tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38942810773975443462024-03-14T15:47:55.792+01:00Jonen GleewellAuthor of humorous fiction novel 'Mine Looks Purple'.
(Contact me at jonengleewell@gmail.com)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185654402609449729noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894281077397544346.post-9678373270386892362017-03-24T18:38:00.000+01:002017-05-19T18:11:35.473+02:00Publish on Amazon and Kindle - How to do it<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 Feb 2016</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Self-publishing on Amazon is amazing: It costs little
or no money. It makes your book available worldwide. Setting up accounts and
going through the proofing process is fairly straightforward and there is lots
of How-to information on Amazon, and their customer service desk is efficient…
Still, it will help you a great deal if you know in advance where to go and
what to watch out for. So here are some useful links for self-publishing
through Amazon:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SET
UP ACCOUNTS AND UPLOAD BOOK<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Amazon Author Central<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://authorcentral.amazon.com/"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://authorcentral.amazon.com/</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Create an account to establish yourself as an author
on Amazon, and to set up f.ex. an author bio that will be visible on .com = the
US site. To add these details to the Amazon sites in other countries, you have
to set up an account there too. (It’s easy because the process is the same. Use
</span><a href="https://translate.google.com/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://translate.google.com/</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> when you’re doing the Japanese site </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">J</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">) Read this post too: </span><a href="https://ebooksuccess4free.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/amazon-author-central-to-more-foreign-countries/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://ebooksuccess4free.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/amazon-author-central-to-more-foreign-countries/</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Note: Think about what e-mail address you want to link
to all your accounts, because all correspondence will go through that address.
The same goes for your login and official author name. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You
want it to be consistent.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kindle Direct
Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://kdp.amazon.com/"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://kdp.amazon.com/</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">KDP is the Amazon service to create an ebook (in their file format).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Tip: If you plan to have a paperback edition as well, first read the CreateSpace info below.)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Uploading is free. You receive 70% or 35% royalties
based on conditions like : location of the sale, file size, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Great tip: Subscribe to </span><a href="http://www.lynda.com/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.lynda.com/</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and watch all the videos on how
to prepare your manuscript for publishing on Kindle and on other platforms that
exist: Nook (Barnes and Noble), Apple iBooks Store, Google Books, KOBO, etc…(There used to be a free trial period on Lynda. It might return...)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For instance, pay attention to how to set up a Table
Of Contents. For Kindle it’s best to use the Insert Table option in Word. For
other platforms (using format: .EPUB) it’s better to use the ‘universal’ way,
namely: use ‘Insert Bookmark’ for every chapter title and make a table of
contents from scratch via Insert Hyperlinks + linking them to the bookmarks of each
chapter title. Otherwise the layout on non-Kindle e-book readers may not work
or look bad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">KDP has a great preview option where you can see how your
book will look on several devices (Kindle Fire, Android app,…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://kdp.amazon.com/help"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://kdp.amazon.com/help</span></a></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CreateSpace<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.createspace.com/"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.createspace.com/</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CreateSpace is the Amazon service for ‘Print On
Demand’ printing = paperback edition will be printed whenever a customer orders
a book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Open an account and upload your book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You need to set up your Author bio + book blurb again
for this site. It isn’t linked to Amazon’s Author Central.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They offer 4 sales channels: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Amazon sites</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">CreateSpace site</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Distribution
channels (bookstores like the American Barns & Noble could order your book
if their customer requests it.),</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">American
Libraries. (Tip: To enable the sales channel ‘US libraries’ you need to choose the
free ISBN number that CreateSpace provides!)</span></li>
</ul>
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<u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Note</span></u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
CreateSpace autogenerates templates for the interior (the text) and the
Frontcover-spine-backcover. Use these! I downloaded their templates that had
the exact size, formatting and layout for my book containing 356 pages of a 6x9
inch size. Brilliant! In the proofing stage you’ll see a 3D render of the book.
And if CreateSpace found printing problems, they’ll show you where to change
the layout, fonts, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can upload a Word or PDF file on the site. Use one
of the standard fonts they use. It looks bad on screen, but great in print (as
opposed to fonts made for screens, like Arial).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Note</span></u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
When publishing through CreateSpace, the site will prompt you to make the ebook
(Kindle) version based on your upload. You can do that, but I think it might be better
to upload a version on KDP specifically for that purpose. You may want to change the
font, layout, page order,…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Embedded font<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Embedded means that the font that your choose will be
added to the book file. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kindle has its own preferred font(s). Currently this
is f.ex. ‘Bookerly’. It’s best to not select the ‘embed fonts’ when saving the
(PDF) file, because readers might not like it, plus I found it complicated
getting my book upload through the proofing process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the paper version, CreateSpace prefers their own font(s),
like Minion. </span><a href="https://forums.createspace.com/en/community/docs/DOC-1901"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://forums.createspace.com/en/community/docs/DOC-1901</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You might decide to embed your own font. In that case
change the PDF type from pages with text (that you can select) into pictures in
Adobe Acrobat Pro or for example in Photoshop by ‘rasterizing’ the text. Google
the best way to do this in the program you want to use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Book cover</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. How to find a great book cover or have one made for
you. Read my blog post on the subject.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://jonengleewell.blogspot.be/2016/01/someone-draw-my-book-cover-how-to-find.html"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://jonengleewell.blogspot.be/2016/01/someone-draw-my-book-cover-how-to-find.html</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Download a template contract online. Make sure that
you own the full rights of the work! Make sure to ask for the complete
Photoshop file so you can edit the layers yourself for promotional use later
on, etc. Make sure the dimensions are exactly right to avoid headaches. Look up the suggested standard book size and resolution on the site.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Read the requirements on the website of CreateSpace
and KDP (Kindle). Make sure the file is not downgraded in the process. You want
to keep the highest possible quality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CreateSpace and KDP offer additional services (at a
cost) to help you with a book cover, layouting, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">DRM, protection<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Digital Rights Management approach differs on each
platform. It’s basically software programming to restrict the usage of
proprietary software, in other words, to combat piracy. Amazon gives you the
option to enable or disable DRM. But once the book is published, you can’t
change the setting anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The debate around DRM is whether it prevents piracy or
if it actually hinders sales. Tip: read up on it and make up your own mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ISBN number<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This standardized number is simply a reference number
to quickly find a certain book. A book can go without a ISBN number. Every
country has its own service (for free or at a cost). </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Amazon adds free reference numbers (called ASIN
numbers) to all its books anyway. In fact, on my Kindle book page, Amazon shows
the ASIN number instead of my ISBN number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Payment:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Amazon generally offers different ways (that can change in time), f. ex. by EFT, wire
transfer or bank check. Within Europe, I assume the best out of those three is
EFT.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tip: And look into services like </span><a href="http://www.transferwise.com/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.transferwise.com</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (sort of like </span><a href="http://www.paypal.com/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.paypal.com</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">). Depending on which two countries are involved (f.
