Lit Lingo

15 Nov

Posted at 15:24h in Editing by

Looking to create a successful pre-order campaign for your next book? The Books Forward team has you covered. Here are our tips for encouraging pre-orders: Update your sales pages on all platforms Ensure that your upcoming release (and any previous books!) have up-to-date, engaging copy on Amazon and all other sales channels. After all, if you’re going to be directing buyers to these sites, you should make sure that everything is in good shape! Here are our tips for making your sales pages pop. Offer a pre-order discount  An easy way to encourage pre-orders is to drop the price for a limited time leading up to the release. Everyone loves a sale! Plus, you can discount your backlist books during this time as well for an extra boost. If you’re writing a series, consider a deep discount for the first book(s) in the series as a way to entice new readers. Offer swag items and other exclusives If you’ve never entered into a swag-based pre-order campaign, it’s simple: Author offers exclusive swag to fans who pre-order. Reader DMs their receipt of purchase along with their email and/or physical address. Author sends out swag items until they run out. Here are some examples from a recent campaign: https://www.tiktok.com/@caitlynslibrary/video/7248705583937932590 https://www.instagram.com/p/CuYKNDfOFku/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CunLO98S7CZ/ If you’re hesitant to run a swag-based campaign because of how costly it can be, you’re not alone. While swag (especially custom products) can be pricey, there are some ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality. For example, many authors offer digital swag like downloadable prints or excerpts from the book. That said, eye-catching physical swag still tends to have the best effect, especially for sci-fi/fantasy, young adult, and romance authors. These genres allow you to be especially colorful and creative with your swag! Update your social media pages Make sure to update all your headers with the upcoming release date. Try using pinned tweets and IG images to ensure the latest pre-order news stays at the top of your feed! Lean on your networks: your email list, author...

06 Nov

Posted at 09:17h in Editing by

Writing the Prologue for Dancing Into the Light: an Arab-American Girlhood in the Middle East By Kathryn K. Abdul-Baki A prologue can be several different things. It can hint at what is to come in the story, give background, or set a mood. More than anything, it should entice the reader to delve further into the book. For Dancing Into the Light, I wanted the prologue to bring both the present and the past into focus so readers could see that a large part of the book would be a recollection of a magical past. It starts in the present—I am dancing in a Latin club with my husband and friends. A particular song by Harry Belafonte instantly brings back poignant childhood memories of dancing with my father. I imagine my father and mother dancing romantically together in Tehran, Iran, where we then lived. I mention that my father is Arab and my mother is American, from Tennessee, and that both of them are now deceased. I describe the feelings that ignite in me when I dance to Latin and Caribbean music and I hint that there is a story to follow that will trace my current dance passion—I mention that I presently teach dancing and study ballroom Latin dancing—back to my childhood. It sets the two themes of the book—dancing and loss—and describes the power that music and dance hold for me, pulling me back to my youth with my parents during a time when we were all together. It also hints that things changed and we are no longer together. So, in the four pages of the prologue, I try to encapsulate what the book is about, tease the reader with the promise that the story will be both heart-breaking and joyful, and set the mood to invoke the reader’s interest in the story to follow. In the epilogue, I come back to the scene in the prologue and explain how my last days were with my father...

