Self-Publishing with ALLi

This seminar from author AG Billig is from our Self-Publishing Advice Conference. Literary history abounds in authors who wrote books that stood the test of time. Nowadays, some successful authors launch book after book after book, and never seem to be out of ideas or inspiration. What do they have in common? They are authentic, go beyond the limits of their mind, and don't question their worth as writers, and their success. They follow their inner compass, enjoy the process of writing, and are happy to offer their gift to the world. If they can do it, you can do it. In this session, you will learn all about their tricks. You will be given practical tools and exercises that will help you to keep your creative juice flowing so that you never have to face writer's block again. Overcome self-imposed limitations and beliefs regarding your success as a writer, Learn how to use your five senses (and the sixth one, too) to find inspiration on the spot, Enjoy the process of writing (even when it feels lonely). Find more author advice, tips and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center: https://selfpublishingadvice.org, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at http://allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish!

Welcome to AskALLi, the self-publishing advice podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it's our monthly beginners' self-publishing salon with advice, tips, and tools for indie authors just starting out. Topics discussed this week include: Introducing new co-host Tim Lewis, author of six books and the Begin Self-Publishing Podcast Do you need an editor at all? (Yes. 99.5 percent of all writers do!) Everybody makes mistakes There are different levels of editing, from developmental editing to copy editing and proofreading. Should you go through all the phases of editing? Each has its own purpose. Do beta readers cut down on editing costs? Most 1-Star Amazon reviews are due to typos and grammatical mistakes. If you don't have the money for an editor, try bartering. Does the author have to accept all editors' changes? What editing services are available? A checklist of things to look for in an editor. Find more author advice, tips and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center: https://selfpublishingadvice.org, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at http://allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Jyotsna Ramachandran is the founder of Happy Self Publishing and author of the international bestseller Job Escape Plan. Tim Lewis is the author of three time-travel novellas in the Timeshock series and three fantasy novels in the Magpies and Magic series under his full name of Timothy Michael Lewis. He is the host of the Begin Self-Publishing Podcast and is currently working on the book Social Media Networking- a guide to using social media to find your dream job, find love and boost your travel experience.

Welcome to AskALLi, the Self-Publishing Advice Podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it's our monthly Member Q&A where ALLi Members' have their most pressing self-publishing questions analyzed and answered. Join your regular hosts for the Member Q&A: Michael La Ronn and Dan Blank. Questions this month include What is the best way to format bibliography/works cited at the end of my book so that it looks good in ebook and paperback? What is the best way to build a team of publishing professionals around me? Does Alli recommend PublishDrive? (Yes!) Is it possible to distribute a 4x6 book on CreateSpace? How do I go about getting permission to use a song lyric from a famous artist? If you publish books wide, what is the best way to build a readership on smaller platforms that don't offer advertising services? What is the easiest way to build an author website? Find more author advice, tips and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center: https://selfpublishingadvice.org, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at http://allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Michael La Ronn is the author of over 30 books of science fiction & fantasy and authors self-help books. His books include the Galaxy Mavericks series and Modern Necromancy series. Dan Blank is the founder of WeGrowMedia, where he helps writers and artists share their stories and grow their audience. He is the author of the book "Be the Gateway: A Practical Guide to Sharing Your Creative Work and Engaging an Audience."

In this month's Advanced Self-Publishing Salon from the Alliance of Independent Authors, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn discuss how to assemble a team of professionals. Topics discussed this week include News update from Orna Ross: Drowning in GDPR, but all ALLi sites are updated and there's a downloadable guide for members. Orna is also setting up for Self-Publishing 3.0, launching a Patreon for poetry, and is finishing up a script. Joanna publishes How To Write Non-Fiction: Turn Your Knowledge Into Words, along with workbook, large-print editions, multimedia course, and audiobook. The difference between trademark and trademark. Has Amazon really banned ARC reviews? No, but there is a communication problem. Is traditional publishing shaking in their boots? When is an author ready to build a team of professionals? What are the different kinds of professionals you need to hire? Be prepared to cut your losses if one of the professionals isn't working out. What should you outsource and what should you do yourself? It is a relief when you find the right person to help you. You get your writing time back. What tools to use for collaborative work. Contracts are a very good idea to protect you both. Map your week. Make time for your writing and publishing. Find more author advice, tips and tools at our self-publishing advice center, http://selfpublishingadvice.org. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at http://allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Joanna Penn is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author, as well as writing non-fiction for authors. She is also a professional speaker and entrepreneur, voted as one of The Guardian UK Top 100 creative professionals 2013. She spent 13 years as a business IT consultant in large corporations across the globe before becoming a full-time author-entrepreneur in September 2011. For more information about Joanna, visit her website: http://thecreativepenn.com Orna Ross launched the Alliance of Independent Authors at the London Book Fair in 2012. Her work for ALLi has seen her named as one of The Bookseller's "100 top people in publishing". She also publishes poetry, fiction and nonfiction, and is greatly excited by the democratising, empowering potential of author-publishing. For more information about Orna, visit her website: http://www.ornaross.com

