5 Examples of Books Written by Ghostwriters

Ghostwriting is a fascinating facet of the literary world. At its core, a ghostwriter is a professional who writes on behalf of another, allowing the named author to shine while they remain in the shadows. From bestselling novels to influential autobiographies, many works that grace our bookshelves are, in fact, the product of these unsung heroes of the writing community. But which famous titles have been crafted by these clandestine scribes? As we unravel the mystery, prepare to be surprised by the array of books that owe their existence, at least in part, to the skillful hands of ghostwriters.

The Role and Significance of Ghostwriters in Publishing

In the vast realm of publishing, ghostwriters serve a unique and invaluable role. Their services become essential when an individual possesses a compelling story or idea but lacks the literary prowess to translate it into a cohesive narrative. Moreover, ghostwriters cater to those who are either too busy or prefer to delegate the hefty task of writing. The bond between an author and a ghostwriter is often forged in trust and discretion. It’s not just about writing; it’s about understanding the author’s voice, preserving their intent, and often, maintaining their secret. While some ghostwritten works openly acknowledge the writer behind the scenes, many remain confidential, with readers left unaware of the collaboration. This discreet partnership has led to the creation of countless cherished literary pieces, a testament to the seamless integration of the ghostwriter’s skills with the author’s vision.

Understanding the Cost of a Ghostwriter

Dipping into the world of ghostwriting, one of the most frequent queries revolves around the cost of a ghostwriter. The truth is, prices can vary extensively, influenced by several key factors. The ghostwriter’s experience and portfolio, the complexity of the project, and the expected turnaround time are among the top determinants. For a simple eBook or a blog post, the costs might be relatively modest. In contrast, an in-depth autobiography or a detailed novel would naturally command a heftier fee. Additionally, the extent of involvement—be it mere editing or crafting an entire book from scratch—affects the pricing. It’s not uncommon to encounter a broad range: from a few hundred dollars for smaller tasks to tens of thousands for extensive projects. Ultimately, understanding this cost structure can aid in making an informed decision, ensuring both the author and ghostwriter enter a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Famous Titles Authored by Ghostwriters

Ghostwriters have played an instrumental role in bringing many of our beloved literary works to life. Here are some famous titles and series where ghostwriters worked their magic:

  1. James Bond series (post-Ian Fleming): The suave British spy, James Bond, is the creation of Ian Fleming. However, after Fleming’s untimely death, the Bond legacy needed to continue. Several authors, under pseudonyms or without a byline, stepped in to breathe life into 007’s new adventures. Notably, writer John Gardner took over the series for a time, penning numerous Bond novels, albeit not as a ‘ghost’.
  1. Nancy Drew series: For many, Nancy Drew mysteries are a cherished part of their childhood. Yet, few realize that the name ‘Carolyn Keene’, credited for these novels, is a pseudonym. Various writers, working under the umbrella of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, penned these tales. While the true identities of all these writers might never be known, their collective efforts shaped a detective icon.
  1. Goosebumps series: R.L. Stine‘s name is synonymous with the ‘Goosebumps’ series, capturing the imagination of countless young readers with tales of the eerie and uncanny. While Stine penned a majority of the series, not all books came directly from his desk. Some titles, especially spin-offs or special editions, had other writers contributing under Stine’s name, ensuring a consistent style and tone.
  1. The Hardy Boys series: Just as with Nancy Drew, the adventures of Frank and Joe Hardy, credited to ‘Franklin W. Dixon’, were the product of multiple hands. The Stratemeyer Syndicate once again employed various writers to craft these mysteries. The anonymity of these authors allowed the series to maintain a singular voice over decades, regardless of the individual holding the pen.
  1. Autobiographies of Celebrities: Perhaps one of the most common domains for ghostwriters is the world of celebrity autobiographies. Personalities from film, music, sports, and other fields often have captivating stories but might not possess the knack for writing. Enter ghostwriters, who work closely with these celebrities, capturing their voice and experiences. One notable example is tennis star Andre Agassi’s acclaimed autobiography, “Open.” While Agassi’s life story is genuinely his own, the eloquent prose comes courtesy of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist J.R. Moehringer, acting as a ghostwriter.

The magic of ghostwriting lies in its invisibility. It’s an art where the creator steps back, letting another’s voice and story shine. And as seen from the titles above, ghostwriters have been pivotal in shaping the literary landscape, gifting readers with narratives that might otherwise have never seen the light of day. While their contributions often remain veiled, their impact is undeniable. As we turn the pages of our favorite titles, let’s take a moment to celebrate the talent that often goes unseen, yet profoundly felt.

My Tips for Writing Fantasy Well

The fantasy genre frees budding authors from the confines of reality that restrict writers in other genres. Has a fascinatingly rich and unique world slowly been emerging in the depths of your soul? You’ll decide to write a fantasy novel sooner or later because your universe is screaming to be shared. 

If you’re a debut author, you need to know that writing your fantasy novel won’t be an easy ride. Take a look at these tips to boost the odds that others will fall in love with your character and world, whether you’re hoping to be traditionally published or want to go the self-publishing route. 

  1. Make Sure Your Fantasy Novel Delivers All the Exciting Elements Readers Crave

Fantasy writers have an awful lot of freedom. You’ll want to run with it, but for your novel to be successful, debut fantasy authors do need to make sure their books contain all the elements readers yearn for. 

Here’s a quick look:

  • Magic! Your novel absolutely must contain magic or supernatural elements to fit into the genre. Do you already have richly developed characters? Can you envision the world they inhabit? Get to work on creating your own magic system if it’s not there yet. 
  • Complex characters. Your protagonist should never be perfect; readers won’t relate unless they also have serious (but perfectly understandable) flaws. Likewise, the main antagonist can’t just be a generic “bad guy;” readers must be able to understand how they got that way and have some sympathy.
  • Vivid world-building. This is what truly sets fantasy apart from many other genres, because fantasy authors have the privilege of creating their worlds from scratch. Everything goes. However, it’s important not to drown readers with complex mechanics or distract them with overly flowery language. Make your world realistic, so your readers can see it when they close their eyes.
  • A serious struggle. All good novels build up to a central conflict or struggle, culminate, and wind down to offer the audience a satisfying resolution or a taste for the next novel in the series.
  1. Add Illustrations to Your Fantasy Novel for a Full Immersion Experience

Your fantasy novel clearly needs a book cover. Don’t stop there. Self-publishing authors should strongly consider working with talented illustrators to bring their fantasy novels to life. Why? The beautiful language in your novel certainly allows readers to build their own visuals, but dreamy illustrators push them in the right direction. 

You know what your world looks like, right? You know exactly how that epic elemental fight scene unfolded, and you can convey your protagonist’s facial expressions vividly. Hiring a fantasy illustrator allows you to share your vision with your audience. 

After interviewing illustrators and looking through their portfolios, you decide where you want to go. Some fantasy authors make their own rough sketches, while others prefer to describe the images they’d like to include in their novels in writing. Both can work well. 

Sometimes, a fantasy illustrator can even influence the plot — the images a gifted artist creates can add to your world-building efforts. 

  1. Make Sure You’re Well-Read Before You Publish Your First Fantasy Novel

Nobody can argue against the idea that reading lots of novels makes you a better writer. Being widely read attunes you to beautiful language, masterfully-crafted plot lines, and characters so three-dimensional they might as well be jumping off the page and into your living room. 

Reading lots of fantasy novels, specifically, also gives you a better idea of the tropes that are trending in your genre and those that authors overuse. Staying up to date with what’s published in your genre helps you avoid being turned down by publishers because they recently published a similar novel. 

  1. Imagine Your Ideal Readers — And Write for Them

Do you think your fantasy novel is “for everyone”? Don’t. Your book will never be everyone’s cup of tea. That’s not just inevitable but also perfectly OK. Imagine a “reader prototype.” She might be curling up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate and a cat at her feet, for example. What are her hopes and dreams?