16 Oct

Posted at 14:37h in Editing by

There’s a wonderful history of indie authors creating a great platform, getting noticed by traditional publishers and landing a publishing deal. The best tactic is to query an agent on the strength of your work and current accolades. It’s very rare to go directly to a publisher these days as they mostly work with agents. After you query an agent and secure their services, they will approach prospective publishers for you. Finding an agent can be a long and tedious process, as they each have their own submission requirements and it can be months before you hear back from each with answers. With this in mind, here are some of our favorite resources for finding an agent: Poets & Writers has a great amount of information on agents. They have a Literary Agents Database and a helpful Agent Advice column. Publishers Lunch: We recommend looking over what deals have been made for mid-list authors each day. You don’t want a blockbuster agent because they’re already set financially. Info includes: genre, author, synopsis, agent and which publisher the work sold to. You can sign up for the free daily newsletter that will give you most of this info, or you sign up for a $25/month newsletter which has all of the details. QueryTracker: This free database hosts plenty of agent data. Because the info can be outdated, it’s best to use this tool to create a list of agents who represent your genre, then crosscheck with each agent’s website to confirm who they represent and which publishers they work with. Guide to Literary Agents An old standby, written by Robert Lee Brewer. AAR – Association of Author’s Representatives: Here’s a list of member agents, with varying amounts of information about them. Children’s authors can view the Rights Reports on PW. These reports cite which agents facilitated the deal for upcoming kids books. Women Writers, Women’s Books also has an Agents Corner column where authors can share their agent success stories and offer advice. Writer’s Digest Guide to...

02 Oct

Posted at 09:35h in Editing by

Ah, the coveted book review. Every author wants them, and everyone in the industry talks about how important they are. But have you ever stopped to think about why that might be and how exactly you can use a review to benefit your book and author brand? First thing’s first, let’s talk about ways you can secure book reviews: Be sure you are ready to start soliciting reviews. ARCs are perfectly fine, but create these after the copy editing and proofread process. Consider your goal of why you want reviews and how you plan to utilize them, and this will help you decide between consumer and professional reviews (a mix of reader buzz and premiere publications is best!) If you’re a new publisher, start a blurb program with authors you have published. If you’re an author, reach out personally to fellow authors on similar publishing journeys who write in your genre. Reach out to authors of comparable books, as well as the reviewers, influencers and media outlets that have covered them. Submit the book for free and/or paid review programs with industry publications (Foreword, BookLife, BookPage, Kirkus, School Library Journal, etc.) Consider other options with media if the book is not accepted for review (reading list, excerpt, guest article from the author, etc.) List the book on NetGalley and Edelweiss. Coordinate a Goodreads giveaway, as well as a giveaway with LibraryThing. Think outside the box: Does the author have any bookseller or librarian supporters who may provide a blurb? Pull reader reviews from retail listings. Follow submission guidelines closely: Be mindful of deadlines, editorial calendars and specific information requested – whether for a trade publication or book blogger. Now that you’ve built up reviews, blurbs and other accolades, what in the world do you do with them? There are plenty of ways you can maximize the impact of your reviews: Add the most compelling review quotes and premiere endorsements to the book’s front and/or back cover, and use additional quotes on...

19 Sep

Posted at 14:27h in Editing by

What is ghostwriting, how does one become a ghostwriter, and is ghostwriting “cheating?” Today, on the blog we’re sitting down with Mallory Burgey, a professional fiction ghostwriter who is giving us a peak behind the curtain at this mysterious and often misunderstood job. What exactly does it mean to be a freelance fiction ghostwriter? What does your job entail? I’m sure this answer is different for everyone who answers it, but for me, I work with small, independent publishing companies. I am hired to turn a provided 10,000-word outline into a full-length book. In my case, I ghostwrite under a pen name. There is no “real author” publishing the books, but rather a team of people who create the outlines, edit, and do the marketing to publish and promote the books. I am just another member of that team! I receive an outline and have the opportunity to read through it and provide notes and feedback. I’m lucky that I have a lot of creative freedom to change things to better suit the story. Then I write! I work in chronological order, starting with chapter one and writing ~5,000 words per day until the book is complete. Occasionally I will do edits when I’ve written something that isn’t quite how the client imagined, but that is rare. How many books have you ghostwritten? I don’t have an exact number to offer, but it is definitely over 100 books at this point. It could be as high as 150, but it would take me a long time to go back and count! In the five years I’ve been a ghostwriter, I’ve written everything from short stories to 18,000-word novellas to 125,000-word novels. Early on, I was working on three projects per month to make a decent wage. At this point, I work on one project at a time and exclusively write novels. How does someone get “into” ghostwriting? Again, I’m sure this answer is different for everyone. For me, I went...