In this seminar from our Self-Publishing Advice Conference in London this year, author and publisher Jane Friedman discusses "funding your writing career." Jane talks about scholarships and grants for writers and how to get organizations and patrons to support your projects. This Month's Highlights There are four different approaches to funding your writing. You don't get any money unless you ask. Grants and other "free money." Prove that you can be trusted by producing work. Get your work out there. Have a vision for what you want to do with your writing. What are the common types of grants? How to increase your chances of getting a grant. Identify a specific project. Calculate a realistic goal for crowdfunding. Crowdfunding by the numbers Creating a pitch video Rewards should be affordable and easy to fulfill Donations PayPal and TinyCoffee Recurring donations, such as Petreon. Sponsor-Patron Pay your taxes! Take a look at Jane Friedman's book, The Business of Being a Writer. Find more author advice, tips and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center: https://selfpublishingadvice.org, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at http://allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish!

Welcome to AskALLi, the self-publishing advice broadcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it's our monthly IndieVoices' self-publishing salon with interviews conducted by ALLi Managing Editor Howard Lovy and updates from News Editor Dan Holloway. This Month's IndieVoices Claire Baldry of East Sussex, UK, is 63 years old and recently launched a website and Facebook group focused on older readers. It's been increasingly popular as older people look for books that reflect their own experiences. Maggie Christensen, an Australian writer by way of Scotland, Oregon, and California, just wouldn't accept the notion that nobody wants to read about the lives of older people. Dan Holloway updates us on the news, including net neutrality, and the birthdays of Smashwords and Patreon. Dan promises poetry skydiving for June. We'll hold him to that. About the Hosts Howard Lovy has been a journalist for more than 30 years, and has spent the last five years amplifying the voices of independent publishers and authors. He works with authors as a "book doctor" to prepare their work to be published. Howard is also a freelance business and technology writer. Find Howard on LinkedIn and Twitter. Dan Holloway is a novelist, poet and spoken word artist. He is the MC of the performance arts show The New Libertines Earlier this year he competed at the National Poetry Slam final at the Royal Albert Hall. His latest collection, The Transparency of Sutures, is available on Kindle

Welcome to AskALLi, the Self-Publishing Advice Podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it's our monthly Member Q&A where ALLi Members' have their most pressing self-publishing questions analyzed and answered. Join your regular hosts for the Member Q&A: Michael La Ronn and Dan Blank. Questions this month include If I publish a 2nd edition of my book, do I need to register the copyright again? How should I set up my publishing company (sole trader/proprietor, LLC/Limited, etc) Will my ISBNs transfer to my new company if I previously published as a sole proprietor/trader? What do I do if I get a "quality notice" from Amazon alleging that my book has too many errors? Help! If I contract a cover designer to do my cover, am I limited to how many books I can sell before having to pay them again? What is the best way to distribute ARCs to readers? What universal book linking site do you recommend to send readers to their local Amazon site instead of using Amazon.com or .co.uk links every time? How do I price my book? About the Hosts Michael La Ronn is the author of over 30 books of science fiction & fantasy and authors self-help books. His books include the Galaxy Mavericks series and Modern Necromancy series. Dan Blank is the founder of WeGrowMedia, where he helps writers and artists share their stories and grow their audience. He is the author of the book "Be the Gateway: A Practical Guide to Sharing Your Creative Work and Engaging an Audience."