Imagining your perfect fantasy readers helps you narrow down your sub-genre, including:

  • High fantasy, with its own unique laws of physics and fleshed-out magical system, may appeal to proud nerds. 
  • Low fantasy, which combines elements of the “real world” and adds surprising layers on top, is perfect for readers who are wondering if there’s more to life.
  • Dark fantasy, a style with horror elements.
  • YA fantasy, specifically written with teenagers and young adults in mind. This sub-genre may also appeal to older readers, but your protagonists will typically be younger.

You don’t dogmatically have to stick to a given fantasy sub-genre, but broadly defining where you take your novel makes it easier for publishers to notice you. If you’re self-publishing your fantasy novel, a sub-genre also makes marketing efforts much simpler. 

  1. Hire a Book Editor

No matter how meticulously self-edit your fantasy novel, you can count on the fact that there will be:

  • Plot holes
  • Structural problems
  • Style issues
  • Typos

Hiring a competent and experienced fantasy book editor can help you weed these problems out before you take the next step. A well-edited book can help you land a literary agent who will get your work published. It also ensures readers judge your book by its story if you’re self-publishing and that they keep reading if you write a sequel. 

  1. Don’t Give Up

Every author reaches a point where they think the novel isn’t worth sharing with the world or that they can’t possibly finish it and be happy with the results. Have a few beers, go meditate, or hang out with your friends to relax. Then get back on that saddle and keep going. You can realize your vision. Stick with it, and you’ll get it done. 

The Different Types of Book Editing, Explained

Books are one of the best methods of storytelling out there, but no one ever pays much attention to what goes into creating a published piece of literature. From creating a main character to mapping out an entire plot structure, there’s a lot of work that goes into making a book ready to hit the shelves.

And while writing a story may occupy a lot of the author’s time and energy, that’s just one aspect of the publishing process. Editing is another essential part of preparing a book for the world. Research conducted in 2019 suggests that 85-90% of traditionally published books undergo all three stages of editing.

But what exactly does the term “editing” refer to? Today’s blog post will answer all of your burning questions about different types of book editing and what each revision step means for your manuscript. So, let’s get started! There are several different types of book editing, including copy editing, developmental editing, and proofreading. Each type of editing focuses on different parts of a project.

The Different Types of Book Editing

When it comes to book editing, there are three distinct types: Developmental Editing, Line Editing, and Copy Editing. Each has its own set of features, goals, and outcomes that can be tailored to fit a writer’s individual needs.

Developmental Editing focuses on the overall structure of the book, from the writing style used to the order in which information is presented. It involves lengthy conversations between editor and author to discuss the book’s conceptual content and ensure that readers will understand it. The goal is to help authors better structure their narrative for maximum impact.

Line Editing emphasizes improvement of sentence-level elements like grammar, punctuation, word choice, tone, and flow. This type of editing looks at how each sentence fits into the larger context of a book. The editor will make sure that each sentence is clear and meaningful while also providing continuity throughout the work.

Copy Editing focuses on refining an author’s text to correct any typos or mistakes in order to guarantee accuracy and consistency. Generally speaking, this type of editing looks out for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, usage, syntax, capitalization, numbering/lettering systems, etc. It also pays attention to factors such as layout, spacing, font sizes and styles.

Developmental Editing

Developmental Editing is often the first type of editing to take place. It involves taking a high-level look at the book as a whole and working on big-picture changes in content and order. Developmental Editors assess the work for structure, character arc, setting, pacing, and other larger topics that will make up the narrative in its entirety. This form of editing is typically employed by novels, non-fiction works, memoirs, and other more comprehensive genres.

When it comes to Developmental Editing, some editors find it helpful to approach the revisions with a reader’s eye in order to identify weaknesses and strengths within the piece. Conversely, others believe that it is best to focus more so on the work as a whole, paying attention to any potential inconsistencies or opportunities for improvement, such as correcting timeline issues or improving dialogue. Which ever approach you decide to take when undergoing this type of edit can greatly benefit your overall piece.

Once Developmental Editing is complete, it is then time to dive into the Facts and Narrative elements of your book. Many authors use research-based material when writing their works, which must be accurate in order for readers to trust what they are reading.

Story Flow

Story flow is one of the most important elements of a book. The flow of the story should be seamless and effortless, allowing the reader to easily follow it along. It’s essential that the author can progress each chapter in an efficient manner, making sure that crucial plot points are not lost or forgotten.

The biggest challenge with Story Flow editing is finding the right level of detail and structure. It’s a delicate balance between keeping the plot dynamic and allowing for enough exposition that readers don’t get lost in the story.

It also requires editors to look at every individual aspect of the plot and make sure there is cohesion throughout each chapter as well as between successive chapters. This includes making sure that characters are strongly developed so they seem consistent both internally and externally. Editors should also be looking out for lapses in logic and other instances where readers may get confused due to illogical development of events or characters.

Facts and Narrative

Facts and Narrative editing has become an increasingly important task for editor’s as readers have come to expect accurate information within a book. A fact-checker is someone who reviews all of the facts within a book, from historical events to statistics, to ensure their accuracy and reliability while also verifying associated sources. In contrast to a copy editor who makes sure the text reads well with accuracy of grammar and style, a fact-checker double checks that any details and facts in the textare factual and up-to-date with the current data available.

Fact-checking is generally required when there are scientific, legal or technical aspects to the text. In cases where there may be some debate or uncertainty over certain topics, a fact-checker will often look into both sides of the argument before making judgments. Similarly, if there are several conflicting versions of how something happened or was done – such as historical events – fact-checkers will investigate these opposing points of view to determine which is most credible, accurately fitting it into the narrative of the story.

In the digital age we live in today, truth is under scrutiny more than ever before, meaning that it’s essential for editors to ensure not only that mistakes do not occur through careless editing but that readers can trust what they read as being accurate and true. Without professional fact-checking on certain types of books, readers could be misled by outdated or inaccurate information.

Mastering facts and narrative requires skill and thorough knowledge in many different areas with no room for error. With this in mind, it is critical when hiring an editor that they possess experience and expertise in dealing with facts and narratives to ensure an accurate version is delivered to readers.

Copy Editing

Copy editing is the process of refining and fine-tuning a body of text. It encompasses multiple aspects, looking at syntax and mechanics, as well as organization and structure. Copy editors must review sentence structure, assess clarity and flow, check facts and verify accuracy, find misspellings and typos, check for consistency in things like capitalization rules or hyphenations, and make sure all reference links within the text are active and going to their proper destination. Copy editing can often be a relatively quick job because it’s largely focused on catching basic mistakes like misused words and wrong verb tenses.

Arguably copy editing is one of the most important steps when putting any project together. It’s certainly important that projects look pristine before submission or publication; however detractors claim that copy edits don’t go deep enough into the content to change its overall quality or purpose. While this may be true in some cases, it overlooks the value of having someone else review your work from an objective opinion with attention to detail. This could mean catching an unintentional word repetition or identifying an overly complex sentence structure that needs to be broken down for easier readability.

The importance of copy editing can not be overstated; afterall, little errors can take away from an otherwise great piece of writing. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the next step in book editing: finding the mistakes.

Revisions and Final Approval

Revisions and Final Approval are two very important stages of book editing. During revisions, editors work with the author to ensure that their manuscript is up to standard, in terms of structure, grammar, readability, etc. Authors will usually submit multiple draft versions to their editor and make changes in response to the feedback provided.

It is during the revisions stage that authors and editors have an open dialogue about certain subject matters or character developments. These conversations can result in significant revisions or even complete overhauls of certain aspects of a book. This is where experienced editors become especially valuable, as they are able to provide tools to help shape the writing in order to best achieve its potential.