05 Sep

Posted at 09:24h in Editing by

Audiobooks are booming like never before. According to Deloitte, the U.S. audiobook market in 2020 was valued at an estimated $1.5 billion. Yes, that’s billion with a “b.” When 2020’s pandemic shuttered libraries and bookstores, and delayed postal deliveries, stuck-at-home readers browsed digital shelves instead, and audiobook sales kept growing. In the UK alone, the pandemic increased audiobook sales by 42% in the first half of the year according to The Guardian, while print sales plummeted. Audiobook listeners are readers. And the takeaway is this: There’s never been a better time to release an audiobook. Here are three reasons authors should jump on the audiobook bandwagon (as soon as possible): 1). Expose your work to more readers. By releasing an audiobook, you will reach an audience who have, by preference or necessity, transitioned away from print media. If you’re releasing a nonfiction book, you’ll be able to reach the growing market of 18-34 year old urban men who prefer audiobooks (particularly nonfiction), and who have traditionally not been known as a strong book-buying market according to Good E-Reader. If you’re releasing fiction, you’ll be able to reach the vast majority of busy stay-at-home moms who juggle kid-centric commutes with an endless list of household errands–but who still want to find time to read a book. You’ll be able to reach elderly readers who can no longer easily see the printed page, or readers who are homebound for a variety of reasons in 2021. Why wouldn’t you want to expose your work to the widest audience possible? Audiobooks substantially broaden your reach. 2). Bring your book to life in new ways. Gone are the days of clunky audio cassettes, scratched CDs, and uninspired narrators. Today’s technology can broadcast your story in vibrant color on the theater screen inside people’s minds. Audiobooks (such as the ones we produce through our sister company Books Fluent) are dynamic and engaging. Talented voice actors, multi-voice casts, sound effects, musical interludes, and other interactive and engaging elements can be integrated into audiobook recordings more easily than...

15 Aug

Posted at 09:00h in Editing by

A book’s front cover should be eye-catching and inviting enough to compel a reader to pick up your book. But, that’s only half the battle! Without enticing back cover copy, your book — with its beautifully designed front cover — may go right back on the bookseller shelves. The back cover, though less glamorous than the front cover, does most of the work when it comes to convincing readers to pull out their wallet. So, it’s important to give it the attention it deserves. In this article, we’ll share a few tips for nailing your back cover copy. Research what other authors in your genre have done. After seeing what’s been working for your competition, you’ll have a better idea of the structure and style you should use in your own copy. This will vary depending on your genre. For example, fantasy and romance authors may rely more heavily on taglines to get their message across, whereas nonfiction writers may use bullet points for the same purpose. Remember that researching does not mean copying. Even if you find inspiration from what other authors have done, you have to put your own spin on things! Consider your target audience.  What are your readers looking for? What keywords will draw them in — and which ones will push them away? For nonfiction authors, readers are typically looking to learn something new. Often, they are searching for an answer to a problem. Your copy should acknowledge the problem/question they have, and then promise to provide an answer. Tell your reader exactly what they will take away from the book. For fiction authors, especially genre fiction, your copy might take inspiration from a movie trailer. You’ll want to showcase the suspense, drama, excitement and romance contained in your book’s pages. Readers should get a feeling for the emotional content of the book in addition to a basic understanding of the plot. Start drafting. As you begin drafting options for your copy, try to fit everything into...