Welcome to AskALLi, the self-publishing advice podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it's our monthly beginners' self-publishing salon with advice, tips, and tools for indie authors just starting out. Topics discussed this week include: Iain is on a "career high," selling more books than in the past years, mainly due to Facebook advertising. For nonfiction, Jyotsna recommends writing something related to your profession as your very first book. Above all, though, be clear about the reason you're writing the book. For fiction, Iain says the first book should be your passion project. Work on your craft. Not even Stephen King was born to be Stephen King. He worked hard at it. You can aspire to make a good living writing books. Odds are, you won't win the lottery like Stephen King or JK Rowling, but it's possible to earn a living. Jyotsna describes her process from idea to book. Iain talks about the discipline of writing a book. Iain recommends Scrivener as an ideal program for book writing. Switch off your WiFi and don't get lost in Google while you're writing. Just write your first draft without switching into editing mode. Just keep writing! Jyotsna recommends an "accountability partner" while you're writing to give you a "nice kick in the butt." About the Hosts Jyotsna Ramachandran is the founder of Happy Self Publishing and author of the international bestseller Job Escape Plan. Iain Rob Wright has written over a dozen novels. He's an active member of the Horror Writers Association and has also written a free self-publishing course for authors.

In this month's Advanced Self-Publishing Salon from the Alliance of Independent Authors, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn discuss self-publishing 3.0. Topics discussed this week include Update from Orna on London Book Fair and associated live events. LBF is among the most author-friendly book fairs. ALLi launched its new member magazine called The Indie Author, which will be released quarterly. ALLi launched white paper on Blockchain for Books, to start the conversation about the future of indie publishing. Joanna posted a massive roundup of her time at LBF on https://www.thecreativepenn.com/ Replays of live LBF events can be found at http://selfpublishingadviceconference... Orna planning a number of self-published book projects. Amazon released Great on Kindle program, with features that include a 50 percent royalty plan. Joanna wonders why they can't do it more and isn't crazy about the branding. Orna outlines Self-Publishing 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0. Going through giant "siren servers" like Amazon prevents authors from thinking more creatively about how to reach readers. Blockchain and other 3.0 technology will make it easier to reach readers directly, but we need to start thinking about it now. * Author confidence is growing exponentially. Nonfiction authors have been doing direct and bulk sales for a long time. Still a digital divide. Not everybody has access to digital publishing and payments. Above all, be you in your writing. What is your unique take on the world? Find more author advice, tips and tools at our self-publishing advice center, http://selfpublishingadvice.org. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at http://allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish. About the Hosts Joanna Penn is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author, as well as writing non-fiction for authors. She is also a professional speaker and entrepreneur, voted as one of The Guardian UK Top 100 creative professionals 2013. She spent 13 years as a business IT consultant in large corporations across the globe before becoming a full-time author-entrepreneur in September 2011. For more information about Joanna, visit her website: http://thecreativepenn.com Orna Ross launched the Alliance of Independent Authors at the London Book Fair in 2012. Her work for ALLi has seen her named as one of The Bookseller's "100 top people in publishing". She also publishes poetry, fiction and nonfiction, and is greatly excited by the democratising, empowering potential of author-publishing. For more information about Orna, visit her website: http://www.ornaross.com

Welcome to AskALLi, the self-publishing advice broadcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it's our monthly IndieVoices' self-publishing salon with interviews conducted by ALLi Managing Editor Howard Lovy and updates from News Editor Dan Holloway. This Month's IndieVoices A brief tour of a cryptocurrency mining operation, and its owner's mission to fix the Internet through a better-connected, decentralized world, one where transactions will be secure. It will be just about every industry, including publishing, that will be built atop the blockchain A commentary by Howard on the problems with giant middlemen like Google or Amazon coming between author and reader An interview with ALLi Director and Founder Orna Ross on Self-Publishing 3.0 and how authors can learn about it now. An interview with ALLi News Editor Dan Holloway who has some advice on how authors can be vigilant against corporate control over blockchain. Dan updates us on the news, including banditry at Amazon, the London Book Fair, and Google's "Talk to Books" tool. Dan also promises to work on a poem to read in the next episode. About the Hosts Howard Lovy has been a journalist for more than 30 years, and has spent the last five years amplifying the voices of independent publishers and authors. He works with authors as a "book doctor" to prepare their work to be published. Howard is also a freelance business and technology writer. Find Howard on LinkedIn and Twitter. Dan Holloway is a novelist, poet and spoken word artist. He is the MC of the performance arts show The New Libertines Earlier this year he competed at the National Poetry Slam final at the Royal Albert Hall. His latest collection, The Transparency of Sutures, is available on Kindle