Doing Your Own Book Printing? SPAWN is a Great Resource!

Nowadays more and more writers are leaning toward self-publishing to get their work in print. Not only is it faster than traditional publishing but it allows the writer more control over how their work is printed, marketed, and distributed. If you are one such self-publisher, you won’t find a more valuable resource than the Small Publishers, Artists, and Writer’s Network (SPAWN).

SPAWN is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing education, information, resources and a supportive networking environment for creative individuals and small business owners interested in the publishing process. It consists of publishers, authors, illustrators, photographers, editors, book manufacturers, printers, booksellers, artists, and publicists. The organization offers information resources, research sources, directories of publishers and printers, and media links to all its members.

Membership in SPAWN comes with many other special benefits, including:

• Access to an e-mail discussion group, which offers the opportunity for discussions with experienced writers and publishers.
• Market updates on magazine and book publishing markets, as well as up-to-date opportunities for freelance writers and artists.
• A personal member webpage and profile that can be accessed by anyone who is online.
• Eligibility to attend SPAWN book festivals, seminars, and workshops.
• Your name listed in the SPAWN catalog, advertising your work and services.
• A member health benefit. This is not insurance, but it offers members discounts of 20-60% on health, dental, vision, and chiropractic services as well as prescriptions.
• Articles on writing, publishing, book marketing, copyrights, legal issues, and self publishing.
• Lists of book printing companies, book services, legal services, and links to other helpful organizations.
• Discounts on a variety of publishing and writing related services, including book printing services, writing software, editing services, writing courses, and membership with other important literary organizations.

For anyone interested in self-publishing, there can be no other resource as valuable as SPAWN. With this useful tool you’ll obtain insider information on the ever-changing writing world. For more information on SPAWN or on self-publishing, contact contact the book printing experts at CMYK Graphix, Inc. Visit them online at http://www.cmykgraphix.com, call them at 1-800-698-2071, or email them today. As a professional book printing company, they will work with you to customize your options and get your work into print as quickly as possible.

How To Get An ISBN

Many writers spend weeks, months, and even years crafting what they hope will be the next book to captivate the world. Because of this, waiting to see your work in print can be depressing. It is for this reason that so many writers are choosing to self-publish. Through professional printing companies, your work can be on the shelf in a matter of weeks.

One of the most important things any self-publisher can do for themselves, however, is get an ISBN for their book. ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a 10-13 digit number that identifies your book as separate from any other. It is the barcode form that is found on the back of a book or on the inside jacket of a hardcover. Did you know that, without an ISBN, your book cannot be sold in a retail setting?

To get an ISBN complete the following steps:

• Visit http://www.isbn.org. The site is owned by R.R. Bowker, which is the exclusive US source for ISBNs. The majority of your steps will be completed here.
• Choose the appropriate package for your situation and the number of titles you want assigned.

• Fill out the application. It can be completed online or you can print it and mail it through the post office.
• Wait through the 15-day processing time to receive your official ISBN.
• Once you have your ISBN, register it with Bowker’s Books-In-Print by signing up for Bowker Link. This is a free online tool that allows you to upload book info (title, price, page count, etc). It is the main directory that libraries and bookstores will use to order your book for customers.
• Last, but not least, register your book’s copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office.

The steps required to get an ISBN are simple and easy to follow and it’s the best way to ensure your book can reach the widest audience possible through retail outlets everywhere. You will want to be sure to sign up for Books-In-Print because it is the leading provider of bibliographic data. Your book will be exposed to many facets of the book industry just through this single web application. However, be sure to complete these steps yourself. Some self-publishing vendors might offer to buy your ISBN for you, but this would make them the owner of your book, instead of you!

For more information about how to get an ISBN or about self-publishing, contact CMYK Graphix, Inc. at 1-800-698-2071 or email them today.