At the same time, during this process it’s important for authors to remain true to their vision while also considering any editorial feedback they might receive. Other points of consideration are how budget and deadlines may affect revisions, as well as what the sign-off process looks like when it comes to approving edits before publication.

The final step in book editing is the Final Approval stage which marks the end of all revisions and the completion of the entire production process. During Final Approval, authors review any remaining editing needed and must approve any changes before the book can be printed and distributed. Upon approval, the edited book is then ready for final typesetting or formatting as needed before being released into the market place.

When it comes to both Revisions and Final Approval, success depends on a collaborative effort between both editor and author working together towards a common goal. Both parties have varying expectations when it comes to this phase including creative input, workflow management, budget limitations and more. Ultimately, it’s a delicate balance between making sure that authors receive quality feedback without stifling them creatively or taking too much control over the work itself.

7 Common Mistakes Authors Make with Amazon Advertising

Amazon Ads offers self-published authors a user-friendly and effective platform for marketing their books. It’s been two weeks since you launched your campaign, and you’re not seeing results – what gives? Don’t become despondent if you’re not seeing your conversion rate go through the roof; assess what coupler doing wrong.

There could be many reasons why you’re not experiencing the success you expected from your campaign. As published authors enter the space with large marketing budgets, many newbie self-publishers on the site like to blame this shift in the market for their poor performance.

While it might play a role in diminished sales through your ad campaign, it’s not likely the sole reason behind the results. Don’t give up with your campaign; make a plan to redirect your efforts and reassess your strategy. If you get the campaign right, it offers you a great return on investment.

Step back and analyze what you’re doing right and what’s going wrong with your Amazon Ads for your book.

Mistake #1 – Failing to Research Your Campaign

When starting on Amazon Ads as a newbie, it’s common to assume the ad manager does everything for you. Newcomers fail to put in the time to research the best keywords for their campaign and the correct method of structuring their ads campaign to achieve optimal results for their marketing budget.

Creating an ad and leaving it to run is the wrong approach to your strategy. While it takes time to see results from your campaign, you’ll get better traction with your plan by doing the research before you structure it.

Before you dive into creating your first campaign, watch YouTube videos on effective campaign structuring and read articles showing you how to build one that receives the desired results. It might take more work on the front end, but you’ll see better results in the long run.

Mistake #2 – Using the Wrong Keywords

Choosing the right keywords for your bids is essential to experiencing success with your Amazon ads campaign. You’ll need to select a few keywords and see which brings you the best results. Using too few keywords means you get fewer impressions, lowering your visibility on the site.

Using the wrong keywords also produces adverse results, limiting your ad exposure on the site while weakening your conversion rate. Spend time assessing the best keywords to use in your strategy and monitor their performance in your Ads Manager.

Mistake #3 – Not Monitoring Your Campaign

One of the best parts of using the Amazon Ads campaign strategy is it requires less management than Google or Facebook Ads. However, that doesn’t mean you can create the campaign and never monitor its performance.

You’ll need to assess your campaign results in increments of 30 to 60 days to analyze which ads are your top performers and which to cut away. Your bid price for your ad might be too low, and the Amazon algorithm doesn’t feel it’s worth promoting your ad.

Mistake #4 – Choosing to Follow the Selected Bid

Check your bid price to see if it matches your competitors. We recommend using the automatic bids feature in the campaign manager. Review your bid rice and adjust it, then leave it to run for two weeks to see if it makes a difference.

If your bid price is in line with the competition, another factor could be holding it up. For instance, if your competitor is bidding $0.15 per click, and you’re bidding $0.20, it might be that the Amazon algorithm identifies your ad as less relevant to the prospective reader browsing the site.

Amazon doesn’t want to promote ads it feels the users aren’t interested in seeing, as they may decide to leave the site and find what they’re looking for elsewhere. Are your keywords relevant, and do you have enough of them in your ad? Determine the relevancy of your ad and adjust as necessary.

Mistake #5 – Using Average Cost of Sale as Your Primary Metric

In theory, the average cost of sale (ACoS) is a metric showing you what you spend to sell a book, displayed as a percentage. Any figure over 100% is of no value to your campaign because you’re spending more to sell a book than you receive from a sale.

Any ACoS percentage under 100% means you’re making a profit. While it makes sense in theory, its application is not practical. The ACoS is misleading and not a good metric to rely on for your campaign success; we recommend leaving it alone.

Mistake #6 – A Weak Thumbnail and Description

If you designed your book cover yourself, that might cause the problem. Amazon sells to its users based on thumbnail images. If your DIY thumbnail doesn’t compress well, the user can’t assess the cover properly, reducing their interest in buying your book.

The cover art and its presentation are key to selling your work. Think of it like this; would you buy a product online with no pictures in the description? Research shows that product listings have much weaker sales volumes than those that do. Assess your thumbnail and ensure it’s high-quality and presented in high definition that’s easy for the prospective reader to view.

The book description might also contribute to low sales. Add more information under the Editorial Reviews section and include more details using Amazon’s A+ Content function. By boosting the description with more keywords, you make it more effective in search results.

Mistake #7 – Not Having the Patience to See Results

Many self-publishers assume that their Amazon Ads campaign should start producing results immediately, but that’s not the case. It takes time for the algorithm to build momentum and start promoting your book. We recommend giving it at least two to four weeks to see the results from your ads.

After a month of running your campaign, look at the best-performing ads, keep them, and stop promoting the others. Focus your marketing budget on promoting the best-performing ad, and you’ll notice a change in your conversion rate.

Stay patient and persist with your campaign strategy. If you’re not seeing results after four to six weeks, reassess your camping and look at what you need to do

7 Important Steps for Finding the Right Book Editor

A great piece of published writing doesn’t just go from the writer to the reader’s hands, but an accepted manuscript will go through several very important phases of the publishing industry before it finally gets to be print and read.

Editors are a cog in the Great Publishing Machine, for which all writers should be eternally grateful. A book editor cleans up the written manuscript, and changes the necessary evils – and then dots all the Ts.

An editor can be hired by the writer, but might also be contracted by the publisher.

While the world has many excellent editors, the real trick is to find the right one to make the manuscript shine.

Here are 7 important steps for finding the right book editor, and what you should do next.

1. Know What Editors Actually Do

Editors are often good writers themselves, but change hats in order to step into another phase of the publishing industry. Excellent editors are writers and journalists, but also language practitioners and proofreaders with experience in every facet of their industry.

While a proofreader looks for grammatical mistakes, editors take a closer look at the written word to make small (and larger) changes to prepare it for publication.


An editor has an important task, and almost no good book in the world has been published without one.

While some writers edit their own work, most editing should be left to third-party freelance professionals – and that’s just because writers miss their own mistakes, but an experienced freelancer won’t!

A developmental editor helps the writer to develop their manuscript, and counts as a more specialized type of book editing that works with a story-in-progress.

Once you know what kind of editor you need, it’s time to go to the next step.


2. Prepare Your Manuscript

A writer should have a pretty good manuscript before they consider getting in touch with an editor about it.

Unless you need a developmental editor who will guide you on where the story and characters could be heading from here, prepare your manuscript for submission first.

Standard manuscript format is preferred by most editors. Subject your writing to at least one proofreading before you contact an editor.

Just because editors fix mistakes, does not mean a writer has the liberty to leave these mistakes in there knowingly. Editors prefer to work with manuscripts that have already been cleaned up by either the writer, or a professional proofreader.

3. Edit Yourself First
It’s not just about manuscript format, even though it’s a great idea to make sure your formatting has been done before your editor gets hired. It’s also about editing, and what goes on between the first and last page of your book.

Edit yourself first. Book editors will prefer stories that have been written coherently. If there are plot holes that you already know about as a writer, fix them and don’t wait for your editor to point them out – this will only waste their time and yours.

