaden; Demi Moore's girls: Scout
LaRue, Rumer Glen and Tallulah Belle; Gwenyth Paltrow's
daughter: Apple Blythe; John Travolta and Kelly Preston's son:
Jett; Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke's son: Ronin. Singer Brandi's
daughter: Sy'rai; Thomas Jane (The Punisher) and Rosanna
Arquette's daughter: Harlow.

Even some famous faces were lucky enough to have been born with
one-of-a-kind names: Keanu Reeves, Jude Law, Jada Pinkett-Smith,
Macaulay Culkin, Kiefer Sutherland, Oprah Winfrey.

3) Movies and Television Shows - This avenue isn't as unorthodox
as you might think. I guarantee someone out there could come
forward and claim, "I was named after some character on a soap
opera." Ridge and Thorne Forrester, The Bold and The Beautiful;
Topanga Morris, Boy Meets World; Teal'c, Stargate SG-1; Leelou,
The Fifth Element (my favorite movie of all time); Blade, Ellora
Danan, Willow; Teela, He-Man cartoons. Need I say more?

4) Daily Life - For almost two years, I worked the night shift,
keying medical claims. Due to that job, I now have a nice long
two-paged list of boys and girls names. You would not believe
how many wonderfully unusual names I came across every time I
flipped a page: Princess, Precious, Treasure, Oreo, Malachi,
Ashanti, Treyvon, Diabolique (for real!), Natividad...the list
goes on and on. Just think. You could be sitting at your desk,
standing in line at the grocery store/coffee shop/fast food
joint, listening to a song on the radio, eavesdropping on a
conversation, or talking to your neighbor and the next thing
you know, you're bombarded with names for your characters.
Being a writer, one can only hope that you're aware of your
surroundings at all times and can see a potential story in
everything that goes on around you.

5) Character Naming Contest/Vote - I did this for my third book,
which will be Book One in a teen series I'm creating. I had
about four different combinations of a name I was trying to come
up with for my main character. I sent an email out to my
co-workers, close friends and family, asking them to vote on the
name they liked best. The name that got the most votes became
the name for my character. In return, I'll be including a
special thank-you on the Dedication Page of the book. Although
there are too many names to print, if they buy the book, they'll
know they had a hand in choosing the name of the character.
If you go the contest route, offer the winner a free copy of the
book, a special gift, etc. If anything, you'll get plenty of
names for future books.

I attended a book festival in Prescott, AZ in Sept 2004.
A mother and daughter came up to my table, read the back covers
of both books, then walked away. A half hour later, they came
back and purchased my first book (Secrets and Kisses) because
the female character's name was Skylar. For whatever reason, the
name meant something to that young girl. It could've been her
name, the name of her friend, a relative...who knows? The point
is, your readers are going to appreciate an "anomalous,
exceptional, extraordinary, far out, incomparable, inimitable,
special, standout, strange, uncommon" name. Now, you are ready
to begin writing your novel. Your character has been born,
breathing passages cleared (nice set of lungs there), weighed,
measured...and awaiting a name. Get creative, step outside the
box and remember... a rose by any other name should be something
besides Tom, Dick, Harry and Jane.
___

Copyright © 2004 Celise Downs. Reprinted with permission.
Celise is a Young Adult fiction author and owner of Gemini Mojo
Press. She currently has two books out and is working on a teen
series. Check out her "Young Adult Fiction with a Twist" at
http://www.GeminiMojoPress.com

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6: FREE Products, Services, Downloads
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BOOKPLEASURES.COM - Book Review and Interview Website
Bookpleasures.com provides a free website for reading book
reviews and author interviews. All genres reviewed and reviewers
are from all walks of life.

If you would like your book reviewed, please email an inquiry to
Norm at l.goldman@sympatico.ca and briefly indicate what the
book is about.

*As server space is limited, they will no longer be posting
reviews of eBooks nor of books that cannot be purchased on
Amazon.com. They also do not review books that are are not hard
or soft-bound.*

Would you like to review for bookpleasures.com?

Anyone who wishes to contribute book reviews to Bookpleasures,
please contact Norm at l.goldman@sympatico.ca indicating your
writing experience, and also indicate if you have your own web
site.

