In keeping up with my own written stories I look for tools that might help writers collect information, store it and recall it quickly. This weeks Tuesday Tools, I started having a conversation with my amazing life partner about how I could store and keep images, research and bring them up on my computer easily. I recorded our conversation as we sat outside Starbucks sipping on my latte with our dogs for you to listen in! His voice is dreamy and I love listening to him and I know from experience he can use that voice to strip clothes off--but--that's a different topic. Here's his thoughts on Evernote vs. Onenote: So basically you have a choice between a 3 ring binder and notepads. Onenote is the notebook with different sections. Evernote is the 3 ring binder style. Below he explains more about the features: ACTION ITEM: What's better for you? Evernote or Onenote?
0 Comments
Here is where I say, to gain money you spend money. This promotion is $99 (right now). Which means that depending on how successful this is, the price will be going up.
ACTION ITEM: If you have the money you might want to try it! This promotion sounds like a new release opportunity. I've discovered a new promotional site for authors called eBookSoda. They look like they promote to a UK audience and not just a US audience. I've place two books so far and the result was not bad for $5. eBookSoda promotes your book for a day for $5. Be sure to schedule it early as they have a process. Make sure your book has these 6 criteria they want: 1. A book well-formatted, free from typos and grammatical errors. 2. A great cover. Something professionally made. 3. A rating with a minimum of 8 reviews with an average star rating of 3.5 unless it’s a new release (less than 3 months old). 4. Standard lengths such as:
6. Your ebook should be on Amazon (they only feature books that are available from at least one major retailer.) ACTION ITEM: Try eBookSoda for $5 If your not on the BookGoodies list...you're missing out on some good tips, and marketing efforts. There latest is Fiction Hideaway. Sorry non-fiction is turned away. But for those who write fiction here's another place to get some exposure. They emphasize print books along with ebooks so be prepared with your print book link! http://fictionhideaway.com/share-your-book/ Points of Interest: They have a $99 package that puts your book up an several paid advertising sites The DO NOT take non-fiction Free to share your book on their website (not advertise--but share) Tied to BookGoodies ACTION ITEM: List your book in the free share section: http://fictionhideaway.com/share-your-book/ This Tuesday's Tools is more of a thought I had. Let's say that Facebook ads work and you've had some success with them and playing around with A/B ads might be something you're interested in. What if you could do it for free? Test which ads might work better that is. Well, why not use twitter and their stats to tell you what works? Twitter gives you stats of your best posts so why not take that information and use the best tweets as a facebook ad? Okay here's your chance to laugh at me going--Ha!Ha!Ha! Stephanie--we've been doing that for years!! Or, Ha!Ha!Ha! Stephanie, that's the worst idea ever. Sorry if I'm slow on the uptake but I think I'm going to try it. ACTION ITEM: Laugh at me while I figure out the validity of such an idea to test with twitter first, then try it on Facebook. Or, maybe do the same thing and let me know how yours works! Have you heard of Skillshare? It's a place of learning--webinar learning and learn as you go style teaching. You can use Skillshare as a place to learn new things, or you can teach. Have knowledge you'd like to share? You can reach people with the Skillshare platform. I once took a course with Laura Pepper Wu about book marketing and she did videos, worksheets, and gave us fun assignments. It was a basic course, but good for connecting and touching base with other authors. Right now Skillshare has some heavy hitters teaching on their site such as Marketing God, Seth Godin! You might want to check it out!! ACTION ITEM: Look around Skillshare and see if there are any classes you might be interested in...you'll get some great classes for $10/monthly. Indies...it's no longer a matter of if you'll make it and sustain yourself off of writing...it's a matter of if you'll last before you can start paying the bills.Listening to one of my favorite teachers on the Rocking Self Publishing Podcast -- Holly Lielse -- I realized that if you keep crafting, keep learning and write good books, you'll be able to make a living off writing.
It might take years. You might give up. You might find writing isn't for you. But if you keep writing you'll find your crowd. I've listened to only two podcasts on self-publishing, but they've shaped the path I've taken. ACTION ITEM: For this Tuesday's Tools I'm giving you two podcasts that have shaped the path I've taken. If you have 2 hours every week to commit to listening and learning, click on the pictures below. The links there will take you to the podcasts of these industry leaders that have helped me in my endeavors. At the very least, you'll be inspired and know you aren't alone! I have a hard time understanding how Google Analytics can help me make better choices in Marketing. Hell, do analytics have anything to do with Marketing? Yes. Yes they do. Google seems to understand the need for explaining their awesomeness so...I direct those who want to know more about Analytics to the Digital Analytics Fundamentals course that Google has for FREE... ACTION ITEM: Go to https://analyticsacademy.withgoogle.com/course01 to watch and understand Google Analytics. Want to shave off 7 years of blood, sweat and tears? Whether you know how to write or not, there is always, always room for improvement. You might be tired of listening to the same tropes writing teachers say. Then you haven't found Holly Lisle. After thirty years in commercial publishing, Holly's gone self-published and she'd never ever go back. Waiting for her royalties from her publisher and desperate to fend of the repo-man, Holly turned to self-publishing to pay the bills. In 2006 she launched her "How To Think Sideways" programs and realized self publishing could give her a monatary comfort level commercial publishing never could. But what Holly created was a course on how to build a writer. On her website she says, "Do you want to write fiction for a living? That entire process, from learning how to come up with ideas through writing your fiction, revising it, and dealing with agents, editors, and publishers—or publishing yourself—is what I teach here." She not only teaches writing--she teaches you how to take apart your own mind and put it back together--sideways. And the results are in the proof of her students. The first teaching course is how to write flash fiction that doesn't suck. The 3 week course is FREE. Upon the grand opening of the course several of her students went on to sell their flash fiction and recieved prestigous awards. This Tuesday's tools is Holly's FREE course. I don't care what you think you know about writing...you should take this course. It's like no other. ACTION ITEM: Go to... http://howtothinksideways.com/ Join her list and look around the site and look for your email from Holly. No, this isn't a use twitter and how to use it or use it or die post...this is a use twitter as a tool post. Or maybe twitter is a tool. That sounded more insulting in my head. Twitter as a tool other than tweeting? Oh heck yeah! Of course! What's more social proff than a social media service that you see everywhere in your streams? Have you ever tried to reach out to someone on twitter for services? Not the type of thing where you go...oh, they seem nice, what do they do? And then you go on to buy a service of theirs. But the type of thing where you go looking for specific services. As I look at my new followers I wonder--hey, I might need their services. But when I think I need a service or someone like my new VA, my first thought is elance, odesk, fiverr, etc. Have you ever searched on twitter for a resource or service? Doesn't it make sense to go through the people you've connected with for help? Conversly, if you offer a service make sure you have your website and an explaination of what you offer on your profile! Some of you I'd hire right from the info I find there. ACTION ITEM: Make sure you include the hashtag of what you do so people can find you when looking |
Dear Reader,
My efforts are to make this a learning blog where writers can see the flip side of publishing. If you have comments that will improve your experience or have a certain topic you'd like discussed, please contact me through email - HERE. ~ Sincerley, Your Editor Stephanie McKibben Head Troll Troll River Publications Books on Kindle
Categories
All
Blog Roll
Archives
January 2017
|