ex. bank A in the USA transfers to bank B in Belgium), their transfer fee could
be less expensive. But remember to take into account the hidden fees: the
conversion rate from US$ to EUR. It might be worthwhile to look into setting up
an account with one of those services, instead of using your usual home bank.
(I haven’t tried this out myself yet.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Amazon will not transfer money unless your Tax data
are validated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Taxes, ITIN number or EIN number, tax treaty<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The below information is for people living outside of the US:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Amazon (an American company) will do a “tax interview”
via your KDP and CreateSpace account, because selling books means VAT/consumer
tax will have to be paid in the country where the sale takes place, and afterwards
you will have to declare your foreign royalty earnings in your personal tax
return.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By answering the tax interview questions, Amazon will
draw up the document for you to (digitally) sign before sending it to the
American IRS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tip: read up on this because you don’t want to make a
mistake here. Amazon has recently updated their Help pages with more support and information on this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To sell books in the US, I would need a Tax
Identification Number. I don’t have one, so under normal
circumstances, Amazon would have to tax and transfer (in my case) 30% of my royalties to the
IRS. Luckily, Amazon can act as a withholding agent who deals with all of this.
Once a year, the IRS will forward a tax document through Amazon to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Currently, I can fill in my local tax identification
number in the tax interview. So I don’t need a US Tax Identification Number
(TIN).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I could apply for a <b>ITIN</b> in the US but it requires quite a bit of administration and
effort. Avoid if possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And EIN number is much easier to get (over the phone!),
but for that you need to be an employee in your (own) company.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Luckily, the IRS won’t levy a % tax when there is a<b> Tax Treaty </b>between the US and your
home country. In that case, the IRS the tax percentage is lower (or even 0%).
You of course still have to declare your profits in your home country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tip: Read the info on the KDP Help pages and on the
IRS site itself. (Brace yourself.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p515.pdf"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p515.pdf</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You’ll come across the same tax interview when selling
through CreateSpace, and through some ‘Aggregators’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">OTHER
DISTRIBUTING CHANNELS<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Aggregators<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Aggregators are companies with distribution channels.
They can get your ebook (.EPUB) up for sale on most well-known platforms, and
also in hard to reach places - in my case, the Apple iBooks Store - but, of
course, they take a percentage of the profit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsqZK6POPWVXlVoIuqsXW71hEbiYt1p1pH-T7OexP5kbb72EGADTR3PGlElTvmz8r1aZF6bPW1HnBrcDJOJt6xBqe3MblXhH5b3u7CSEgRe6-CrPVgPAzHxDkM3kxZHFg9VUGfOVszl8L/s1600/smashwords-logo-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsqZK6POPWVXlVoIuqsXW71hEbiYt1p1pH-T7OexP5kbb72EGADTR3PGlElTvmz8r1aZF6bPW1HnBrcDJOJt6xBqe3MblXhH5b3u7CSEgRe6-CrPVgPAzHxDkM3kxZHFg9VUGfOVszl8L/s200/smashwords-logo-300x225.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">Smashwords </span><b> </b><a href="http://smashwords.com/">http://smashwords.com</a></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">for example is an aggregator who can act as a tax
withholding agent in the States. The Apple iBooks Store won’t act as an agent (data: 2016). They
pay out a ‘commission’ rather than royalties, so tax wise this is a problem for
me. By going through an aggregator who does act as an agent (like Amazon does),
it becomes possible to sell on the Apple store… but at a cost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5681515?tstart=0"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5681515?tstart=0</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are several aggregator companies. Probably some
aggregators have distribution outlets that the competition has not (for example
the French online FNAC store). It’s up to you to decide if it is worth the
effort to join multiple aggregators, or any at all. Personally, I recommend it because you may want to not put all your eggs in the same basket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tip: make sure that they do not charge you (disproportionate)
fees for every change you make to the book price, blurb,… because you will be
making changes often!<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MARKETING
TOOLS<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Amazon has several ways to promote a book. (data: 2016)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For example, enrolling in ‘<b>KDP Select</b>’ (</span><a href="https://kdp.amazon.com/select"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://kdp.amazon.com/select</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">) gives access to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kindle Unlimited</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> is a
subscription program for readers that allows them to read as many books as they
want.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 18.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kindle Owners' Lending Library</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> is a collection of books that Amazon Prime members who own a Kindle can
choose one book from each month with no due dates.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">When you enroll in KDP Select, your books are
automatically included in both programs. Your books will still be available for
anyone to buy in the Kindle Store, and you'll continue to earn royalties from
those sales like you do today.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 18.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amazon Giveaway</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> is a service
