From Idea to Published Book ... How to self-publish the easy way!

Written by Edward B. Toupin


I've been involved in publishing for over a decade now as an author, editor, and project manager; however, it wasn't until just a few years ago that I decided to move into self-publishing. Indeed, my first few projects involved consulting for others and, now, I am involved in my own, personal projects. It has taken a while for me to come back around to my own works, but inrepparttar process I learned how to minimize time and expenses in producing a book and getting it to market.

This short article will not try to explain every aspect of book publishing in detail, but it will brush on a few ofrepparttar 129088 important topics. I have a few other book projects inrepparttar 129089 making that will detailrepparttar 129090 book self-publishing process; however, inrepparttar 129091 mean time, this should give you a good basis of understanding.

--- The Idea ---

The most difficult part of creating your manuscript is deciding onrepparttar 129092 topic. We all have ideas. It's part of our being. Ideas pop in and out of our heads all day long; however, we usually dismiss many of them as useless or too simple to be of use. You would be surprised at how many people want "simple" and easy-to-understand information! Readers want books that teach, inform, and entertain.

When you sit down and really think about all you've learned throughout your life, you'll be amazed at how much you really know! Your life experiences alone could fill a library! Even if you feel that you don't have any knowledge that would be of interest to anyone, you can start small. Research a market that interests you, find your competition, learn all that you can about a specific subject, and then write about it. Your ideas are important, as your knowledge and point-of-view are unique and of interest to others.

--- Planningrepparttar 129093 Product ---

I always suggest keeping your book concise and informative. This provides a small footprint, yet it also allows your readers to purchase your book at a reasonable price. Keep it around 100 pages, which, once in book format, equals about 50, two-sided pages.

The core content ofrepparttar 129094 manuscript consists of a title page, copyright, table of contents, figure and table references, acknowledgements, forwards, content, appendices, index, and back page. This list isrepparttar 129095 basic minimum requirements to supportrepparttar 129096 information necessary to present your book and its content. Of course, you can add other items such as a glossary and a preface, but such inclusions are at your discretion.

It is best to produce your book inrepparttar 129097 standard 5.5" by 8.5" format in both print and PDF. I always suggest PDF to my publishing clients because it is one ofrepparttar 129098 few cross-platform (i.e., Mac, PC, PDA, and UNIX-based machines) document distribution products available today and it isrepparttar 129099 most popular.

--- The Manuscript ---

Once you've focused on an idea, you'll have to create an outline or table of contents to definerepparttar 129100 content. The best way I've found to do this is to breakrepparttar 129101 idea down into blocks of contiguous information --- similar to assembling a pyramid. Step through your idea and ensure that you are building from, for example,repparttar 129102 most general information torepparttar 129103 most specific information. Checkrepparttar 129104 outline several times, and have a friend review it, to ensure that gaps are filled in appropriately.

You can actually over-rewrite your work torepparttar 129105 point of frustration and burn-out. Ensure that you've planned and researched appropriately to provide a solid foundation. In this way you can develop a first draft and then perform substantive and grammar edits. Then, perform a technical edit and a second draft. Oncerepparttar 129106 second draft is complete, move into a final copy edit then, once you produce galleys or a sample version ofrepparttar 129107 finished book, perform a proof read. Don't rework any ofrepparttar 129108 core steps of document development, but ensure that each step is completed with quality in mind. This ensures a solid product in a short amount of time. If you would like to update or add torepparttar 129109 information in your first release, provide a follow-up revision.

--- ISBN and Copyright ---

Once you've started your manuscript, order your group of ISBNs. You can sign up for your ISBNs at http://www.isbn.org for about $240 for 10 ISBNs. However, additional fees can be imposed based on express orders. This is why I say, orderrepparttar 129110 ISBNs while you're writingrepparttar 129111 manuscript so that you can afford to waitrepparttar 129112 10 days for standard, free, delivery.

You will have to convert your ISBN numbers to EAN barcodes to apply torepparttar 129113 back page of your book. The barcode must consist ofrepparttar 129114 ISBN you assigned torepparttar 129115 book as well asrepparttar 129116 coded pricing ofrepparttar 129117 book. You can have a vendor generaterepparttar 129118 barcodes for between $3 (http://www.toupin.com/serv_writing.asp) and $20 per barcode or you can download and userepparttar 129119 Barcode Maker (http://hem.passagen.se/sams/barcode.htm) to generate your own barcodes. Forrepparttar 129120 price, it will pay for itself in just a few ISBNs for your books.

Once you have assigned one of your ISBNs to a book, you can register it in Books In Print (http://www.booksinprint.com/bip/). This is how booksellers are able to access your information and sell your book through their outlets. Additionally, you'll want to register your manuscript-in-progress withrepparttar 129121 Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication (http://cip.loc.gov/cip/ecipp14.html). This registers your book for access by libraries and government archives. You will be e-mailedrepparttar 129122 "CIP data" to be printed onrepparttar 129123 copyright page followingrepparttar 129124 heading "Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data".

Five Steps to Goal-Setting

Written by Jennifer Minar


What would you like to achieve in your lifetime?

Author Basil S. Walth once said, "If you don't know where you are going, how can you expect to get there?" These are words well spoken, because whether you're working toward freelancing full-time or selling your novels, you need a roadmap.

Goals are indispensable. They provide direction, long-term vision and short-term motivation. They separaterepparttar important fromrepparttar 129087 irrelevant. Goals also build self-confidence by helping you grow as an individual.

Olympic athletes, successful business people, and (hint…) bestselling writers are goal setters. You aspire to greatness too, don't you? If you do, and you're not already setting goals, now isrepparttar 129088 perfect time to start.

Five Things to Remember When Setting Goals:

1. Write Goals Down

Always jot down your goals-this is powerful. The process of physically seeing your goals helps crystallize them in your mind. This process also better enables you to commit to them.

Interesting Fact: A popular Harvard Business School study once found that only 3% ofrepparttar 129089 population records their goals in writing. Another 14% have goals but don't write them down, whereas 83% do not even have clearly defined goals. More interesting is that this 3% earned an astounding ten times that ofrepparttar 129090 83% group!

2. Make Goals Short, Attainable, & Measurable

Set attainable short-term goals that can be measured. This means setting quantifiable goals.

Here are some examples:

- Commit to writing a certain number of words each week - Submit at least two articles a week - Find two new markets each week - Take at least one writing course a year - Attend at least one writer's conference a year

Make your goals attainable so you won't get discouraged. The short-term goals above are attainable for me, but they may not be for you. Or maybe for you, my short-term goals aren't challenging enough. Goals are very individual. You have to set your own goals…remember, you're charting your own course to success!

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