On April 22, 2023, Christine Ivory was recently a guest on the Books of the Month Show on the Preach the Word Worldwide Network TV. She enjoyed discussing her children’s book, Rhymes & Riddles with the Twenty-Six Letters.
You can check it out here.
Congratulations, Christine!
It can be overwhelming if you have an idea for a book but don’t know where to start. However, with some planning and organization, you can turn your vision into reality. The key is to take it one step at a time and be patient with yourself. Writing a book requires time, effort, and dedication but can be rewarding. With hard work and persistence, you can be a published author and share your book with the world.
Developing your idea is an important first step in the process of turning your idea into a published book. It involves taking some time to really think about what you want to write about and why. Consider your audience and what you hope to achieve with your book. It is also helpful to do some research to ensure that your idea is feasible and that there is a market for it. As you develop your concept, it can be helpful to jot down notes and brainstorm ideas to help you better understand your topic and what you want to say. Don’t be afraid to be creative and think outside the box – sometimes, the best ideas come from unexpected places. As you develop your idea, staying focused and persistent is essential, as this is the foundation upon which you will build your book.
An outline is a valuable tool for organizing your ideas and thoughts as you begin to write your book. It helps to give your writing a clear structure and flow and can make the writing process more efficient and effective. To create an outline for your book, brainstorm the main points and ideas you want to cover. Next, think about the purpose of your book and what you want to achieve with it. Then, group your ideas into broad categories or chapters. From there, break each chapter into smaller sections or points you wish to cover. As you create your outline, use subheadings and bullet points to help organize your thoughts and make it easier to read.
Once you have your outline, you can use it as a roadmap for your writing process. It will help you stay focused and ensure your book has a clear, logical structure. You can also use your outline to track your progress and see how far you have come and what still needs to be done. Remember that your outline is a starting point. You may need to revise and adjust it as you begin writing and your ideas evolve. However, having an outline can be a helpful way to stay organized and on track as you work on your book.
Writing your book is crucial in turning your idea into a published work. It requires dedication, discipline, and hard work. When you begin writing your book, setting aside dedicated writing time and sticking to a regular schedule is helpful. It can help you stay focused and motivated as you write. Set writing goals for each session, such as a certain number of words or pages, to help you track your progress and stay on track. As you write, remain true to your voice and vision for the book. Don’t be afraid to revise and edit as you go. It will help you produce a stronger, more polished final product. Finally, remember to take breaks and give yourself time to rest and recharge – writing a book can be a marathon, not a sprint.
Editing your work is essential in turning your idea into a published book. It’s important to take the time to review and revise your writing to ensure that it is the best it can be. It may involve seeking feedback from others, such as a writing group or a professional editor. As you edit your work, pay attention to grammar, spelling, punctuation, and clarity issues. Make sure that your writing is well-organized and easy to follow. Consider whether any sections need to be cut or expanded, and consider how to improve your book’s overall flow and structure. Don’t be afraid to make changes and take the time to get your work just right – the effort you put in now will pay off in the end. Editing and revising your manuscript may require a lot of time and effort, but it’s an important step that will help ensure that your book is the best it can be.
Once you have completed writing your book, you must decide how to publish it. There are three main options: self-publishing, hybrid, or traditional publishing. Self-publishing involves publishing your book yourself without the support of a traditional publishing house. It can be a good option if you want complete control over the publishing process and are willing to invest the time and resources to do it yourself. However, it can also be more challenging, as you’ll be responsible for all aspects of the process, including editing, formatting, design, marketing, and distribution. Traditional publishing involves having your manuscript accepted by a publishing house, which will go through the publishing process with you. It can be a good option if you want the support and resources of a publishing house, but you’ll only get a fraction of the royalties and give up some control over the final product. Lastly, hybrid publishing combines the best parts of self-publishing with the resources of a traditional publishing house. It gives you creative control, most of your royalties, and someone else handles the technical aspects of publishing. As you consider your options, consider your goals, resources, and what will best fit you and your book.
If you decide to pursue traditional publishing, you must prepare your manuscript for submission to literary agents. It involves ensuring that your manuscript meets industry standards for formatting and style. Some specific things to consider when finalizing your manuscript for submission include the following:
It’s also a good idea to have a few people review your manuscript to catch any errors or typos before you submit it. Then, once your manuscript is ready, you’ll be prepared to start the submission process.
Marketing and promoting your book are essential to getting your book in front of readers. You can use many different strategies to promote your book, and the best approach will depend on your goals, resources, and target audience. Some ideas for promoting your book include:
Remember, being proactive and creative is the key to promoting your book. Don’t be afraid to try different approaches and see what works best for you and your book. By putting effort into marketing and promoting your book, you can increase your chances of success and reach a wider audience.