where the publisher pays for X copies of a book to give away for free to the
winners. In that way the book gets exposure. </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/giveaway/home"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">http://www.amazon.com/gp/giveaway/home</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Make sure that you know if your book (and in what
shape or form) may be on sale on other platforms or not when you enroll in
these Amazon options.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNq0gZHanYxuLe_wXGgTjpv1Xx1B5Kx-WIJw2zirvhCz34DEcNCiBhTsn_qhyDxiNnvMQrJru5ubCNFxDtYy5d-khhtOzux86fvBieUjiDQ4OdG22oaRftMiAnVpIJndJ8rhTyrID_FhS/s1600/amazonlookinside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNq0gZHanYxuLe_wXGgTjpv1Xx1B5Kx-WIJw2zirvhCz34DEcNCiBhTsn_qhyDxiNnvMQrJru5ubCNFxDtYy5d-khhtOzux86fvBieUjiDQ4OdG22oaRftMiAnVpIJndJ8rhTyrID_FhS/s200/amazonlookinside.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Look Inside</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> on Amazon is <i>verrry </i>important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many readers won’t buy a book unless they’ve had a
chance to read the first chapter(s).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Both KDP and CreateSpace will automatically enable
this feature (usually shortly after the book launch).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">To ‘hook’ the potential buyers you may want to show
20% of the book instead of the default 10% for the paper edition (CreateSpace).</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If in CreateSpace, you’d like to make your own Look
Inside version, then you first need to sign up as a Seller on Amazon: </span><a href="https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/homepage.html"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/homepage.html</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then you can apply for ‘Search Inside The Book’: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/html-forms-controller/SITB_Pub_Signup_Form"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.amazon.com/gp/html-forms-controller/SITB_Pub_Signup_Form</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Also, in KDP, you can send an email to the service
desk </span><a href="mailto:kdp-support@amazon.com"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">kdp-support@amazon.com</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and ask them to increase the Look Inside to X%. Bear
in mind that the Look Inside window will often stop somewhere random inside a
chapter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reviews</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> are deemed very important. Potential buyers often
want to read reviews on Amazon, Goodreads,… to decide to buy or not. Amazon has
a very strict policy: If they suspect that the reviews have been bought or if
they come from a close relative or friend, then they will delete those reviews.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Also, an author can get on the ‘Author behaving badly’
blacklist when (s)he directly emails a reviewer or customer through the
Amazon/Goodreads platform. So be warned!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Amazon now also adds a note to each uploaded review indicating that the reviewer was a verified buyer of the book or not. Both types are fine but a potential buyer might have more trust in a review by a verified buyer.)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tip: read up on the correct netiquette (online
etiquette) with regards to promoting yourself as an author on these sites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tip: join the Making Connections group on Goodreads to
enroll your book in the Authors Requesting Reviews (ARR) group. You give your
book for free, and interested readers ‘might’ later on add a review to your
book page. The dialogue is handled by group administrators, so you are not in
direct correspondence with the readers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/60696-making-connections"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/60696-making-connections</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SOCIAL
MEDIA AS A MARKETING TOOL<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Create an online presence on social media to attract
interest for your book. Often interlinking ‘feeds’ can be set up. For instance,
my tweet on Twitter will also automatically appear on my Facebook author page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Facebook “page” (</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookmarks/pages"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.facebook.com/bookmarks/pages</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">), Twitter, Google+, Instagram, Blogger (start your
own blog), Pinterest, Tumblr, Goodreads, Wattpad,…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBnV3vSCY02yZlw4KbMF7OBVTv4aLhx3oXqGHrkFRPGbbE9a5n_XFkNhWas2jmkU8Z_r91lm6Qk0LVSbidFOqWnPeTg-jC-Wa8Yf8oBEAMTmVy1tzJo5ZPrl4n4E7VrjnDJmWEVLtw2dH/s1600/goodreads2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBnV3vSCY02yZlw4KbMF7OBVTv4aLhx3oXqGHrkFRPGbbE9a5n_XFkNhWas2jmkU8Z_r91lm6Qk0LVSbidFOqWnPeTg-jC-Wa8Yf8oBEAMTmVy1tzJo5ZPrl4n4E7VrjnDJmWEVLtw2dH/s1600/goodreads2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="background: yellow; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Goodreads.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This Amazon service is used by millions of readers.
Goodreads will propose books to the readers in the genre that they have
expressed interest in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Open an Author account and link it to your published
book via your ISBN or ASIN (Amazon reference number). </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/program"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/program</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-7fkRb8ngLQ0Y44Mnjspd765iuh2N3sg7gZF_QfHPAUKcRQSCPwdwZaAA7Sv9ZrIHkazN80yKNifmnuURl1SM38wTJmVZ5A3kSfJuWTxHtn7pLJbHoIUTfe9ITQCnTz7SyPbRaQC6GjU/s1600/wattpad.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-7fkRb8ngLQ0Y44Mnjspd765iuh2N3sg7gZF_QfHPAUKcRQSCPwdwZaAA7Sv9ZrIHkazN80yKNifmnuURl1SM38wTJmVZ5A3kSfJuWTxHtn7pLJbHoIUTfe9ITQCnTz7SyPbRaQC6GjU/s1600/wattpad.png" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Wattpad.com</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Millions of people read the free content on this site.