Editing Fiction: Tips For Self-Publishing Authors

The rough draft of a story comes easily for many writers. When it comes to editing fiction to make it smooth and enjoyable, however, many are at a loss, but this step is easier than most authors think. In fact, a few simple steps can create a world of change in your work. Follow these tips for polishing your novel:

• Use appropriate and frequent paragraph breaks. This gives the reader a break throughout the material.
• Use only one name for a character. It is okay to call your character by their first or last name but you shouldn’t alternate between the two. Also, refrain from referring to them by their profession, i.e. the doorman, the butler, etc. This can make it confusing for the reader and can pull them right out of the story.
• When editing fiction, choose different names with different sounds for your characters. The names Steve and Stan may be different but the similar sounds can make it hard for readers to differentiate between them throughout the text.
• Avoid using slang. Oftentimes, a reader may not be familiar with a slang term, which can create confusion and pull them from the story. It also dates your work, limiting its shelf life. If you do decide to use slang, be sure to clarify its meaning in a subtle way.
• Limit your use of offensive language. This may come naturally to some characters but many readers are alienated by profanity.
• Keep your characters from speaking too long without interruption. A good rule of thumb is to limit dialogue to a three-sentence maximum. This will give your readers a break and keeps them on their toes. Any more than that may make them zone out and miss important details.

These tips for editing fiction are simple and easy to learn. Follow them and you can use them to make your novel shine without a lot of time or effort.

Once you have every word perfectly placed, it’s time to contact CMYK Graphix, Inc. As a professional printing company they’ll help you customize your novel and get it on the shelves as quickly as possible. CMYK Graphix provides one-stop shopping for self-publishing books and other promotional print items. As the No. 1 choice in book printing today, CMYK Graphix will not only help you self-publish your book, they will provide the business cards, brochures, and flyers that will get your words out there in the world.

For more information about self-publishing, contact the experts at Cmykgraphix.com, call them at 1-800-698-2071, or email them today.

Marketing Your Self-published Book – Ideas To Get You Started

At last, you’ve finished writing your book. With a relieved sigh you sit back and dream about the piles of money that are going to flow through your door. Before you get too far, however, don’t forget the next important step: marketing your self-published book. It’s that magical process that changes your work from a manuscript decorating your shelf to a book that builds a career.

Here are a few ideas to help get your book into the hands of readers:

• Consider your audience. This will give you a clear path regarding who or what companies to approach. For example, a children’s magazine is not the ideal tool to promote a mystery thriller.
• Attend writer’s conferences and conventions to network with other authors and industry experts to initiate word-of-mouth advertising.
• Send press releases to media outlets that relate to your work. Resend these until you get requests for interviews or articles.
• Create a website that lists excerpts from the book, as well as the option to purchase it. Also use this tool to advertise any special events or promotions you’re doing such as book signings or sales.
• In addition, an online media room is as essential as a website. You can create and host one yourself or you can hire someone to do it for you.
• Print your book cover and contact information on marketing products such as mouse pads, book marks, and coffee mugs. These products should include your book’s information, the cover art of your book, a favorite quotation from the book, and the ways in which your book can be purchased
• Hand out your marketing products to everyone you meet!
• Set aside about 5-10% of your products for promotional giveaways. These can be given away at book signings, through radio contests, in Web site promotions, at book fairs, or just to people you talk to on the street. Having people read and recommend your work is wone of the most effective ways of marketing your self-published book.
• Seek non-traditional places for book sales. Many local businesses (independent bookstores, museums, libraries, radio shows and news programs – just to name a few) take an interest in helping local authors and some stores may be willing to sell your books on consignment.
• Ask local colleges and libraries if you can host readings or literary events that would get your name and work out into the community.
• Set up book signing events with local bookstores.

Book promotion and marketing your self-published book can be a frightening concept for many writers but it is a vital part of success as an author. Embrace it as a necessary step. After all, who better to sell your story than the person who knows it best?