Please note, at this time there is no monetary compensation.
Reviewers are compensated with complimentary books, knowledge
and a great deal of fun.
http://www.BookPleasures.com

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7: PROMOTION ARTICLE by Sue Paulson
Speaking Sells Books - Ten Tips for Authors (Part Two)
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In my last article, I focused on ways to deal with your fears
about public speaking and shared the first four tips for
creating solid content to your talks. The following six items
will help polish that performance.

1. Practice Your Content - Talk out loud: into a tape recorder,
to your family, or even your dog! As you assess your content,
ask yourself: are your points clear and in the right order, have
you included examples, how closely does your content fit the
time frame? Is there time left for questions?

Note: I don't recommend reading word for word, but if that's the
only place you feel comfortable initially, then read it WELL!
Slow down, pause, make eye contact; you can even interject a
personal aside as it occurs to you.

2. Practice Your Delivery - Once your content is solid, pay
attention to your voice quality, your gestures, and your
movement. All messages are enriched through vocal variety and
appropriate gestures. If your movement is restricted because of
the podium, even a slight turning of your body to face different
parts of your audience will keep your listeners involved.
Request and learn to use a microphone properly, especially if
you have a soft voice or you're speaking to more than fifteen
people. If available, a cordless lapel mike is ideal because it
frees you to move and gesture.

3. Prepare a Brief Bio - Organizers really appreciate short,
well-worded biographies to introduce you. Remember, they're
scared to talk, too! (75 words or less is a good length.)

4. Make a Checklist - The night before you present, check that
you have everything you need: your notes, bio, any audio/visual
aids, glasses, books to sell, business cards, bookmarks etc.
Choose comfortable clothes and shoes that project your desired
professional image and are suitable for the event.

5. Stay Focused - As you begin to speak, keep your purpose
firmly in mind. What points are vital for them to take home'
Look for those friendly faces in the audience to boost your
confidence. Respect the timeframe you've been given, even if you
have to skip some points. Better to leave your listeners wanting
more than have them frustrated because you went overtime.

6. Enjoy the Rewards - Bask in the audience applause -
You earned it! Later, analyze that presentation by acknowledging
what you did well and deciding what to change to make the next
one even better. Refuse to beat yourself up if it didn't go as
well as you would have liked. We can only learn from mistakes if
we make some, and of course, practice makes perfect!

If you use the tips in this article to help you speak better and
make a commitment to speak more often, it won't be long before
your public speaking fears no longer chase you. Your fans will
appreciate you, not only as a talented author, but a wonderful
speaker. The bonus - book sales will soar. Happy Speaking!
___

Copyright © 2005 Sue Paulson. Reprinted with permission.
Sue is the author of Tips & Tools to Speak with Confidence -
Keys to Finding Your Voice, an IPPY Award winner, and Tips &
Tools for Student Success - Keys to Higher Grades, an Alberta
best-seller. As a coach and instructor, she delights in helping
individuals transform their fears as they learn to speak up and
speak out. Check out her website at: www.fingertipsolutions.com,
or call toll-free: 1-877-622-2205

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8: CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
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ONE OF US - Creative Writing Workshop Website
If you write, you're One Of Us! We provide a place for amateur
and professional writers from around the world to share their
creative writing hints, tips and advice. We feature original
articles, as much advice as we can get hold of and encourage you
to get involved in our creative writing discusssion forum.

We offer help on writing, editing, getting published, submitting
your manuscript or short story to publishers and magazines and
much more. Everyone from new writers, amateur writers to
professionals and future best-selling authors are welcome.
We're UK based but you don't have to be.
http://www.oneofus.co.uk

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9: PUBLICITY ARTICLE by C. Hope Clark
Judge the Necessity of Appearance
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Before accepting a public appearance of any kind, try to learn
the usual tone and temperament of the event. New writers often
jump at the chance to make an appearance thinking any
opportunity is a good one. Some events, however, may evolve into
more of a hazard than a boost to your career.

The Shy Writer: An Introvert's Guide to Writing Success, is a
primer on handling yourself in public, particularly if you
cringe at the thought. By offering options to the standard
methods of self-promotion, the book addresses alternatives while
empowering the writer to make choices that match her
personality. Accepting public appearances is one of those
choices. You might decipher from a quick study just what the
risk factor is for controversy at an affair and remove yourself
from a potentially damaging situation. If you are shy, and
shyness will not work in that setting, excuse yourself from the
activity and look for other opportunities. The same goes for any
other personality trait. Match who you are to the event instead
of saying yes and walking in blind.