Authors publish installments of their story (f. ex. one chapter per week) and
get followers that may turn into fans. I have published the first 7 chapters of
my book there ahead of my book launch (to get them ‘hooked’). Of course, after
the launch, I keep these preview chapters up on the site. And, of course, from the start I stated clearly that I was only going to upload a part of the story.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.wattpad.com</span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">TIPS
AND TRICKS<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Multiply formats available<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Amazon will normally automatically link your Kindle
book and paper edition in the days after their launch. So when you go to the
Amazon page of one edition, you’ll see them side by side. It simply requires
the exact same book title and the same publisher. If this doesn’t happen, then
you can contact the service desk </span><a href="mailto:kdp-support@amazon.com"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">kdp-support@amazon.com</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(link at the bottom of the KDP page) and put in the
request.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Convert and check ebook file<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2gZ5avthTQaPZSM1zHKfDdsZLTxnhGBE2HgN7068vRWOrwfRJ5d53EwMz0duYTQ89X_O7Hn8t_nBkpEUFsWTeLS2BhzxaE8aRbw_zYipbZoFAhGh3tHkno7DFhQ7PbqZBvyGFbJBPja0/s1600/calibre1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2gZ5avthTQaPZSM1zHKfDdsZLTxnhGBE2HgN7068vRWOrwfRJ5d53EwMz0duYTQ89X_O7Hn8t_nBkpEUFsWTeLS2BhzxaE8aRbw_zYipbZoFAhGh3tHkno7DFhQ7PbqZBvyGFbJBPja0/s1600/calibre1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>Calibre </b></span><a href="http://calibre-ebook.com/download">http://calibre-ebook.com/download</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Use this program to convert Word to .EPUB or
.PDF or . AWZ, etc. yourself. It has the option to embed the fonts used. If you
plan to publish on for example the Apple iBooks Store, you’ll need to provide
an .EPUB version of your book. Calibre can do that conversion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(I think it’s a good program but Amazon did find problems when I uploaded a converted file.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://validator.idpf.org/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://validator.idpf.org/</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This free
website can be used to check if your EPUB file contain problems. Be sure to make use of this tool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">OTHER
USEFUL INFO<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Copyright protection<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One way to create proof of ownership of your rights is
to send a (digital) copy of your book to a National Library or similar organisation in your region.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And, of course, put your own copyright text in your book. Open any book and you'll see examples.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wikipedia.org</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When you want to know more about a site or things
connected to publishing, read about it on Wikipedia! And Google it, of course.
It’s amazing how much info is available.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Amazon
Associates</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On your own (blog) site you may want to add a <b>hyperlink</b> to your Amazon page. Or you
may want to add a <b>widget </b>showing your/a
book inside an Amazon frame. When someone clicks on this link and buys the
book, you get the commission (minimum 4% on click-through sales). If you want
to make money that way, you need to give bank coordinates, etc. You will also need to have enough traffic, or Amazon will discontinue this service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://affiliate-program.amazon.com</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Universal’
URL</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: How to find the ‘universal’
URL to your book on Amazon (which redirects the surfers to the applicable Amazon
site of their own country.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://kdp.amazon.com/community/message.jspa?messageID=593801"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://kdp.amazon.com/community/message.jspa?messageID=593801</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Research</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: Buy (e)books on how to market your book, etc. For
example:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Other major online bookstores:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QfMoY90chhWyFn_BFAxmCmmPh0OfF3wuaGHgz_uQ8gKPoFU4rasIcBD9Ncz6dKu6wqW9ehHDzgGX0CYTcnIOm6_6z1xGhCVF3HRYmt5qQKPPDut3bxJYWwRXHibs4h4d_DK6bbUMPlpW/s1600/ibooks1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QfMoY90chhWyFn_BFAxmCmmPh0OfF3wuaGHgz_uQ8gKPoFU4rasIcBD9Ncz6dKu6wqW9ehHDzgGX0CYTcnIOm6_6z1xGhCVF3HRYmt5qQKPPDut3bxJYWwRXHibs4h4d_DK6bbUMPlpW/s1600/ibooks1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>Apple iBooks Store</b></span>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.apple.com/itunes/working-itunes/sell-content/books/book-faq.html"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.apple.com/itunes/working-itunes/sell-content/books/book-faq.html</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzDloNNyHTjOPWyVbLv84_XH1NCd6S-y4KER33aaPp-iO0zGg_rqiMEWYBSEqv3aqtU5Ft2tzZfnpiFVunChOfM6YxaNl7Rc6j-lXpChCIAqkig8hijjkJo1TUJDvkUYeEVe5GHhJONBK/s1600/google1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzDloNNyHTjOPWyVbLv84_XH1NCd6S-y4KER33aaPp-iO0zGg_rqiMEWYBSEqv3aqtU5Ft2tzZfnpiFVunChOfM6YxaNl7Rc6j-lXpChCIAqkig8hijjkJo1TUJDvkUYeEVe5GHhJONBK/s1600/google1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>Google
Books</b></span> (part of the Google Play store):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://play.google.com/books/publish/u/0/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://play.google.com/books/publish/u/0/</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Due to too many copyright infringements, it is not