A book manuscript doesn’t have to be perfect when you call in an editor: that’s what they’re for. But at the same time, make sure you are not sending them the Titanic on paper – and just hoping they fix what you should have.

4. Find Book Editors

Once you have the first (or maybe fourteenth!) draft of your book ready, it’s time to start the quest for a freelance editor to look at it. 

Whlie some editors are already under contract from publishing houses, these editors only come in once a book deal has been signed in – though you can still find some of these editors working in their freelance capacity. Online, you can hire a book editor that could suit the style your book is begging to find.

5. Shortlist the “Golden Few”
The internet can show you thousands of excellent, experienced book editors right on one page. If you have more specific needs, you can just enter them into the search bar – and Reedsy can point you to the direction of what you are looking for.

Looking for book editors in New York, one of the worldwide hubs of the publishing industry? 

Make a list of several editors who you imagine could be the right fit for your writing style and budget. Don’t just pick one, shortlist the “Golden Few” first before you intend to make your final choice.

6. Contact Your Potential Editors


Have you found the “Golden Few” editors that you would like to contact?

The next important step would be to get in touch with them!

Let’s assume that you have an excellent book right now, and that the right editor for it is out there somewhere. With the right editor, your book can turn into the Great Book that it’s meant to be – and it might even be on its way to a bestseller.

There are some important things each editor might want to know. As a writer, you want to include your book synopsis, the word count, and at least one excerpt of your story for an editor to know more about your questions.

7. Discuss Needs (With Your Potential Book Editor)


An editor has to know what their clients need, and what their client is hoping to achieve at the end of the project. This is why meetings between a writer and their editor can be one of the most important steps to making a writing project work.

Once you have chosen an editor to work with, these discussions that you will have through the process can be called extremely important.

Without them, editors and writers have no idea if they’re working on the same project.

This is why it’s so important to choose the right editor for you and your book.

Insurance You May Need for Your Home Office

In 2019, the International Communication Research conducted a national survey. It established that more than 60% of home office-based businesses lacked an insurance policy that covered their businesses. Sadly, most of these home offices believed that if their companies suffered any losses, their renters, homeowners, or umbrella insurance policy would take responsibility and compensate them. 

But, on the contrary, rental and umbrella policies only cover a small percentage of losses. Moreover, such provisions would not even help one replace a damaged laptop.

Consequently, there is every need for you today to register your home office with an appropriate type of insurance for your business. 

This article helps you know which options are available. An insurance agent will tell you which one fits your business.

Property insurance

This type of insurance covers properties typically covered by the homeowner’s policy but held at home. However, since you use them for business, the homeowner’s insurance does not cover them, hence the need to get them the property insurance. 

It includes computers, data, paperwork, and any other thing you have at home and use for your home office and theft or vandalism of any of these properties.

For instance, in the event of a fire, your homeowner’s insurance policy will compensate you for the home, but not the home office. This is where the business property insurance cover comes in handy and covers losses.

Business interruption 

Sometimes, an interruption can occur and halt your business for an extensive period, interfering with cash flow and causing you significant financial losses. However, if your home office is covered with a business interruption policy, you will have nothing to worry about.

Of course, the terms might vary depending on the company you register your home business with. Still, most of them will cater to your income and help you evade negative cash flow until everything gets back to normal.

Business crime insurance

Many criminal cases characterize the modern world, and your home office is not immune to them. From time to time, home-based businesses are victimized with forgery, breaches, theft, security theft, stealing of sensitive information, and many others. 

Therefore, if you have compassionate parents, information, data, systems, patents, and processes in your home business, you should consider getting business crime insurance with a company of your choice.

Workers’ compensation insurance

The other type of insurance you should consider for your home office is workers’ compensation insurance, whose terms differ across states while still caring for employees. Generally, any business, whether home-based or not, with employees must be covered with the worker’s compensation insurance. 

This type of coverage takes care of employees’ liabilities, disabilities, death benefits, and treatment. But, again, since terms differ from one state to another, you need to establish your state’s provision under this insurance cover. And polish everything to ensure that you are in good books with the workers’ compensation insurance and have your employees covered.

Homeowner’s insurance.

Most people are under some form of homeowner’s insurance with a particular company of their liking. Though this may sound unlikely, some home offices lack the homeowner’s policy which provides an umbrella cover for your home. However, now that you have an office for your business, you need the homeowner’s surface more than ever. 

The types of business insurance discussed above will likely cover business interruption, crime, data corruption, and any liability, but not the home. Therefore, having the homeowner’s cover will come in handy. In addition, you will be compensated for the losses, especially if you had spent a fortune building this home.

Contents insurance

Generally, contents insurance should come with the homeowner’s insurance, although some homeowner’s policies do not provide for it. In addition, when you don’t have your own home and are renting the apartment you live in. You might have to consider the contents insurance since the rental policy does not cover it. If you use the same apartment in which you live as your home office, you need the contents covered even more. 

The insurance takes care of the contents in the apartment that you use for business and include paperwork, data, computer, or any other thing you deem essential for your business. In case they are stolen, damaged, or corrupted, the policy compensates you. The contents insurance also fits those who stock business equipment at home. However, they may not be using their home as a business office. 

Business auto insurance

Suppose you have a car that facilitates your home business activities like making deliveries, driving clients, and attending business meetings. In that case, you will likely need to register it with the business auto insurance. 

If you get involved while on a professional activity, the general auto coverage will not cater to the losses, which is why you need business auto insurance. Accidents could damage the business car, other cars, or passengers whose medical bills you must pay. Thus, making the business of auto insurance even more critical.

General liability insurance

Although this form of insurance has been mentioned last in this list, it’s, in fact, the most versatile form of business insurance you need for your home office. For example, suppose someone gets injured in your home office, or your home business product and equipment hurts him. 

In that case, general liability insurance comes in handy. In addition, this insurance helps with any legal issues, including copyright infringement or lawsuits against slander and libel. Besides, this insurance cover takes care of any legal expenses you might incur when your home office is issued for any reason.

The bottom line

Many businesses are run from home currently, thanks to the technological advancements we have today. Business liabilities also increase with the many home offices in place, and crime, copyright infringement, breaches, and robbery can victimize them. 

Don’t be swayed into thinking that the homeowner’s or the renter’s policy will take care of such losses. This article helps you familiarize yourself with the various forms of insurance you will need for your home business, and all you need is to contact an insurance agent to help you see which one fits your business the most.

Where to Get Free eBooks

Are you an avid reader and you’ve really taken a likening to reading digitally? Are you tired of having to pay a fee every time you want to read a new title? If so, then you’ve come to the right place! There are so many places where you can score large selections of high-quality eBooks in a wide array of genres by some of your favorite authors (and perhaps some authors that you don’t even know are your favorites yet). 

Want to learn where you can download and read free eBooks to your tablet, Kindle, phone, computer, laptop, or any other device? Keep on reading and get ready to expand your library!

Internet Archive

The mac-daddy of all free eBook sites, Internet Archive is an award-winning free eBook platform. The mission of the company behind the site is to provide readers with universal access to all knowledge. With more than 20 million titles available, it’s like the modern-day Library of Alexandria. On top of the 20 million free eBooks, Internet Archive also offers access to more than 410 billion web pages and 4.5 million audio recordings. Talk about a major score!

Google eBookstore

Offering access to more than 5 million free eBooks, Google eBook Store is an outstanding resource for your reading fix. This award-wining source is a service producer of Google, Inc. that was previously known as Google Book Search. Thanks to its significant selection of eBooks, it has become one of the biggest and most popular free eBook platforms around! You can access the site via the app, which you can download on both Android and iOS device. Once you do, accessing your next reads will be as easy as a few taps on a screen. You can search the site for free eBooks by title, author’s name, ISBN, or keywords. Once you select an eBook, you can download it by clicking on “free” at the top left corner of the screen, and then select “download” and your preferred format. 