Of course, one can’t forget the step between writing and promotion: publishing. CMYK Graphix Inc. is a professional printing company that can help you self-publish your book as well as assist you with some of the promotional materials you might need. Additionally, they offer a variety of customization options so you’ll be satisfied with your work from cover to cover. For more information about book printing or marketing your self-published book, contact the expert book printers online at Cmykgraphix.com, call them at 1-800-698-2071, or email them today.

Sell Your Book – It’s Easy To Make An Author’s Web Site

When the typical writer is begins his or her career, all focus is on the story. In most ways, this is appropriate because, after all, if a novel isn’t well-written it has no chance of success. However, another important factor is the ability to promote that book and get it into the hands of readers so you can sell your book.

One of the most invaluable tools an author can use is a Web site that allows the readers the option of purchasing directly from the author. For someone who’s never owned or operated a Web site, this concept can seem both scary and alien but it’s not as difficult as it might seem. Follow these steps to start creating your own author’s website:

• Get a domain name. This will be your address on the web. It can be any combination of letters and numbers up to 63 characters. You can search for and register your official domain name through several registrars including GoDaddy, Act Now Domains, TheComRegistry, Network Solutions, as well as a variety of others.
• Choose a Web host. A Web host stores your site on their server and transmits it to the internet for people to find. The most important thing to remember with a Web host is that they don’t have to be expensive but they must be reliable. If the server is constantly going down, the site won’t be available for your visitors and you will miss out on the chance to sell your book.
• Build the Web site. You can do this yourself or you can hire a professional if it seems too intimidating. Some Web hosts will offer the software and customizable templates to help you do this. Through them it can be a simple click-and-type process, but with a professional outside vendor you can have a lot more flexibility in design. Also, templates can make it difficult for search engines to find the things they look for that help them categorize your site and rank it higher in search results, thus making it easier to sell your book.

Now that you know how to create a promotional Web site, you’re free to complete the other steps necessary to launch that ideal career. One of the quickest and easiest ways to get your manuscript published and on the market is through a professional printing company such as CMYK Graphix, Inc. They will customize your printing to fit your needs so that you can turn your focus to more important things so you can sell your book.

For information on book printing and self-publishing your book, contact CMYK Graphix, Inc. at 1-800-698-2071 or email them today.

A Book Printer’s Tips: Create A Great Book Title

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but many people do. Even more important than the cover, however, is a book’s title. A weak title may mean your work will be overlooked in the book store but a strong one will grip the imagination of prospective readers, not to mention that a memorable title comes easier to the lips. The more a person can hear and remember your book’s title, the more likely you are to increase your readership.
           
To create a book title for your manuscript, just follow these important steps:

• Start with the story basics. What is it about? Who is the target audience? Your title should reflect on these concepts.
• Search within the story for title ideas. It could be drawn from a theme present in the manuscript, a key phrase used, or the name of a character or concept in the story.
• Some authors will use a title that has absolutely nothing to do with the work. It’s a unique concept and it can pay off as long as a parallel can eventually be drawn between the two.
• As you come up with ideas narrow your list down to the five strongest possibilities. Have friends and family members read the manuscript. Get their opinions on which of the five titles are most effective.
• Consider each of the titles as part of a marketing plan. Does one work better than the other? Say the titles out loud as if you were in an interview. Does one roll off the tongue easier?

It’s important to remember that a story’s title gives a reader the most basic description of your work. Whether a title is pulled from the book or not, it will still be a reflection of your work and the ideas you want to express.

Using these steps to create a book title will ensure your book won’t be overlooked on store shelves. After you have that catchy title and your manuscript is complete it’s time to bet busy getting your work published. The best approach is using a professional printing company like CMYK Graphix, Inc. They will allow you to self-publish your manuscript in the quickest time so you can focus your energy on selling and marketing it. As professional book printers, they have the knowledge and experience to help you self-publish your novel with all the customizations you require. They offer fast and easy quotes online at http://www.cmykgraphix.com and will be happy to do custom quotes by request. For more information, contact the book printers at 1-800-698-2071 or email them today.