Turning your idea into a published book requires hard work, dedication, and a willingness to take risks. However, by following the steps outlined above, you can increase your chances of success and achieve your dream of seeing your work in print.
Congratulations to Patricia Carson, author of Meeting Valentino Molina: Lifting the Veil on the Incredible Life of a Savannah Artist, for a successful book launch! It was held on March 25th on Skidaway Island near Savannah, GA.
Her book follows the story of Molina’s successful career as a portraitist, the mystery of naked Cleopatras, and his surprising affiliation with the Gignilliat family of Savannah.
Congratulations again, Patricia!
Writing a book can be daunting; the real challenge begins when the writing is finished, and the editing process begins. Reviewing and editing your work is critical if you want your book to be clear, concise, and error-free. Editing is also essential for ensuring your book doesn’t confuse your readers and have them asking questions, which could lead to less success. While it is crucial, the editing process can be overwhelming. Use this guide to help you through the process, from gathering feedback to proofreading and polishing, as well as tips and tricks to make your book the best it can be. Proper editing makes your book more likely to be recommended to others and achieve higher sales, publicity, and success.
You might feel like you’re on a hamster wheel as you get into the editing process. You’re in the middle of the project, there’s a lot to do, and suddenly you can’t see the end in sight. It might be worth taking a break if you find yourself getting overwhelmed. Take a walk, take a trip, do something that lets you clear your mind and get ready to jump back in, refreshed and motivated. You’ll find that you have a better perspective when you return to your work.
Reading aloud while editing your work is a great way to find errors in your writing. It lets you hear your work as if someone else is reading it, which can help you pick up on typos and incorrect punctuation. Additionally, reading aloud can help you detect wordy phrases or sections that could be rewritten for clarity. Finally, it can help you discover sentence structure errors, such as run-on sentences.
Editing your work is about more than just catching spelling and grammar mistakes—it’s also about improving the quality of your work. To ensure everything is addressed, it’s a good idea to outline the changes you want to make. Then, as you read, take note of anything that needs editing. Make a separate item for each change. For instance, if a section is too long, mark it down as the first item. If there’s a spelling error, make it the second item. A grammar mistake could be the next, and rewording a sentence could be the fourth. An outline helps you see what you need to do and can help you move through your edits faster.
While editing your book, be sure to check for accuracy. This involves verifying facts, figures, and data to ensure they are correct and up-to-date. Researching outside sources and consulting experts can provide additional insights. Finally, make sure sources are reputable and current. Having false or outdated information in your work will reflect poorly on you as a writer.
As you get to the end of the editing process, consider having someone else read your work. It can be helpful to get a fresh perspective on your work, even if you have already edited it. Of course, you can eventually hire a copyeditor, but asking family and friends to read your work is a great start. Having a new set of eyes review your work is a great way to get a real sense of how easy your work is to understand and help you identify places where your information is unclear.
When you’re editing your work, it’s also worth looking at the overall style of your book. Is it consistent with your brand? Are the titles, subtitles, and chapter names consistent? Check for any inconsistencies in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. If your brand is consistent, your readers will recognize it and be more likely to read your work. It can also be helpful to look at the length of your chapters and sections. If you have particularly long chapters or sections, consider breaking them into smaller chunks so readers can follow the information more easily.
Whether you plan on self-publishing or working with a publishing house, it is important to consider formatting before you begin the publishing process. Most publishing houses will give you guidelines on how they would like your work formatted, but if they do not provide specifications, it is best practice to use a 12 point serif font, double space, and one-inch margins with page numbers.
Note: we don’t require special formatting, but many publishers do.
Editing your book can be challenging and feel tedious, but it’s important to remember that you are making your work better.
Our congratulations to Emmanuel Williams for being selected as our March Unboxing Contest winner! His book, Blueberries and Basketball, will receive a video trailer. Check out the unboxing video HERE!
We love receiving our authors’ videos of them unboxing their books and promo items (thank you!). So, remember to capture the moment and send it to us when you receive your complimentary copies, bookmarks, posters, business cards, or invitation cards!
Then, email these short videos to your Publication Coordinator or socialmedia@pagepublishing.com. Please remember to include your name (or pen name) along with the title of your book in your video. Not only will these videos be shared on our Page Publishing social media pages, but authors will also be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a FREE video trailer for their book!
Limit one entry per month.
Drawings will occur monthly; 1 winner per month.