Amazon Kindle Store

Amazon’s Kindle store is another fantastic and very popular resource for free downloadable eBooks. You can access the roughly 3.4 million free eBooks that Amazon offers for free on your Kindle device, your Fire tablet, or the app on your mobile device. You can access the Amazon Kindle store on your computer, too. You can search by title, author, or keyword. Once you find a book you’d like to read, you can download it via your Amazon account via the kindle app.

Open Library

Open Library is another well-known site that provides access to a wealth of free audiobooks and eBooks; more than 3 million titles, to be exact. The primary objective of the site was to establish a web page for every book published. There are several categories to choose from, including biographies, fiction, non-fiction, business and finance, and books by language. Once you borrow a book, you have it for 2 weeks and it will automatically be returned once that time expires. 

Apple Book Store

If you’re a fan of Apple, you can use the Apple Book store, formally known as iBooks, an Apple eBook library. The site offers more than 30,000 free eBooks, which is definitely an oppressive selection; however, the only downside is that you can only access the store via an iOS device or a macOS. There are two main sections on the site: free eBooks and special offer eBooks. Like the above-mentioned platforms, the Apple Book store offers a wide selection of genres from authors around the globe. Examples of some reader favorites include Winnie the Pooh, The Time Machine, and Murder in an Irish Village. 

What Are Literary Agents?

Professional sports players have agents, models and movie stars have agents. Even people looking to sell their home enlist the aid of an agent so it makes sense that authors will have someone to help them market their stories as well. For authors, a literary agent is often the best way to get their book published on a larger scale. To better understand how a literary agent can help with publishing, let’s take a deeper look into what a literary agent actually is.

The Definition of A Literary Agent?

In short, a literary agent is a person who will read a manuscript or book and then sign on the author if they feel that the book is marketable. While this may seem like a straightforward job, literary agents are paid a portion of the book sales and tend to be very selective of which clients they choose to represent. They work on pitching their client’s books to publishers and helping to negotiate attractive contracts with publishers for the benefit of the client, the book’s author.

What Do Literary Agents Do?

Once a literary agent takes on a client, the writer, they become their representative. Writers are selected in a variety of ways ranging from networking at literary events to direct submissions from aspiring authors themselves. After securing a contract to represent an author, they will then work with them to prepare their manuscript and create query letters that can be sent to publishing houses to pitch their material. Each agent will generally stick to a small range of genres which allows them to better serve the authors they represent.

Why Are Literary Agents Important For Publishing?

Writing a book takes a specific amount of skill, marketing that book to publishers takes a completely different set of skills. A literary agent has the skills and the industry knowledge that allows them to get manuscripts in the hands of people who have the power to launch writers’ careers. They also have a long history in the field and have been able to develop critical relationships that will help them match publishers and authors that can benefit mutually from a business relationship. A good agent can even generate enough interest in a manuscript that it goes to auction. During auctions, multiple editors can bid and therefore drive up the price, or advance that an author will receive for their manuscript.

A literary agent is critical in helping authors not only getting picked up by a publishing house but also ensuring they get fair contracts. Book contracts are extremely complex and cover a range of points such as royalties, payment types, amounts, percentages, and even their rights to their work. An agent will be able to guide and negotiate the best terms on behalf of the author.

Do You Have To Hire a Literary Agent?

It is possible to get published without the help of a literary agent, but the likelihood is extremely low. Authors can always self-publish on Amazon but in most cases, this is very expensive or only available on a smaller scale. A literary agent is a great way to get access to otherwise inaccessible editors and also help provide invaluable guidance in what can be an utterly confusing process. So, while you may want to avoid the hassle of finding an agent to represent you, it is worth the effort and ultimately may be the best and most expedient path to getting published. For those interested in becoming a literary agent, it is a great way to generate and income while helping upcoming authors realize their publishing dreams.

Do you need proofreading services?

If you’re anything like most people, you’ll have agonized over an important piece of writing at least once in your life — repeatedly questioning how to start your sentences, whether to choose “find” or “discover”, and wondering whether to write “oversaturated” or “over-saturated”. After reviewing your text approximately two million and ninety-five times, you’d think, all the typos, unforgivable spelling errors, and inconsistencies would be gone almost by default, no?

That’s not how it works. After a while, as you grow increasingly fatigued and bored of the text, your brain will inevitably start to see what you intended to write — rather than what you actually did. 

Hiring a professional proofreader is an integral part of your writing process for this very reason, whether you’ve penned a novel that’s already gone through developmental editing or writing an important white paper for your company. How exactly do you go about finding proofreading services and hiring a professional proofreader, though, and what do proofreaders actually do?

What Can Proofreaders Do?

Proofreading is the last stage in the editorial process. In some cases, like short blog posts or resume writing, it may be the only one. Other texts, like long-form journalism or academic articles, will have gone through meticulous editorial processes that include developmental and line editing before they ever reach a proofreader. Proofreaders will, in that scenario, literally “sweat the small stuff”. Your proofreader can:

  • Catch pesky typos that even the most advanced spellcheck software would never pick up on as they’d technically be correct, as well as more insidious spelling errors. 
  • Discover grammatical errors that everyone before them missed. If you’ve ever heard the unfortunate term “grammar Nazi”, proofreaders embody that concept for a living. 
  • Weed out inconsistencies in your writing. You may say “17.1%” in one place, and “58 percent” in another, for instance, or have inadvertently written both “US” and “U.S.”. A proofreader will make sure that kind of thing never makes it to your published version.
  • Look out for typographical and formatting inconsistencies, extra spacing, and excessive “word echoes”, in which similar words are artlessly used too many times in the same sentence or paragraph. 

Your proofreader will ensure that your writing is consistent with your chosen style guide, if any, and free of these persistent errors. They typically have a degree in a field related to English, such as literature or creative writing, and may also perform other types of editing.

How Can You Find the Right Proofreader?

The skill level you require from a proofreader depends on the type of writing you have done, as well as the length of the text. If you’re writing a fairly important email or personal blog post, for instance, you can probably do your own proofreading. Give yourself enough time to be able to distance yourself from your draft in that case, and you increase your odds of discovering your typos and inconsistencies. More important texts, from policy proposals to white papers, and short stories you are planning to enter into creative writing contests to entire books, call for a professional proofreader. 

You can:

  • Ask any stickler or English-degree holder at your workplace for help with proofreading short texts. 
  • Find independent freelance proofreaders online, through their own websites or dedicated marketplaces. Make sure to check their reviews before you make any hiring decisions, and test their skill with a shorter sample if you are still concerned. 
  • If you’re working on a book, ask industry contacts or developmental editors to recommend proofreaders. Personal connections allow you to narrow your choices down and ensure that you end up working with a professional.

Hiring a professional proofreader for around $10 per 1,000 words has become easier than ever, thanks to dedicated marketplaces on the internet, whether you require a quick once-over for a shorter project or an in-depth proof for a long academic text. The best proofreaders make working together easy and have an array of software choices at their disposal, as well as coming highly recommended.

Why Could Literary Agents Be Rejecting Your Query Letters?

Even some the most famous and celebrated authors have been rejected many times over before finally finding the right match — so if you’re desperately searching for that one literary agent who will help your writing career take off, you’re in good company. The agents who have reviewed your query letters might just have been too busy, or not right for you. As an aspiring author, you might also, on the other hand, be making rookie mistakes that are holding you back. 

Let’s take a look! Why are literary agents rejecting your query letters, and what can you do to fix that and land the right partner to get your book published? Landing a contract with a literary agent is a lot like job hunting, so with that paradigm shift in mind, here are some tips to consider.