possible to sign up as a new author at this point in time. (Feb-17) <i>Boo!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GN8Viclah5MShwrLxgRyQstRaTqTaYWYVp_rxFB_2kiAs2gQCdyTDoqeutgtPrElZuJWzMvs2C8In1ePNIbhF3FAJ1kD7S5VvIf1lZ-Rd9G7KKmCzZsK8TixFy8HjE9FuQRjW1RVyQTW/s1600/nook1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GN8Viclah5MShwrLxgRyQstRaTqTaYWYVp_rxFB_2kiAs2gQCdyTDoqeutgtPrElZuJWzMvs2C8In1ePNIbhF3FAJ1kD7S5VvIf1lZ-Rd9G7KKmCzZsK8TixFy8HjE9FuQRjW1RVyQTW/s1600/nook1.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>NOOK</b></span> store (Barnes & Noble):</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">American (online) bookstore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://nook.barnesandnoble.com/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://nook.barnesandnoble.com/</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCATYSDuW1SAC69W1Tc4Ud7a3gtsp45r9vcfjTMEDK3jCnll6fTND5kfSkP6mhBp_y_69gjNwieKhi_LLTtk_MUL9DYM_K5lz5fR9dyeiw5huMMUnAbsz58JmeSbu8Q0Bu-PdMYclTR9mc/s1600/kobo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCATYSDuW1SAC69W1Tc4Ud7a3gtsp45r9vcfjTMEDK3jCnll6fTND5kfSkP6mhBp_y_69gjNwieKhi_LLTtk_MUL9DYM_K5lz5fR9dyeiw5huMMUnAbsz58JmeSbu8Q0Bu-PdMYclTR9mc/s1600/kobo1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>Kobo</b></span>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Originally) Canadian online bookstore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/">https://store.kobobooks.com/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Uploading your book here is fairly straight-forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Did I forget a very important tip or website?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Then let me know, or write your feedback below in the Post a Comment box. Thanks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">- Jonen</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">novel writer of '<a href="http://a.co/fcsBjoH">MINE LOOKS PURPLE</a>' available at major online retailers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><a href="mailto:jonengleewell@gmail.com">jonengleewell@gmail.com</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><a href="http://jonengleewell.blogspot.com/">jonengleewell.blogspot.com</a></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185654402609449729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894281077397544346.post-87248906317764885832016-01-24T16:35:00.000+01:002016-08-20T09:15:17.526+02:00Someone, draw my book cover! (How to find a graphic artist for your book)<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You have written your bestseller (fingers crossed) and have done the research on how to get it up on Amazon.com... but you still don't have a cover to go with it. Time to panic?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Luckily, that is unnecessary. In this blog post, I list some <span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: purple;">steps and useful tips</span> </b><span style="color: purple;"><b>on how to find your own book cover designer.</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBcdakJ3-dPPlU-vNX72z9m_QSFLPsus-NHKLgUe39GmSDbsWqeyANd-4YG53-w94_dayPAZeIW2RPds9pqrLe7gkrhFlPwqW36GGkcLDikNJ4WfxWtpTMLoPqVeJ9A2RBhz8LKQ_SknT/s1600/MineLooksPurple_ladybug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBcdakJ3-dPPlU-vNX72z9m_QSFLPsus-NHKLgUe39GmSDbsWqeyANd-4YG53-w94_dayPAZeIW2RPds9pqrLe7gkrhFlPwqW36GGkcLDikNJ4WfxWtpTMLoPqVeJ9A2RBhz8LKQ_SknT/s200/MineLooksPurple_ladybug.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This topic is covered (hahah) on several other online place, of course, but here is my <u>personal experience</u> of how I got in contact with a graphic illustrator and struck a deal for my novel "<a href="http://amzn.com/B01AQZ319A" target="_blank">Mine Looks Purple</a>". The journey was both <span style="color: purple;"><b>scary and exhilarating!</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b><br /></b></u>
</span><br />
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Useful places to look</u>:</span></b></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I first decided to <span style="color: purple;"><b>make my own cover in Photoshop</b></span><span style="color: blue;"> </span>and save some money. Bad idea! Don't even try it unless you're actually good at moving pixels around. You wouldn't want to serve a gourmet meal (your story) on a garbage can lid either. Fortunately, I quickly saw the light. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Note: if you do use photos or illustrations, make sure they are not licensed/unavailable for commercial use. It's best to go to <b><a href="http://istockphoto.com/"><span style="color: blue;">istockphoto.com</span></a></b>, for instance, and pay for good quality material.) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I went to a <span style="color: purple;"><b>local Comic-Con</b></span> to get in touch with artists at their stalls. That didn't work out. The high-energy atmosphere didn't lend itself to chatting in detail. I did take home a couple of their business cards, and I discovered that I had been looking in the wrong place. It is at online portfolio sites where all the cool kids hang out...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://deviantart.com/" target="_blank">Deviantart.com</a></span></b>, for example, is a great site with thousands of incredibly talented artists showcasing their work. Awesome! I spend hours browsing and I contacted several artists through the site. Sadly, none had interest in commission work... I wasn't going to freak out, but my deadline was getting closer...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://fiverr.com/">Fiverr.com</a></span></b>, hopefully, was going to ease my troubles. The site exists specifically for artists looking for commission work. After posting my request, I received 20 replies within a day. Hurray! Although there were talented artists among them, they didn't do the style I was looking for. So I politely declined them all. (Always do this. It is common courtesy and they'll be grateful to you.) There are, of course, other sites like it: <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://upwork.com/">upwork.com</a></span></b>, <a href="http://elance.com/"><b>elance.com</b></a>, <a href="http://99designs.com/"><b>99designs.com</b></a> to name a few.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><a href="http://artstation.com/">Artstation.com</a></b></span> was the next site I tried. It mostly features artists who have already worked for corporations in the entertainment business. Undeterred, I sent off messages and found out from one artist what he would usually charge per hour. Yikes! I mean, I'm convinced the cost would be worth it, but my budget didn't stretch that far.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://behance.net/"><b><span style="color: blue;">Behance.net</span></b></a>, finally, was the site where I found <a href="https://www.behance.net/pushaiart" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">Alexandr Pushai</span></b></a>'s portfolio page.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In total, I think, it took me 20 hours over a period of three scary weeks to find the graphic artist for my book. <span style="color: purple;"><b>Hurray!</b></span></span><br />
