The Insecure Writer's Support Group

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

I’ve been on this author journey for many years now. While many things become routine or not as fresh as they were in the beginning, it’s neat when something surprises or pleases in a new way. One of those boo-yah moments.

A couple recent boo-yah moments:

Last week, I finished editing one of the stories for my next collection. And you know what? I was just as excited about it. I love the story. It’s been so long since I wrote anything fiction, I was worried I’d forgotten how. But I love how this one turned out.

Since I teach seminars on publishing and promoting, I’m always on the lookout for new sites and ways to market books. I’d compiled some websites in a Word document and finally had time to go through them last weekend. I found a couple really cool ones that I can use myself, which was exciting.

I even learned a new trick last month concerning book formatting!

Anyone else have a boo-yah moment lately?

Over at The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, we are announcing the winners of the anthology contest today.






And for anyone looking for an editor, my dear friend Crystal has been editing professionally for over seven years and does a great job, plus she’s very reasonable. Read about her services at Crystal Cleaer Proofing.

When It Comes To Marketing, Where Should We Start?

Thanks for having me here today, Diane. Really appreciate it.

As promised I’m willing to share my marketing secrets. I’ve been sticking with smaller publishers. So when I was published, the marketing team at my fingertips was one overworked person supporting many, many authors.

If you want more then it’s up to you. Think of the marketing person as a resource full of information. They’ll share ideas and set stuff up. What stuff? Things like Facebook Virtual Parties, Cover Reveals, Blog Tours, and Scavenger Hunts.

And each one of these events needs you to lead the charge. How do you learn what to do? Watch and learn from the other writers around you. Go to their events. Make a few notes on what they did. Before you know it you’re not just learning what to do, you’re also networking.

Networking is the biggest thing you can do. Not only does it help you get out there, it’s making friends, and building team of blogger friends that can depend on each other.

Awesomesauce. Scary. Exciting. All that, and more. But if you want to sell books, the world needs to know about them. So get out there and support your writer friends. The trick is don’t be shy even if you have to fake it.

Did I miss anything? Tell me. I’m still learning too.

Find Anna Simpson: Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads /

Find her latest, White Light, at Amazon / Kobo / All Romance Books / Barnes & Noble

Print Book Formatting and Disney Christmas

I am posting at the The Insecure Writer’s Support Group today: Print Book Formatting Programs - Which One Should You Use?

And this has been an interesting year for me. I’m back into fiction writing, speaking less, and business stuff has gone in so many new directions. I’m going to have some amazing things to share with you next year.

In the meantime, I’ll just share some amazing pictures from our trip to Disney World two years ago!

The Insecure Writer's Support Group - Publisher-Author Responsibilities

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Publisher - Author Responsibilities

In working with a writer recently, it occurred to me that not everyone understands how publishing works. (I know, shocking. After teaching publishing seminars for 8 years, I’ve discovered most unpublished writers don’t know.) But there is a system in place and publishers and authors each have their responsibilities.

If you’re self-publishing, then it all falls on you. But how do things happen when a traditional publisher takes on your book?

First, it helps to know how the relationship works. The author is not hiring the publisher to produce the book - in essence, the publisher hires the author to produce a marketable manuscript. Since it’s the publisher’s time, expertise, and money going into the project, they make the decisions.

The author’s responsibilities are:

• Produce a marketable manuscript
• Perform all revisions as per the publisher’s timetable
• Market the book online and in the real world before and after the book’s release

The publisher’s responsibilities are:

• Editing, light to in depth
• Cover design, either in house or through a regular freelancer
• Book formatting and production
• Printing and distribution, both outsourced
• Minimum marketing or better
• Scheduled royalty payments to author

There are a lot more responsibilities, but those are the basics.

Note that everything to do with book production is the responsibility of the publisher and in their control. With smaller presses, the author might have some input on the cover, but usually they have little to no say in the final design. They also have some say in the revisions, although refusing too many suggestions might result in being dropped completely.

For writers who want more control, self-publishing isn’t their only option these days. There are numerous small presses arising that are formed by authors who get to control their work. There’s also the issue of low royalties, which some small presses like Freedom Fox Press counter with much higher royalties. And of course, expertise and clout factor into it, something a publisher, big or small, can offer that one might not possess when self-publishing..

My advice to writers is pick the path that best suits his or her needs. There’s traditional publishing, self-publishing, and a lot now available in between!