You’re submitting your queries to the wrong agents

All literary agents have their own niches, so to avoid wasting anyone’s time — not to mention to put a stop to that endless rejection cycle — aspiring authors should thoroughly investigate what kinds of authors the agents they are sending queries to actually represent. Just like you wouldn’t apply for jobs that you’d never actually be able to do, you shouldn’t send query letters to agents who simply don’t work in your genre.

You think landing an agent is a ‘numbers game’

Your odds of landing the perfect literary agent do not increase with the number of letters you send. Authors hoping to get published don’t only need to make sure to research which agents would genuinely be a great match for them, but they also need to make a personal pitch. By sending the same generic, cookie-cutter, query letter to all potential literary agents, you miss the chance to truly connect. The agents who read your letter will pick up on that, and confine your pitch to their trash as effortlessly as you hit the “send” button. 

Personalize your query letters, and before you reach that point of no return by sending it, never forget to comb over the agent’s submission guidelines. Once you do, follow them. Don’t send in your first chapter unless the agent asks for it, and definitely don’t share your entire manuscript. This, again, has a lot in common with sending out resumes and cover letters; something no savvy job hunter would do without tailoring their application to the employer in question. 

You fail to help your book stand out

Here’s a sad fact — unless you get your query letter and synopsis right, your book is extremely likely to sound just like countless other books already on the market today. Literary agents are exposed to more book ideas than anyone else, so unless you rock at explaining what sets your book apart from all the others, they’re more likely to fall asleep at their desk than to feel excited to work with you by the time they reach the end of your letter. To grab an agent’s attention and keep it, make your book stand out, just like you need to sell yourself and your unique skills as you apply for jobs.

Your query letter is bad

If your query letter is sloppy — littered with typos, word echos, and lazy sentences — any literary agent who looks at it will assume that your book is going to be much the same. They won’t make it to your pages or even your synopsis, because agents will think you’re just not up to the job. We all know it’s intimidating to write query letters, as well as that excellent writing skills don’t necessarily make you a master marketer, but literary agents are simply too busy to contemplate those facts. The moral of the story? Never send query letters before important people in your life have reviewed them!

Being rejected doesn’t necessarily mean that you are doing anything wrong, however. The literary agents who have been reviewing your query letters, your synopsis, and your first pages could also simply have disliked your style, plot, or characters. In that case, you should be glad that you were rejected. You want to land a literary agent who is every bit as passionate about your work as you are, after all!

How to Plan Your Storyline

How to Plan Your Storyline

So you have a brilliant storyline in mind now. It’s time to get writing. Even if you have a great idea on how to write a story, actually executing it into a great plot that will get heads turning can be incredibly difficult. Great storytellers often intuitively know how to put a plot together from reading a lot of books, but for most of us, it helps to have a little bit of guidance when it comes to structuring a plot storyline.

Learning the basics can actually go a long way in making a story more engaging. Every wonder why most books and novels manage to suck you in near the end? Many scripts and novels follow some of the basics.

Some basic outlining of your outline and work can be helpful at this stage. Try this stuff out when you write for fun whether it’s flash fiction, fanfiction, or short stories. As you get the hang of it, you’ll find that you will naturally be able to structure things better.

There are a few styles of story arcs that can be used. The most famous ones are film based but often apply to great book storylines as well. The two most famous ones are the three-act structure and the hero’s journey.

In this article, I’ll focus more on the hero’s journey.

Here are the basic summarized steps of the Hero’s Journey. This isn’t the exact hero’s journey but modified slightly for modern stories.

1. Introducing an ordinary person

There is where we learn about the character in a normal world setting. You get to see the character as a typical person in a typical world.

2. The problem occurs

This is when the problem appears and reveals itself to the character. In many horror stories, this is where the monster reveals itself.

3. Denial

This is typically where the main character feels qualms or resistance to taking on the trial and tribulation. In many cases, this might be when the character initially turns the adventure down. This is when Shrek says no to everything. In love stories, often times this is a denial of feelings.

4. Getting Advice

The main character usually has a mentor or teacher who gives sage advice that is relevant only later on in the story.

5. Starting the adventure.

Passing the first barrier of the problem. This can often be a mental gap that leads the character in the journey.

6. Fighting battles

A series of challenges that the character has to go through.

7. Approaching the greatest challenge

There is always a “boss” or a big challenge that the character has to face. There is always this build up. In the first Harry Potter novel, this is when Harry approaches Voldemort.

8. The Point of No Return

This is the point where in fighting the great challenge, everything that goes wrong, goes wrong. Everything seems hopeless. This is when Indiana Jones is about to die or there is a terrible break up that reverses all romantic progress in a romance story. If somebody cheated in the film, it’s likely that here is where that’ll come out. Many of the best short stories manage to pull the point of no return off extremely well. This is what makes the ending often so juicy.

9. The Resolution

In a miraculous finish, the hero manages to figure things out and solve the impossible problem. The character comes out better, learning key lessons, and victorious. (or in the case of a tragedy, it ends badly here). The bad guy is defeated and the good guys win in a wild finish!

Ebook Formatting Choices: Why You Should Convert Epub to Mobi

Ebook Formatting Choices: Comparing EPUB vs. MOBI Side-by-Side

In this article, we’re going to be examining two different common eBook formats side-by-side. The first is the EPUB format, which is one of the most common formats out there and is able to be used on multiple devices including your tablet computer. But we will also be looking at the MOBI format, which has a number of advantages that you may not even have been aware of if you are not in the ePublishing business currently. Understanding what these two formats entail, and what the differences are, as well as what sort of benefits you can get with each one individually, is going to go a long way towards helping you figure out which eBook format you should be publishing in.

The Advantages & Disadvantages of the EPUB Format

Now, let’s look at some of the advantages that come with publishing within the EPUB format. This is a particularly easy to publish in format, and it has widespread use across most of the E-reader applications out there and even some devices like the Nook. Some of the other advantages include the fact that you can include HTML with some of the more advanced EPUB formats. EPUB 2 and EPUB 3 have a lot of different formatting options for you to use in your book.

Really the only disadvantage of the EPUB format is that you are not able to read it on Amazon Kindle devices unless you get a third-party application. On some Kindles, this is not even possible, but on the ones that are more like tablets than solely E-readers – the ones that allow you to install applications – you can find an app that that you read EPUB books.

The Advantages & Disadvantages of the MOBI Format

We will also take a look at the advantages and disadvantages the MOBI format. MOBI is a file format used specifically for the Amazon Kindle. Although there are a couple of applications that read MOBI formats, none of them do it nearly as well as the Amazon Kindle. The MOBI format is a closed format and is specifically intended for use with Kindles.

Of course, the disadvantage of publishing in the MOBI format is that you are not able to have your book read on any other devices while it is in that format.

The Bottom Line – Use Reedsy’s converter between Epub to Mobi

The bottom line is that unless you are publishing on Amazon and enrolling in the Kindle Select Program (which makes your book exclusive to Amazon for 90 days) then you should probably publish in as many formats as you can – and particularly EPUB. You want readers to be able to read your book on their terms and not yours. You can get more help with understanding formats and at Reedsy. There are plenty of articles on everything from writing to publishing and everything in between. When it comes to self-publishing, getting as much information as possible is the best gift that you can give to yourself.

Need Help Finding the Best Coffee Maker? Look in here

You are able to ascertain the form of coffee maker you need by assessing why you will need java. The coffee maker is one which is not only updated with technology but also user friendly and user friendly. When it has to do with choosing the coffee maker for yourself you surely don’t need to purchase something which is worth less than that which it is actually.

Be certain the coffee maker isn’t tough to disassemble, take apart and clean. The best coffee maker is one with a heating element that is amazing. Make certain the machine also will have a warranty for replacement and you get the coffee maker from a manufacturer that is trusted should there be an issue.