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><u>Step by step negotiation</u>:</b></span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Keep the initial commission request short</b></span>, but add in attachment a detailed description of what you're looking for, including info on: file formats, who will hold copyrights, the amount of revisions you can request without added fee, etc. It will save both parties time. The artist will ask for those things anyway.</span></li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdYAKOYChrHCiFkWmF2KPBR8Kd6Atkyr7SLITzr1o9dxm2QVXcI-QcnSGwFAMeaIgneouohwMXOpvkT39ZjFkkcfJuhAOs-gDW1VacLyTUydgfyYeEWDxlI7Q23XkIsqBO9xs8zO1y6BT/s1600/commission.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdYAKOYChrHCiFkWmF2KPBR8Kd6Atkyr7SLITzr1o9dxm2QVXcI-QcnSGwFAMeaIgneouohwMXOpvkT39ZjFkkcfJuhAOs-gDW1VacLyTUydgfyYeEWDxlI7Q23XkIsqBO9xs8zO1y6BT/s400/commission.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My initial request</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Make sure you know what you want</b></span>: Cover concept, style, colours,...? Don't expect the artist to magically come up with this in your place. I found that out after contacting the first artist. <b><span style="color: purple;">Good communication is very important.</span></b> If communicating with an artist feels like pulling teeth, look elsewhere or expect poor results.</span></li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRHUdG4bT8h3mMOC_G57GIqticEpTFyLJocPv5uYvklI2B0sOhi0pH97Que81XvqJgpOl1W6B_dTfZin6kmyXRS9C2aXgBmmrlQ0MHe0XySs8HHYQT9VLNxd9NMwAMilQgSLuZyJXyd8A/s1600/coversketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRHUdG4bT8h3mMOC_G57GIqticEpTFyLJocPv5uYvklI2B0sOhi0pH97Que81XvqJgpOl1W6B_dTfZin6kmyXRS9C2aXgBmmrlQ0MHe0XySs8HHYQT9VLNxd9NMwAMilQgSLuZyJXyd8A/s200/coversketch.jpg" width="141" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The artist asked a simple sketch to explain the exact angle of the bathtub. Great!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Agree on the commission fee</b></span><span style="color: purple;">.</span> You can try to haggle over the price, of course, but make sure it stays a good deal for both parties. As an example, for this cover, we agreed on two partial payments: one part before starting the detailed sketch. The second part before finishing the full-colour illustration as commissioned.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Draw up a contract</b></span> </span>and demand a (digital) signature. Obviously, do not make any payment before you've received the signed version. Add your detailed description and relevant correspondence as an appendix to the contract. You'll sleep better at night, I guarantee it. (Search online for 'template contracts for commissioned illustrations' to get examples.)</span></li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BT6vTpiUh_csswDUZ9SkE_TuZNGKse6ztG5ht3Y1ciGYLck5piyosQU6lyh3bePuV-TZaViAmbkTKKTLdaA0t9ofoRXJkJHpLw2MkoahEuWMe5n0r-tNmxQdNEEWsMfJQU71dIlfaCJG/s1600/sketch_reply_MineLooksPurple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BT6vTpiUh_csswDUZ9SkE_TuZNGKse6ztG5ht3Y1ciGYLck5piyosQU6lyh3bePuV-TZaViAmbkTKKTLdaA0t9ofoRXJkJHpLw2MkoahEuWMe5n0r-tNmxQdNEEWsMfJQU71dIlfaCJG/s200/sketch_reply_MineLooksPurple.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The initial artist's sketch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Useful tips to remember</u>:</span></b></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>The cover is the first - and often only - impression</b></span> </span>you can make. So the cover needs to be interesting and it has to show the potential readers exactly what they'll get from your book.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most of the talented artists are very busy, naturally, because they are so great at what they do. So <span style="color: purple;"><b>start looking for an artist early</b></span>, well ahead of the release date of your book.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="color: purple;">It's a numbers game</span></b><span style="color: blue;">. </span></span>Chances are, you'll get rejected by the artist whose work you really love. It happens. Maybe you'll get a No from the first three artists you contact... Maybe you'll only get a Yes from the fifteenth artist...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I strongly recommend you <span style="color: purple;"><b>only contact artists who already have done artwork in the same style as what you are looking for</b></span>. Otherwise, you set yourself up for disappointment. You wouldn't ask Van Gogh to paint Micky Mouse, would you? (Though, that would be interesting.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hang in there! Remember, you've put a lot of work into writing your book. It deserves a great cover.</span></li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PZ4huVZ4ShZdpBhvHPu1ZPgWj1Ihs9t_PClEyEzNNMVIBDFVrsMn-HYPEvKzabTN42CEjTPhxjYDQIgFs-hotDT6Yw2VLc6fYZbxz9WvAJSMwSupFSsDxDQsp0TNzf3zXqx7tAtP4Wg6/s1600/coveramazon_B320_H500_pixels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PZ4huVZ4ShZdpBhvHPu1ZPgWj1Ihs9t_PClEyEzNNMVIBDFVrsMn-HYPEvKzabTN42CEjTPhxjYDQIgFs-hotDT6Yw2VLc6fYZbxz9WvAJSMwSupFSsDxDQsp0TNzf3zXqx7tAtP4Wg6/s400/coveramazon_B320_H500_pixels.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final version in colour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you like my personal journey of scary exhilaration?</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Did I forget a very important tip or website?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then let me know, or write your feedback below in the Post a Comment box. Thanks!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Jonen</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">novel writer of '<a href="http://amzn.com/B01AQZ319A" target="_blank">MINE LOOKS PURPLE</a>' available at major online retailers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="mailto:jonengleewell@gmail.com">jonengleewell@gmail.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://jonengleewell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">jonengleewell.blogspot.com</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185654402609449729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894281077397544346.post-5378533785344150072016-01-09T10:12:00.000+01:002016-08-20T09:15:36.686+02:00And I shall name you.... what? (Tips on how to come up with a book title)<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why is it so difficult to come up with a book title? Beats me, it just is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, okay, it's mainly because <span style="color: purple;"><b>the title, somehow, has to condense all the aspects</b></span><b><span style="color: purple;"> </span></b>(theme, genre, style,...) of an entire story into just a handful of enticing words. No pressure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That's a hard enough task to accomplish for non-fiction books - although 'How to cook acorns for squirrels' is pretty straightforward, I think - but for fiction books, the reader usually expects something extra. Namely, <span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>a title that only indirectly describes what the story is about</b></span> </span><i>and </i>that makes the reader curious enough to pick up the book and have a look-see.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In other words, the title has to be perfect. Nothing less will do, because we all know how hugely important the title and cover are in our decision-making.