Member Blog | Self-Publishing Review

How Do We Know Our Priorities Are Right?

Do you have a set of priorities in your personal life? Oh, maybe something like: Family > Work > Play…

Do you set priorities in your mind for what the government needs to do? How about your priorities for what your customers need?

How do you decide you have the right priorities? Is it basically a hit-or-miss, experiential kind of thing? Do you consult with folks you consider experts? Or, maybe, you don’t set any priorities ’cause you think they’re a waste of time…

[ So, let’s see: One of my priorities for this post is to get my readers […]

Alexander M Zoltai2020-02-21T07:17:38+02:00May 1st, 2014|Categories: Member Blog|

Paid Reviews – A Reality Check

The New York Times exposé on the infamous GettingBookReviews.com and the shenanigans of its founder Todd Jason Rutherford, has unleashed the mother of firestorms on the Internet. Bloggers from all over the blogosphere have pounced on the scandal and many of them are gleefully fanning the flames. Smelling blood, some traditionally published writers are circling the indie publishing camp, happy to remind all who care to listen that they had been warned.

Initially, the source of the public outrage was the mercenary nature of Rutherford’s book-review scheme and the blatant collusion of writers like John Locke. Justifiably, many viewed the […]

Tony Williams2014-04-25T17:34:39+02:00April 25th, 2014|Categories: Member Blog|

What Makes a Good Book Marketer?

Being a good book marketer is just as important as writing a good book, and requires certain qualities for an effective campaign to bear the fruits of success.

Being a good book marketer, however, does not necessarily guarantee profitable sales but they are nevertheless the ideal values that authors should have and manifest so that the book will be made known to its demographic readers.

Whether you are a self published author or a book marketing services provider, it would be helpful to appreciate the importance of the following book marketing values and qualities in order for you to market […]

Bookwhirl2014-04-22T13:21:18+02:00April 22nd, 2014|Categories: Member Blog|Tags: Book Promotion Articles|

Self-Publishing Can Be Just As Creative As Writing

I could say creative writing is right-brained and publishing is left-brained; writing is artistic, publishing all business. I could say that and I’ve heard it said by some “experts” but, even though I did just say it, my experience of both realms forces me to say it ain’t so.

For twenty-some years I wrote creatively and paid scant attention to publishing. I used Lulu.com to get my books published but never saw many sales. In fact, all my books except the one I’m working on now are free to download. I could apply what I’ve recently been learning about […]

Alexander M Zoltai2014-04-21T13:53:17+02:00April 21st, 2014|Categories: Member Blog|Tags: Writing Tips|

African Dream: The Dawn of a New Day

Why is it that although Africa is filled with natural resources, the vast majority of African people are still living in poverty? How come people are starving in Africa when there are many billionaires around the world enjoying extravagant lifestyles in their big yachts, private jets and big mansions? Why are innocent children dying in Somalia when mountains of food are thrown away everyday here in Britain and other places around the world. What should the rich do to help the poor in Africa? And finally, when are the people of Africa themselves going to take responsibility for their own […]

Chief Chebe2020-02-20T13:18:48+02:00April 11th, 2014|Categories: Member Blog|Tags: Africa Book Reviews|

What’s The Relationship Between A Writer & Their Characters?

Here I go again, treading into dangerous territory.

I’m calling this dangerous territory because the word “danger” comes from roots that mean the “power of a lord or master”. And, the last thing I am is some kind of lord, master, guru, or expert. So, putting my thoughts and feelings about writers and their characters out into the communal space of the Internet is dangerous because it might seem like I think you should believe what I say. In the last post, I mentioned that my thoughts would probably make some folks want to argue with me and it will […]

Alexander M Zoltai2019-01-22T07:16:35+02:00April 5th, 2014|Categories: Member Blog|

Rewriting While You Read ~ We All Do It …

What? We all rewrite what we’re reading? How in the world can I propose such an idea?

Matter of fact, I proposed it in two posts on my other blog: ReadWriteReadWriteReadWrite… & What’s It Like Inside When You Read A Book?.

In the second post just mentioned, I gave a little formula to help explain what I mean:

“Reading is to Writing as Hearing is to Speaking.”

Then, I asked a question:

“Do we always hear exactly what the other person’s saying?”

So, when we read, do we always get the meaning the author intended when they wrote the […]

Alexander M Zoltai2014-03-24T12:46:16+02:00March 24th, 2014|Categories: Member Blog|Tags: Writing Tips|

Selling your book bit by bit

With ebook sales on the rise and considering the number of ebook readers, tablets, and smartphones that provide readers access to your book why is it that your book isn’t providing you steady income? Their are tons of reasons why people choose to buy or pass over any given book. One reason is that we live in a “review driven” society. We don’t buy shoes, books, clothing, etc. without reading the reviews first. How do you get reviews if no one will buy your book because it has no reviews?

A lot of authors have taken to giving away their […]

Jonathan2020-02-21T07:17:48+02:00March 24th, 2014|Categories: Member Blog|Tags: Book Marketing Advice and Tips|