I'm a fan of The Taste and this season I was rooting for Marina.
"I know what I know and I know what you don't know." ~ Marina / The Taste - Season 2.
I
love her drive and spirit. She is not afraid to showcase her ideas and I
find that inspirational. It is a similar drive that fuelled many authors to
publish independently. They're making waves in the publishing industry and
so can you. It's an ambitious feat but readers are always
looking for the next best read. If it's a goal you would like to achieve,
it's important that you prepare yourself for the journey.
Five tips you will find useful:
1. Intermediate
knowledge of Microsoft Word will make your experience easier. It will come in
handy when you're formatting your document for publishing.
I created the following book covers in Publisher:
Proceed with caution! Creating eye
catching book covers involves an understanding of complimentary color
schemes, font choices and the image must translate to the concept of the
story.
3. Learn how to use Windows Movie Maker
and you'll be able to create book trailers. P.S the older versions
are easier to navigate. The latest version sucks! It doesn't always pay to
upgrade. Still, if you can get past the glitches, it's an excellent way
to showcase your books. See Does This Book Trailer Make My Book Look Fat?
4. It's essential
that you learn Createspace, Nook Press and Smashwords formatting
guidelines. Personally, I found Smashwords formatting guidelines to be
more cumbersome than Createspace or Nook Press but its worth mastering. ** It will introduce your book
into the international market. Free Smashwords Formatting Guide.
5. Learn how to troubleshoot
format markers. They will affect the appearance of your book. For example,
adding headings and page breaks can cause the last paragraph of the previous chapter to
automatically change to a heading style.
Surely there are other things
that I can add to this list but these core skills will save you hundreds of
dollars on each project. The money you've saved can go towards investing in a
good editor.
Before I go, I'd like to share the following quote with you.
I hope you've found this article helpful.
Diane Rose Duffy is a California native who has
a passion for books, a whopping coffee addiction and a perpetual craving for
chocolate. After recently retiring from a lengthy accounting career in Silicon
Valley, Diane presently enjoys the peaceful serenity of daily life in the
Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California. Diane Rose Duffy has completed
two humorous romance novels and a funny children's chapter book with the
support of her husband whom she proclaims to be her 'happily ever after'.