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekcgT1rfTrGIgz0rKSRfUi0bTntDIz5_077l5DJ4EznmG4FtXsDo8uq3UZ20gQKgMhVqhabCEGwj8eguDe2EmLptxV4InwknA1JpdI5xeTg1V02HctrtP28aT_4Itg0k5WzJODnbtpI6w/s1600/cover1_MineLooksPurple_JonenGleewell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekcgT1rfTrGIgz0rKSRfUi0bTntDIz5_077l5DJ4EznmG4FtXsDo8uq3UZ20gQKgMhVqhabCEGwj8eguDe2EmLptxV4InwknA1JpdI5xeTg1V02HctrtP28aT_4Itg0k5WzJODnbtpI6w/s200/cover1_MineLooksPurple_JonenGleewell.jpg" width="146" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the earliest titles (with mock-up cover)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Before moving on to the tips, I'd like to share with you <u>my personal tale of woe and wonder</u><u>ment</u>, or, <i>On how I found the final title of my first book after bouts of gut-wrenching disillusionment</i>. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Okay, maybe that title needs a bit of work.)</span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>An epic search</u>:</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ten years ago when I started writing my story, the first title floated into my head on a gentle breeze. The book was going to be called '<b><span style="color: purple;">Hijinks</span></b>'. How exciting, except... that word was really vague (and difficult to spell on Google.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Halfway through writing, I worried that I wasn't going to find the right title by the time the book was finished. (Larks!) After a lot of brainstorming, I settled on '<b><span style="color: purple;">Accidental Soulmate</span></b>'. It was clever, and it fitted the story. Except... A year later I found out that were already another thousand books starting the same way: "Accidental dentist", "Accidental acid",... You name it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My stress level was rising. Curse you, ill-tempered Fate! Won't I ever find the right title?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After a lot more effort, I came across this new title - Final title, damnit! - that was sure to never change again: '<b style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;">Soulmate Pending</span></b>'. I was convinced that this interesting sounding title was a keeper, and for a couple of years it was. But eventually, it just didn't sound funny enough for my hilarious story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I had another go at it. With reluctance, I released these others titles back into the wild: '<span style="color: purple;"><b>Love, Life and a Dead Sailor</b></span>' (too romantic), '<span style="color: purple;"><b>Me and my dead sailor</b></span>' (too zombie-ish) and '<b><span style="color: purple;">Weird Boner</span></b>' (Don't ask!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then, one morning, I got up and I saw the answer right in front of me. It became the title that's now proudly displayed on my book: '<b><span style="color: purple;">Mine Looks Purple</span></b>'. Hurray!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The good news is, anyone can find the right book title... eventually.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><br /></u>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqxURiDgxwgD_eBwaHcQtvqV-rx5dMfz_U6wP9J90M6dWhx8mD9jHam6FYkodWvKXIei1GSmkN2D46YeS3uGRE4Gor5aQF846sJFVsnD8xx6Uf1jipDnCPdDnvmcuhyphenhypheneKxxZRUQrzBvgM/s1600/cover2_MineLooksPurple_JonenGleewell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqxURiDgxwgD_eBwaHcQtvqV-rx5dMfz_U6wP9J90M6dWhx8mD9jHam6FYkodWvKXIei1GSmkN2D46YeS3uGRE4Gor5aQF846sJFVsnD8xx6Uf1jipDnCPdDnvmcuhyphenhypheneKxxZRUQrzBvgM/s200/cover2_MineLooksPurple_JonenGleewell.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another title idea I was mulling over.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<u>Tips and ideas</u>:</span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: purple; font-weight: bold;">Brainstorm</span><span style="color: purple; font-weight: bold;"> </span>with friends. You'd be amazed at what more brainpower can do. Of course, don't go with someone else's title unless you think it's perfect.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Think about the <b><span style="color: purple;">major theme(s)</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b>of your story. What is it about? You may want to try and sum it up in a few words.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="color: purple;">Look for a phrase</span> </b></span>in your story that sticks out and that might make a browsing shopper wonder.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Go to <b><a href="http://thesaurus.com/"><span style="color: blue;">thesaurus.com</span></a></b> and type in a (boring) word that best describes the theme, and look for a great synonym that you can use. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Look for a <b><span style="color: purple;">short sentence or expression</span></b> that everyone knows and enjoys. But be careful not to use buzzwords.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open a word processor and <span style="color: purple;"><b>simply start typing</b></span> as if you're thinking out loud... Type anything that comes up (or scribble on a notepad). Don't delete anything. Just press return and keep writing, finetuning the string of words. Abandon one idea and start a new one... Replace words... Change nouns into active verbs... Anything goes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, always check your title on <a href="http://amazon.com/"><b>Amazon.com</b></a> and <span style="color: blue;"><b><a href="http://google.com/">Google.com</a></b></span> to make sure that it doesn't already exists. (Note: 'Lord of the Rings' is already taken. Tough luck.)</span></li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwe2SSbLJhDPYHmkJ18-ci9_WlVgJRmpD1Ddj2rt6rvRyIyyBuQUCHEC9-pQfK9sKK-crUZpT__NUZmyU6WFlhSNAK16CYoeQZ0cPmhoTUJWp16ZHwAYwWClsQCXUcwThtJLJ1j9y8jorq/s1600/cover4_MineLooksPurple_JonenGleewell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwe2SSbLJhDPYHmkJ18-ci9_WlVgJRmpD1Ddj2rt6rvRyIyyBuQUCHEC9-pQfK9sKK-crUZpT__NUZmyU6WFlhSNAK16CYoeQZ0cPmhoTUJWp16ZHwAYwWClsQCXUcwThtJLJ1j9y8jorq/s200/cover4_MineLooksPurple_JonenGleewell.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another attempt at a perfect title. (Notice the typo.)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b>Tips on how to proceed</b></u><b>:</b></span></h3>
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The important bit first: once you've come up with your brilliant title, make sure to jump up and down your bed and <b><span style="color: purple;">sing loudly in merriment</span> </b>- You deserve it! - because chances are that that merriment may disappear shortly after.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because the next important thing to do, is to <span style="color: purple;"><b>get feedback: tell a friend</b></span></span></li>
</ul>
what the title is. Better still, show him/her the title on a piece of paper, and then watch the reaction. I would bet that in 95% of the time, the friend isn't going to cheer "Eureka, you've found it!". Usually, you'll get a "Yeah, that title is okay."