OTHER SCHEDULED SPEAKERS
Look at the biographies of the other guests. Is this a mild
affair or do a couple of the speakers inflame audiences with
their views and published opinions? Once a crowd is roused, it
might be hard to settle them down. Is a speaker a strong
competitor with a publication that will make attendees compare
which one of you is best? The marriage of you and these other
speakers might not be healthy. Study their history and do not
feel bad about asking the event manager in advance to educate
you accordingly before you say yes.

THE HOST GROUP
Is the sponsoring group benign or controversial? If the members
tend to have a strong opinion about any topic, assume they speak
openly about their preferences. Keep your conversation gracious
and middle-of-the-road or consider another event if you have
serious concerns. Politics, religion, environmental stands, and
even gender, race and age can influence the group's reception of
you. Going against the grain can cause you damage.

THE HOST
I have seen emcees of conferences that loved the limelight and
treated speakers like guests at a roast. They thought it cute
and humorous. You may not know the host ahead of time, but if
you do and worry about the potential jabs or derailment of your
appearance, ask to eliminate introductory jokes, provide your
own introduction, or dodge the whole affair.

THE SETTING
Are you speaking where liquor is served? Is the assembly to be
held outside in ninety-degree heat? Is the audio equipment
marginal? Is your signing table in front of the restroom or in
the way of the general foot traffic? Know the setup plans and
voice your preferences (or have your "representative" do it for
you). You can learn how much respect is held for you and your
work by the response and attentive behavior of the host party.
If you need this gig, adapt and adjust. If you do not, then
avoid it but only after you have made the effort to change the
arrangements.

THE ORGANIZATION
Is this a first event or a well-established ten-year affair?
While first-time events can provide new opportunity, you have no
idea how organized or financially supported the host may be.
Naíve planning can lead to small speaking rooms, poor sound
systems, or loose agendas, all of which have the potential to
damage your image.

The published writer needs public venues for sales and
promotion, but choosing any opportunity can sink your ship if
it goes bad just like a great appearance can mike you shine.
Like an actress selecting the best scripts to enhance her
career, choose those conventions, book signings, and speaking
engagements that polish, not tarnish, your image.
___

Copyright © 2005 C. Hope Clark. Reprinted with permission.
C. Hope Clark is author of The Shy Writer: An Introvert's Guide
to Writing Success. The book is available through the website
TheShyWriter.com, Booklocker.com, Amazon.com, and Barnes & Noble
online & makes for a great holiday gift for the writer you know.

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10: ANNOUNCEMENTS/REQUESTS
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SOULENGRAVINGS.COM - Horror Fiction and Poetry Ezine
A Tangled Script of Intangible Soul Engravings
This Ezine is constantly evolving and is seeking submissions of
horror or dark fantasy fiction and poetry (preferably 3,000
words or less). Multiple poetry submissions are accepted.
They pay $20 USD for fiction and $10 USD for poetry via PayPal.
Send your submission to masterengraver@soulengravings.com with
the subject of "submission". Visit the website for more details.
http://www.soulengravings.com

MIDICI BOOKS - Short Story Publishing
We have some space available for short fiction stories in our
forthcoming series of paperback books. This was never intended
to be a competition as such but we have just recently decided to
offer a US $1,000 prize for the best short story submitted.
For more information about Midici Books and this opportunity you
are welcome to check out the website.
http://www.midicibooks.net

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11: CLASSIFIED ADS
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LISTINGS:

ADD YOUR BOOK LISTING & AUTHOR BIO:
This is a marketing feature you don’t want to miss:
http://www.selfpublishedauthors.com/add.html

SHAURETTENET: The Home Page of Dan Shaurette
- His Novel, LILITH'S LOVE - http://www.Liliths-Love.com
- The Lurkers' Domain (creative writing forum) - http://lurk.us
- Is This Thing On? - http://feeds.feedburner.com/shaurettenet
All this and more at: http://www.ShauretteNet.com

YOUR ADVERTISEMENT COULD BE HERE!

Contact Christina Wheeler for more information:
contact@selfpublishedauthors.com

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12: Subscriber Management / Contact Information
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© 2002-2005 Self Published Authors All Rights Reserved
http://www.selfpublishedauthors.com

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Canada V8Z 6S1

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