A Book Printer’s Tips: Plot Development

Great story ideas can start anywhere. Some writers start out with a general concept that needs to be defined. Others are inspired by ideas for beginnings or endings to the novels they want to pursue. But even the best ideas can’t make a successful book without a well-developed plotline. When creating a story from beginning to end, keep the following plot development steps in mind:

• Identify the conflict. At least two characters must have opposing goals and only one of them can win. Knowing this from the beginning will help ensure the story doesn’t go off on unrelated tangents.
• Begin with a crisis. Your book should relate a specific struggle the main character is going through. Without this, the main character has no motivation to continue through to the resolution. This crisis will also help define the character’s goal for the book.
• Build the story. Once a story goal has been created for the character, they must fight to achieve it and thus, hold the reader’s attention. They should face an increasing number of obstacles with mounting difficulty as the story progresses.
• Orchestrate the climax. The climax of a story is the turning point where the main character’s struggle is finally resolved. Here, they face their greatest obstacle. The reader must be brought to wonder whether they’ll succeed in their goal or not.
• Wrap things up. The resolution portion of plot development can be the most important part of a book. The reader should leave your story with no unanswered questions, which means all loose ends should be tied up and plot points resolved.

Don’t forget to include important details throughout your story that will make your character’s resolution realistic. Tools used by characters on either side of the conflict must be mentioned before the climax; otherwise the resolution will seem too orchestrated.

Using these steps in your plot development will ensure your story concept comes to life on the page. Once your editing has been completed, send it off to the book printers at CMYK Graphix, Inc. As professional book printers, they have the knowledge and experience to help you self-publish your novel with all the customizations you require. They offer fast and easy quotes online at http://www.cmykgraphix.com and will be happy to do custom quotes by request. For more information, contact them at 1-800-698-2071 or email them today.

Book Printing and Writing Tips: Writing Dialogue

Every good writer knows that dialogue is one of the key elements of any book. If it’s not conducted properly, dialogue can make the writing seem immature or unrealistic. It can even stop the story dead in its tracks. Good dialogue, on the other hand, draws the reader into the world the author has created. It serves to move the story along, provides valuable information to the reader, and brings the characters to life. However, even the best writers can have difficulty with this component of storytelling. To create the most effective dialogue, consider these important tips:

• Pay attention to the way people talk. This can help you pick up on natural speech patterns and the expressions people use on a regular basis. It will also give you an idea of the flow and rhythm speech follows.
• Refrain from making dialogue too consistent with reality. In real life, people use filler words such as like, uh, and um. These should be omitted in writing. In addition, you should only turn portions of conversation that are important to the story or characters into dialogue. Anything else can be summarized or cut.
• Carefully consider the words and phrases that apply to each character. Make sure the dialogue "goes with" each role. For example, if a character is a swarthy pirate, he wouldn’t use perfect grammar – his "speech" needs to be more rough and less cultured. Dialogue can provide a each way to identify who is speaking within a passage.
• Don’t provide too much information at once. Amateur writers have the tendency to force-feed information through dialogue. Characters should only say something that would come naturally to them. Important details should be spread throughout the story to pick up through a natural progression.
• Stick with simple dialogue tags. “Said” is the most basic of these and in most cases it is all that is needed to identify the speaker. Some writers get too caught up trying to find synonyms for the word to add variety. Readers should be blind to tags as they read and using too many different words can pull them out of the dialogue.

Following these tips will help make your characters and your dialogue come to life. Once you have perfected your dialogue and your manuscript is finished, all that’s left to do is contacting the book printer. CMYK Graphix has a professional book printing team that will help you customize and self-publish your manuscript into a completed and marketable book. They offer fast and easy book printing quotes online at http://www.cmykgraphix.com and do custom quotes by request. For more information, contact them at 1-800-698-2071 or email them today.

