Author's Log: Stardate 06102011

Mistakes with editing costs you time and money - especially if you use Lightning Source/INGRAM for part of your distribution.

My advice to you is something Sensei Dean Wesley Smith suggested. When you publish to paper, if you do decide to utilize both CreateSpace and Lightning Source - publish to CreateSpace first. Why? Because CreateSpace doesn't nickel and dime you (that's a term - it's more like $30 to $35 for trade paper/hardback proofs).

With my next one, _Signs of War_, due out by September, I intend to publish to CreateSpace, purchase a proof and then have someone edit the proof. Of course, I have three layers of editors before it will even get to CreateSpace, but if my experience with _The Watchman of Ephraim_ holds true - there will still be nit-picky typos that make it onto paper.

So, I'll have my son edit the proof (he has a great eye). Once the CreateSpace trade paper is confirmed perfect, then and only then will I publish via Lightning Source.

I'm improving my consistency to write everyday - not completely there yet but close. My next objective is to amp up my per day output. Ultimately, I'd love to get to a chapter per day - my chapters average just under 3,000 words. Once and if I attain a chapter per day output - I will certainly be able to hit my target of four published novels per year.

On the side, I just entered one of my poems in a poetry contest on Goodreads.com. It's titled, "A Sixty-Second Tale." You can check it out here - I'm 'Message 90'). I'm not a real proponent of competition in art. Competition was made for sport and business - not art. The appreciation of any art form is in the eye of the beholder and even within each beholder, he or she may have different tastes at different times of their lives. Nevertheless, I wanted to give my poetry some exposure. When I have enough written, I look forward to publishing a collection of my poetry.

Wow ... not bad for a kid from Ridgewood, NY, a place where some kids couldn't read past a 4th grade level in high school.

What's on my agenda:

+ I'm about to conduct my first ever blog tour. Fellow author and friend via Goodreads.com, Jeff Bennington was nice enough to explain the ins and outs of conducting your own blog tour to me. He just finished a 45-day blog tour and was impressed with the outcome. He published an article about it and as a courtesy to my patrons, he let me feature it at my SelfPubber's Pub - it's here.

+ Goodreads.com will be promoting a 12-hardcover giveaway for me. It starts July 03 and will run until September 11. I'll let you know how it goes and hey, you can enter into the giveaway at Goodreads - I'll post info on how when it's closer.

+ My booked appearances:
Tue, Jun 14 Blog Talk Radio Interview - US
Wed, Jun 15 Interview with Susan Whitfield of BookTown.ning.com - US
Wed, Dec 21 Blog Talk Radio Interview - US

I've also added a new link under 'Best Info for Self-Publishers' on the side bar. It's a Forum called,Mythbreakers: Moving the Business of Writing Forward

According to Sensei Dean:
" Mark Neumayer just started a discussion forum site like the one I used to have on my old site many years ago. He started it to talk about different aspects of myths and also how to do electronic and POD publishing and a place where writers can help each other. I just signed up and will be stopping by regularly.

"Could be interesting. Give it a look. It’s brand new and just starting."

I'm proud to be part of the SelfPubber community!

Back to writing ...

End transmission

(Please feel free to leave comments – your comments can be as helpful as anything I write for others. I hope this series turns out to be less my talking at you and more – a group of like-minded storytellers that self-publish or intend to. Peace & God Bless!)