Imagine having to jump from one kind of coffee maker to another simply because you have yet to get the perfect one! However you take a look at it a completely free coffee maker is equally as useful as a costly coffee maker. You might even feel that a completely free coffee maker will somehow be sub-par from the expensive ones. Purchasing the very best coffee maker can be challenging sometimes. If you wish to understand what the very best coffee maker for you is, you need to clearly ponder on your choices.

Coffee makers can be found in many sizes and shapes. So for you to begin with that ideal cup of coffee every day, you’ll have to start with select the best coffee maker for you. You’re likely to be in a position when you discover the most effective single cup coffee maker for your very own specific needs.

Finding the cup of coffee sometimes not as easy as it seem. For a good deal of us, coffee is critical to starting the day. It may be the most popular beverage in the world. It’s also great if you would like to brew two kinds of java in regular, decaf or the time.

You find yourself saved from wasting a great deal of coffee. Be certain you don’t store your coffee too. You should think of how much coffee you’ll need. Over time, coffee has been among the commodity that is most crucial and has been part of daily ritual to every person. It does not necessarily need to be regarded as a means to an end, meaning that it may be a decadent and delicious treat once you’ve got a machine to work with. Tells you precisely what sort of coffee maker you will need. When you would like to brew coffee that is mild the percolator is something you will need to consider.

All About Best Coffee Maker

Do not be concerned if your coffee maker does not arrive with one, you have the choice to purchase it. Another kind of coffee maker is your drip that is automated. Not many coffee makers reach that temperature shop carefully and be certain the utmost temperature is recorded. With professional evaluations accessible to read and consumer reviews, you need to have the ability to find just the coffee maker to fit your needs.

Coffee makers are not different. You would like your coffee maker to create coffee. There are various sorts of coffee makers available, all making different forms of coffee. If that’s the case you could benefit from learning about the new coffee makers today.

When you go to purchase a coffee maker there are many choices it’s tough to comprehend which to pick. You don’t wish to need to get a expensive coffee maker only for it to quit working because of a technicality but the spares aren’t simple to find. You must shop around until it is possible to locate the very best coffee maker which makes the coffee for you inside your plan. You are going to be surprised to find if you’re trying to find the single cup coffee maker.

If you’re looking for an espresso maker, you will see a catalogue of espresso makers valuable. Mr. Coffee Programmable Coffeemakers Many individuals love Mr. Coffee coffee makers not only due to its price but in addition due to its efficiency. Attempt to have a machine with better build quality, preferably one in case you would like to use your coffee maker at least one time particularly with more metal than plastic. A coffee maker doesn’t need to bust the bank.

If it comes to getting one that gets you through the hours, a coffee maker, there are a lot. In the end, as soon as you’re contemplating which coffee maker is ideal for you, it’s better to locate a model that’s user-friendly, and high-volume, heavy duty. By doing some research on  the different kinds and brands out there you are going to be in a position to get you the coffee maker. When you are selecting the very best coffee maker for RV, list the things which are essential for you and purchase.

Word Counts for Novels According to Genre

Word Counts for Novels According to Genre

Congratulations! You have an amazing idea for a novel that you think could really be the next big thing on Oprah’s Book Club!

You’ve figured out an amazing plot line, have some super enticing characters, and have a twist that will put all other twists to shame. There’s just one thing you might have forgotten to consider…

… How long it should be.

So, the question is, how many words in a novel?

The length of a book is one of the most important elements. In fact, some literary agents and publishers say that it is just as important as the story itself.

But why is the length so important?

Because you want to hold the attention of your audience… If your book is too long, you’re definitely going to lose their attention. Your novel may seem too long and drawn out, which can make it really hard for your readers to make it to the end.

Similarly, if your book is too short, your readers may be left feeling dissatisfied. They could be left scratching their heads and have a ton of questions that are left unanswered. Unless you are planning on writing a series and can answer all of those questions in upcoming books, that’s definitely something you don’t want to do.

Image result for reedsy novel length

So, How Long Should a Novel Be?

When it comes to determining the length of a novel, the genre is really going to play a key role. Different genres have different goals, and those goals can be met with word counts.

So, without further ado, here’s a look at what agents, publishers, and well-known authors recommend for average word lengths for different genres:

  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels. Of all the genres out there, science fiction and fantasy tend to have the longest word counts. That’s because there tends to be a lot of plot building and detailed explanations involved in these stories. In fact, readers expect books in this genre to be on the long end. On average, a science fiction or fantasy novel should be between 90,000 and 120,000 words. You might be able to get away with as much as 150,000 words, depending on your particular story; however, you really don’t want to go far beyond that (or you may want to avoid it, if you can) because your readers patience will really be tested.
  • Romance. The average romance novel contains anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 words. If you’re writing your book for a younger audience, such as young adults, stick to the lower end of this recommendation. If you’re writing for an older crowd, you can safely get away with more words. However, do keep in mind that you want to avoid overkill.
  • Mysteries and Thrillers. If you’re writing a book that ties into this genre (including horror), a good length would be anywhere between 70,000 and 90,000 words. You can successfully build enough suspense in this word count without making it seem too long, drawn out, and boring.

Using J.K. Rowling’s Plotting Chart Like a True Writing Nerd

Using J.K. Rowling’s Plotting Chart

There is no doubt that JK Rowling is a master of plot. The Harry Potter books introduce elements in the very first page that become important by the end of the book and that goes for the series as well. Innocuous little elements that you don’t even register consciously become majorly important in later books. So, how do you keep all of these things straight? One of the tools that JK Rowling used when plotting the Harry Potter books was a series chart or plotting chart. She actually released one that she used for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix which you can find here. We’ll be discussing why this chart works so well in this article.

Image result for jk rowling plot chart

The first thing you will notice as you open Rowling’s chart is that all of her major subplots are listed as the columns of the chart. The calm that she reserved for plot simply describes the action that is happening, but she also keeps track of other elements of plot – her subplots – like what is happening between Harry and Prof. Snape, the love triangle between Harry, Cho Chang and Ginny Weasley and plot points like Hagrid and Grawp.

Another thing that is really useful that rolling uses in her plot charts is a list of the time period when the events are happening. This makes sense because they take place over a normal school term at Hogwarts. However, even if you do not necessarily use time the same way that Rowling does, keeping track of when you’re plot events are taking place could be very useful especially when it comes to things like describing the weather or showing the time has passed.

You will notice, if you have read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, that this plot chart does not follow the actual plot exactly. That’s another important lesson to keep in mind here. Just because you write it down in your plot chart does not necessarily mean that you need to stick to it. In fact, having a plot chart like this can give you more confidence when it comes to allowing your characters take a detour. Characters can often have a mind of their own, and letting them go their own way sometimes works out very well for the story. If you have a chart like this, then you can always bring them back on track.

The bottom line is that while some writers like to write by the seat of their pants without any plot whatsoever, and others like to plan out everything in great detail far in advance, there is a way to do both by finding middle ground between these two extremes. You can create a loose plot and then allow your characters the freedom to move around through your story. Even if you just write Harry Potter Fanfiction, you should get a lot of use out of this method. There is no doubt that a chart like this can be useful in that regard. There can also be no doubt that JK Rowling has been able to use this device to become the most successful children’s author ever.

Check out this geek dating site to meet other Harry Potter nerds

Can You Self-Publish a Picture Book?

Can You Self-Publish a Picture Book?

Lots of people want to write picture books. Part of the reason for this may be that they think that the task is easier because picture books are so much shorter than novels, but most of it probably stems from the fact that picture books are children’s first readers, and parents and other adults remember picture books that they loved as well as picture books that they read to their own children or young nieces and nephews. Whatever the motivation, many writers are not sure whether they can self-publish a picture book. The process seems much more complicated than publishing a novel. The fact is that picture books can easily be self-published, but you have to keep a few things in mind. This isn’t an in-depth look at the topic but if you’re looking for more information on how to publish a children’s book Reedsy has a pretty detailed article on the topic.