Ergonomics Part Two – Stay Pain-Free (A Book Printer’s Tips)

Long before a self-publishing author can even think about sending their manuscript off to the book printer’s, they will be investing hours upon hours in front of a computer or typewriter. The writing process can take its toll on an author because, in order to get any amount of work done, a writer is required to work in the same position for hours at a time. As a result they are subject to a real possibility of repetitive strain injuries. Fortunately the study of ergonomics has uncovered the secrets of positioning and equipment use that makes these injuries preventable.

Ergonomics can differ depending on whether you’re writing by hand or typing at a computer. Since many writers do both at some point it is imperative you understand the differences. Here are a few more important tips for reducing your pain as a writer:

When setting up your computer screen:

• The monitor should be an arm’s length away and the screen should be centered in your line of vision.
• The top of the screen should be level with your eyes.
• Adjust the height or tilt of the screen to eliminate light glare. This will reduce eye strain.

To reduce contact stress while writing manually:

• Use the lightest hold possible on the pen while still maintaining control.
• Refrain from leaning on the wrist or forearm as you work.
• Use a pen or pencil with a rubberized grip or increase traction by wrapping a rubber-band around its barrel.

To avoid awkward postures:

• Position the elbow at an angle greater than 90 degrees.
• Keep your hand relaxed and avoid forceful bending or hyperextension of finger joints when holding your pen.
• Use a sloped desk to avoid bending the neck or rounding the shoulders forward.

Everyone knows a great book isn’t written in a day. It can take several weeks, months, and even years before it’s complete and ready for the book printer’s. If you’re able to work pain-free you can work longer and those hours will be spent concentrating on your book and not the pain you would otherwise be feeling.

Once your work is finished, you’ll need to send it off to the book printer’s so your work can get on to bookstore shelves as soon as possible. For more information about self-publishing, contact the expert book printers at CMYKGraphix.com by calling them at 1-800-698-2071, or by emailing them today.

Writing Your Book: Fictional Character Development

One of the most common goals people have in this country is to write the “Great American Novel”. Of course, most writers don’t simply sit down and start writing when the ultimate goal is a novel-length work. Many aspects of the book need to be planned out beforehand, including the plot and characters of the story. Compelling characters bring the story to life and, in many cases, can make or break it. Fictional character development is critical when writing a book: if a writer doesn’t develop their characters properly, the entire story can seem stagnant and unrealistic.

To avoid these results, development of your fictional character should be done in the following ways:

• Start with a physical description of your character. Are they tall, short, fat, or thin? Do they have any scars or other distinguishing traits? Keep in mind that a person’s physical appearance can affect the way people treat them and that should be taken into account in your story.

• After you’ve formed your character’s body type, begin working on the type of clothes they wear. In real life, everybody has a certain style, even if it’s no style at all. A person’s clothes say a lot about who they are and serve as one of the first ways they’ll make an impression on others, so this detail should not be forgotten.

• Now it’s time to develop the deeper aspects of your character. What type of personality do they have? How do they talk, walk, and think? What do they like and what do they dislike? What is their favorite color, food, or pet? As you’re working, consider how this personality might influence the story you’re writing.

• Finally, it’s time for development of your fictional character’s background. You must be on an intimate level with each of your characters so you can weave their stories in a believable way. What has happened to them in their past that made them the person you are now writing about? What type of person are they in the present? What do they dream about for their future? Think carefully about this section. Oftentimes a character’s personal history can interfere with and relate directly to the novel you’re writing.

Your fictional character development is complete! Even though the character will take on more depth as the story moves along, your character/person has been “born”. You now have a solid springboard for the rest of your story, which will only be enriched by the work you’ve just done. So get cracking!

Once your masterpiece is finished, contact CMYK Graphix, Inc. A professional printing company, CMYK Graphix, Inc. will help you self-publish your work so it can get on the shelf and in your reader’s hands in the timeframe you want. For more information on self-publishing, contact the expert book printers at Cmykgraphix.com by calling them at 1-800-698-2071, or by emailing them today.