01 Aug

Posted at 09:00h in Editing by

If you value the booksellers and librarians in your community (and you should!) you’ve probably wondered how to earn their support. A meet and greet is an opportunity for you to make a positive personal connection with booksellers and librarians who have the ability to promote your book to customers and patrons long after you meet them. After connecting personally with these industry “tastemakers,” they will often consider your book for events, official staff recommendations, and special displays (like a local author’s table). They may even nominate your book for awards in the future! The first step for connecting with a bookseller or librarian is to call ahead. Be respectful of their time, and ask to arrange a brief 10-15 minute meeting. You should bring: a copy of your book a printed copy of your press kit or one sheet (your ISBN should be displayed here for quick reference) (optional) swag, bookmarks or treats to help you stand out A meet and greet is all about creating a personal relationship with the bookseller or librarian. You can’t show up once and expect the world. As an author, you have to be willing to put in the time and effort, especially if you want their help in return! A few tips for your meeting: Emphasize that you just want to introduce yourself and not take up a lot of their time. Thank the staff for all they do to support the literary community in your area. Give them a copy of your book and press kit. Share a quick summary of the book and explain why you wrote it (this is your elevator pitch!) Mention that you hope they’ll consider ordering a few copies, or ask about the possibility of scheduling an event/stock signing. If planning an event, be sure to mention what you expect to see in the way of attendance and/or book sales. Be considerate and flexible. If you’d be open to a dual-author or panel event,...

15 Jul

Posted at 09:00h in Editing by

In terms of printing and distribution, Ingram and IngramSpark are the best and the biggest. They are well respected in the industry and have great reach to online retails, bookstores and libraries. If you publish your book via IngramSpark, it will populate to Amazon; however Amazon offers publishing directly through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), and with the difference in royalty and print costs, it really can be worth pairing them together for your independently published book.  IngramSpark Ingram is an avenue that traditionally published authors have for distribution, and IngramSpark is a branch which lets independent authors access that same market but in a Print On Demand (POD) structure.  Part of what makes them the best is that bookstores love them and find them easy to work with—they can order every book they want from Ingram/IngramSpark in one order form versus when books are sold on consignment or through smaller less well known distributors.  In effect, bookstores want to make their buyers' jobs easier, so less forms is better, which is why they like it when books are available via Ingram.  KDP  KDP is a separate distribution account directly attached to Amazon that distributes solely to Amazon. They have IngramSpark beat a bit in terms of printing costs but their royalties are really the benefit.  IngramSpark allows you to set the distribution discount percentage from 30-55%, but KDP automatically sets that at 40%. So if you have your IngramSpark percentage set at the 55% that bookstores expect and the lower percentage with KDP can help pad the lower royalties through IngramSpark.  There is the option to distribute exclusively through KDP, and either do distribution to just Amazon or apply for their expanded distribution, which gives a bit more reach. It does offer up some benefits, such as the higher royalty rates and access to Kindle Select.  However, you’d be essentially closing the door to any bookstore or library opportunities—not only because Amazon is their direct competitor but also because it is...

05 Jul

Posted at 09:00h in Editing by

For many authors, writing a book that becomes a bestseller is their dream goal. But what does it really take to become a bestselling author? In the most broad strokes, you’ll want to sell at least 5,000-10,000 books in a single week in order to be considered by any of the major bestseller lists. Unfortunately, there’s no magic number of sales that will guarantee you a spot on a list. And when you focus on the New York Times bestseller list in particular — which is perhaps the most well-known and considered by many to be the most prestigious — things get even more hazy. The NYT bestseller list isn’t representative of pure sales data alone. After all, recording every sale of every book within the U.S. in a single week is an impossible task. So, there’s some wiggle room as far as accuracy goes. But, there are also other factors that appear to work for or against certain books. Right away in the against category, we have certain genres that are excluded from the list. At the time of writing this article, NYT states that “the categories not actively tracked at this time are: perennial sellers, required classroom reading, textbooks, reference and test preparation guides, e-books available exclusively from a single vendor, journals, workbooks, calorie counters, shopping guides, periodicals and crossword puzzles.” If not all genres are created equal in the eyes of The New York Times, the same can be said about retailers. NYT has said it receives sales reports from some, but not all, independent bookstores, along with (we assume) major retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Since not all stores report to The New York Times, some sales may go unrecorded. It’s also been rumored that diversity in sales will work in a book’s favor. The idea is that if sales are coming in from retailers in different regions across the country, and if the retailers vary from indie stores to big-box chains, this will increase an author’s chance...