Image result for children's book reedsy

Picture Books do not Sell Well on Digital Platforms

The first thing that you should know about picture books is that they do not sell well on digital platforms. One of the reasons is that people prefer a physical book so that they can read it to the children at bedtime. It is pretty difficult at present to read a book with your child on a digital device because you need to both be able to see it easily. Books just make more sense for bedtime reading.

It Can Be Difficult to Format Picture Books for Self-Publication

Picture books can be a nightmare to format, which is why many people avoid self-publishing them altogether. While there are methods for getting them uploaded to digital platforms, the fact is that formatting the text and illustrations within a book for young children often requires an expert – and most people cannot afford this expertise. Reedsy has been working on novel writing software to make that process easier.

Picture Books Can Be Really Hard to Market

Picture books are difficult to market even when they are in physical form from a traditional publisher. One of the things that make them harder to market is the fact that Amazon and other retailers pay you a lower royalty due to the increased size of the book. The more pictures there are, the bigger your book size is and the less money goes to you. In addition, you are not going to be listed in the industry catalogs that libraries and schools buy from. This is where a significant percentage of children’s books are purchased, and getting listed in these catalogs when you are a self-published author is difficult and impossible if you are strictly digital. You will likely need to make sure you hire yourself a good book publicist to help.

Picture Books Are Harder to Write Than People Think

Most people think that writing picture books is easy to do. The truth is, Dr. Seuss was a genius not a two bit poet. It is actually quite difficult to write good children’s books, but many people think that they are good at it and editors have to sift through this pile every year to find the small percentage of authors who actually do have the talent to write children’s books. With self-publishing, and without an editor to guide you, you will have an even more difficult time.

5 Things You Must Include on Your Author Website

5 Things You Must Include on Your Author Website

Your author website is one of the most important tools that you have as a self-published author. It is a place where people come to see who you are and what you are about, as well as to check out what else you have written. When someone really likes your work, one of the things they might do is type your name into Google to find out more about you, and if you have an author website set up and optimized to be in the first spot for your name or pen name, then they will likely visit it first. But what kind of things should you have on your author website? Here are five elements that you absolutely should have.

Information about You

The first thing that you must include on your author website is information about you personally. That is what people are coming there to find out. People want to know things like where you live, how old you are, whether you are married or single, how many children you have and maybe some personal information like your favorite authors and books. Whenever someone thinks of you as a celebrity or someone that they would like to find out more about, you want to make sure that you oblige is much as you can, even if you are a private person.

A List of Your Books

You also want to have a list of your books available on your website, as well as a link with each one that leads directly to the Amazon page for that book so the people can buy them if they want. Having a good, high-quality picture of the book cover that is large enough to see as well as a basic blurb is a great addition to any author website.

An Opt-In Mailing List

You are also going to want to have an area where people can opt in your mailing list. This will allow you to email people whenever you release a new book, and have a list of your readers basically on speed dial so that you can send out news, tell them about specials that you are having or simply announce the release of something new.

Contact information

You are also going to want to have contact information on there. You can just have a contact form if you want, but you do want to leave both readers and other people way to contact you. Suppose a traditional publisher came along and wanted to contact you about a book deal or someone wanted to buy the movie rights to your book for some reason.

An Active Blog

Finally, you want to have an active blog. The reason for an active blog is that it provides more keywords for your website to be indexed for, and posting regular content improves your search engine optimization as well. Plus, the more blog readers you have the more potential sales you have for your books. If you need an author site made, check out this IT Support NYC company.

Reasons You Should Self-Publish

5 Good Reasons for Self-Publishing

If you are considering self-publishing your novel or non-fiction book, you are not alone. Lots of people consider self-publishing to be one of the best ways to get books out there these days. That’s because there are some really compelling reasons to self-publish. Let’s take a look at five of them.

Self-Publishing Means Higher Royalties

You actually get higher royalties when you self-publish; like a lot higher. For example, if you go with a traditional publisher, you could get a royalty between 10-15%. The publisher gets to keep the rest. But you don’t even get to keep that 10% yourself. Besides taxes, many traditional publishers will not even read your manuscript unless it comes from an agent – a practice known as only accepting solicited manuscripts. But self-publishing does not require an agent and your royalties will be a lot higher. For example, as long as your digital book is priced at $2.99 or higher, Amazon will give you a 70% royalty on every sale and only keep 30%. That’s a huge difference.

You Still Have to Promote Yourself

Even if you decide to publish traditionally, you are still going to have to do your own promotion. Publishing houses rarely do promotion these days and they never do it for brand new authors. The most promotion that you might get as a new author is a listing in the Baker & Taylor or Ingram catalogs, which goes to schools, libraries and bookstores. But you will have to do book tours yourself, as well as any other advertising.

People Read Self-Published Fiction

In the past, one of the major disadvantages of self-published fiction is that people wouldn’t read it. That’s because there was very little of it that was worth reading. But self-publishing today has created some major bestsellers, and even some of the biggest authors in the world have self-published work, so people are much more open to the idea of reading self-published fiction.

Self-Published Books Can Look as Good as Traditional Ones

Another advantage to be aware of is that you can make your self-published book just as good as traditional ones. You can get an amazing cover from a professional book cover designer at a fair price these days, and you can use the same formatting for the interior of the book as traditional publishers do. You can even hire an editor to make your book as good as possible before you publish it. Self-published books can be just as high quality as traditionally published books.

Self-Publishing is the Future of Book Publishing and a lot cheaper

You might also not be aware that self-publishing is going to be the way the book publishing is done in the future. For one thing, digital books have basically taken over the reading world. People read books on devices now much more often than they read physical books. Plus, even authors that have been traditionally published for decades are starting to move towards self-publishing because they make more money and have more creative control over the content.

 

A Couple of Nifty Exercises to Get over Writer’s Block

Exercises to Get over Writer’s Block

Writer’s block can be one of the hardest things to deal with for someone in the middle of a story or novel. When you get caught up in writer’s block, it can cause depression and make you think that all of the work that you put in so far means nothing. It can make you think that you are never going to finish the piece that you are working on. While most writers get over this condition by themselves, there are some exercises that you can do to get over writer’s block more quickly. Let’s take a look at five exercises to help you get over writer’s block.

Write a Different Scene or Chapter

The first trick that you can use to get over writer’s block is to try writing a different scene or chapter in your book or short story. Sometimes, the piece that you are currently working on is what is causing the problem, and if you come back to it later on after you have worked on a different part of the story, you come back with fresh eyes that may allow you to see if there was a problem or how you can continue the scene.

Enter Man with Gun

Raymond Chandler says that if you come across a snag in your fiction then you should have someone enter the room with the gun. Of course, Raymond Chandler writes mystery novels. You may write something completely different, but the principle still stands. If you find that you are stuck in a scene, have something unexpected happened to the characters and see where things go from there.

Get to Know Your Characters Better

Sometimes, writing fiction can be a struggle because you do not know your characters well enough. You may want to do a biography on your characters, or perhaps an interview format, in order to get to know them better and see if that solves your problem.

Work on a Different Project

You can also work on a completely different project instead. If you are having trouble with the story or novel that you are currently working on, then try to work on something else for a little bit. Don’t do it for very long, because you don’t want to lose track of where you are on the original piece. But there is no harm in taking a day or two and working on something different so you can come back to your original project with a new perspective.

Read Something to Inspire You

Finally, read something that inspires you to write. Sometimes this can get you over writer’s block quickly. You can either choose something fiction that you really enjoy and think is amazing, which inspires you to write something just as amazing, or you can read something that one of your favorite authors has written about the process of writing. Sometimes that is all that it takes to get your story kick started and get you back on track.