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21 " Inside you there are universes. You contain multitudes. "
― James Scott Bell , How to Make a Living As a Writer
22 " Seek the fellowship of other writers. A writers conference is a great way to meet other scribes. Email makes it easy to keep in touch. Consider forming a circle of such friends. "
23 " Coffitivity.com. "
24 " People who read want one of two things: knowledge or entertainment. When you can give them both, so much the better. "
25 " There is one story question per novella, usually in the form: Will X get Y? "
26 " The ACX program at Amazon has one of the most user-friendly programs in publishing. ACX was created by Audible, the world's leading producer of downloadable media. Audible was subsequently bought by Amazon. Works that are produced via ACX are available on Audible's site, Amazon and the iTunes store. Set up an account at ACX.com (you will be using the same user name and password that you use for your Kindle account). "
27 " The copy editor looks for inconsistencies in content (does your character have blue eyes in Chapter 1, and green eyes in Chapter 30? "
28 " Pay for a cover. There are abundant sources out there now for getting a good cover design. Do a little Google searching. Check out a website called 99Designs.com. The basic range for a pro cover is around $ 200-$ 500. If you want something more complex and specific, you might pay an artist a bit more. "
29 " My preferred method is to be able to suggest a concept and get two preliminary sketches or renderings. Then choose one and have two rounds of modifications and a final polish. "
30 " That makes it harder to run an ad on a book-deal service like Bookbub, BookGorilla, BookSends, eBookSoda and so on. "
31 " Is there an alternative to blogging? There is. Build relationships with four or five highly-trafficked blogs. "
32 " And since this is a business, let me say I encourage self-publishing writers to set up their own publishing company as a corporation. It's not hard to do. Consider LegalZoom.com as a starting point. "
33 " Self-publishing is a volume business. The more quality (key word!) work you put out there, the better your chances of an increasing income stream. How good are the chances? Better than if you put all your hopes on one or two books. Don't fall into that trap. "
34 " There is a fine line between knowing the stats your self-publishing generates and living your life around them. Some authors check their Amazon rank several times a day. That can only lead to madness and walking the streets talking to yourself. "
35 " Whenever I go to a hospital to visit someone, I must confess that half my mind is thinking, Hm, this would make a good detail in a scene…. "
36 " It takes about eighteen months, on average, for a book you contract with a publisher to make it to the bookstore shelves. "
37 " Most agents and editors, if they are speaking off the cuff, will admit that literary writing is defined as the kind that does not sell. The finalists for the National Book Award each year routinely sell between 2000 − 5000 copies, and that's it. "
38 " The great dividend is not necessarily outscoring an opponent. The guaranteed dividend is the complete peace of mind gained in knowing you did everything within your power, physically, mentally, and emotionally, to bring forth your full potential." – John Wooden, legendary UCLA basketball coach "
39 " Paragraph 2 is the "who you are" paragraph. Don't gild the lily. Just put down your basic background and any literary awards or training you've received. If you are writing about your specialty (say, a lawyer writing a legal thriller), of course mention that, too. "