<br />
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Devastating, I know. How come the friend isn't as excited about it as you are? News flash: A lukewarm response is normal. <span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: purple;">Don't feel bad.</span> </b></span>This is exactly the information you need. How else are you going to know if you're on track or not?</span></li>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, after the soul-crushing devastation, make sure to keep going and do these next steps:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: purple;">Ask that friend for more feedback.</span><span style="color: purple;"> </span></b></span>(Why doesn't the title blow your mind? What type of book do you think it is, based on this title?...) The reason to ask is, when people on Amazon see your book title, you won't be around to explain how to correctly interpret the brilliance of the title. It has to work on its own.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Secondly, always <span style="color: purple;"><b>go to at least two other friends</b></span> and show them your title. Why? Because, when one person gives you a reply, that is just their opinion. When two people tell you the same thing, it's just a coincidence. But when three people basically give you the same feedback, then it is time to pay close attention.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: purple;">Look for quality feedback.</span></b> I am in a writers' group, which is a great luxury, because it means I can quickly get feedback from ten or twenty fellow writers. I think highly of what they have to say (and inveriably, I'll get ten to twenty slightly contradicting opinions.) How to find your own group in your area? This website helped me out: <b><a href="http://www.meetup.com/">meetup.com</a></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">In my experience, <span style="color: purple;"><b>the feedback will often voice the same doubts</b></span> that I had myself about (parts of) the title, but that I sort of hoped others wouldn't think was confusing, misleading, and so on. In those cases, take notice. You'll be glad afterwards that you kept looking for a better title.</span></li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrFhsvBigksIp1DiDIF121CZ-uHpIZWWEIWsf-z1OGTzqKJjjq9-FHZNKjXPs0yE2WPYvzFQUUbxq4C82GeuyQXjlpKP0TJ2mOZCSN1UPwPAPCtfVlJplDxLq5Wo1FItKvziaYuGBd9Ip/s1600/cover3_MineLooksPurple_JonenGleewell.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrFhsvBigksIp1DiDIF121CZ-uHpIZWWEIWsf-z1OGTzqKJjjq9-FHZNKjXPs0yE2WPYvzFQUUbxq4C82GeuyQXjlpKP0TJ2mOZCSN1UPwPAPCtfVlJplDxLq5Wo1FItKvziaYuGBd9Ip/s200/cover3_MineLooksPurple_JonenGleewell.png" width="168" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The final title (with another mock-up cover)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So remember, don't get annoyed. Be grateful for people helping you out. Return to your writing desk, and keep delving deeper. <span style="color: purple;"><b>It's all just part of the process.</b></span> It would be great if you could find the perfect title as easily as snapping your fingers, but most of us, we're just all thumbs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you like my personal journey of scary exhilaration?</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Did I forget a very important tip or website?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then let me know, or write your feedback below in the Post a Comment box. Thanks!</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Jonen</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">novel writer of '<a href="http://amzn.com/B01AQZ319A" target="_blank">MINE LOOKS PURPLE</a>' available at major online retailers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="mailto:jonengleewell@gmail.com" style="font-size: medium;">jonengleewell@gmail.com</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://jonengleewell.blogger.com/">jonengleewell.blogger.com</a></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185654402609449729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894281077397544346.post-7630642034855760372015-12-31T23:11:00.000+01:002016-08-20T09:15:59.371+02:00Books that rock your world<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Often times while writing a next novel and when I get stuck, I ponder '</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>What would Terry do?</b></span></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">' or 'What would Douglas do?'</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not that I was on a first-name basis with Sir Terry Pratchett, or Douglas Adams, but it helped me greatly to think about how they would go about tackling difficult hurdles in story, plot, etcetera.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFcM8arkiUwiIqsQYZbF9XhwTGoW8sUwNuaGGdHj_ts4ZOjLt78JoIbA9TLjEM8hi5N6hkMo1E-D1vGvSDUw_geg47UPPfM7domyskslYc3o_OEzBm7PTCsppHpYIOLS52bCc1CYWHv7z/s1600/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFcM8arkiUwiIqsQYZbF9XhwTGoW8sUwNuaGGdHj_ts4ZOjLt78JoIbA9TLjEM8hi5N6hkMo1E-D1vGvSDUw_geg47UPPfM7domyskslYc3o_OEzBm7PTCsppHpYIOLS52bCc1CYWHv7z/s1600/books.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Usually, the answer - I think - is to</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span><b><span style="color: purple;">just write improbable, illogical things and hope for the best</span></b></span><span style="color: #212121;"> that, later on in the story, you'll somehow find a way to make those things seem credible. :)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's called Fiction for a reason, isn't it?</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So here are some of my all-time favorite books that changed the way I look at the world:</span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series by Douglas Adams.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Pretty much every Discworld novel by Sir Terry Pratchett is high on the A+ list as well.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Christopher Moore's books like "Lamb" and "Fool" are also favorites of mine.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Let's not forget Neil Gaiman. Maybe his books - "Coraline" for instance - are not laugh-out-loud funny, but he really does know how to work that pen, doesn't he?</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think it's great to get inspired by other authors... become downright N°1 fans even. And I certainly am their fanboy.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121;">How</span><span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe;"> </span><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;">I love humorous fiction, especially when it's a bit wacky</span></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe;"> </span></span></b></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121;">and when it has some otherworldly, magical flavours sprinkled over it... Those types of stories aren't always easy to find. Go to any (online) bookshop. You'll see what I mean. </span></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is why I decided to start writing those kind of stories myself. I got inspired. The world needs these entertaining stories. People desperately need to laugh more. That is why I set out to write them.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch me safe humanity. :)</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Jonen</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">novel writer of '<a href="http://amzn.com/B01AQZ319A" target="_blank">MINE LOOKS PURPLE</a>' available at major online retailers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="mailto:jonengleewell@gmail.com" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">jonengleewell@gmail.com</a></span><br />
<a href="http://jonengleewell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">jonengleewell.blogspot.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185654402609449729noreply@blogger.com0