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Understanding Ghostwriting: 4 Core Skills Needed

In a world where content is king, the demand for adept ghostwriters has seen a remarkable uptick. Ghostwriting is an age-old practice turned modern-day necessity, especially for individuals and businesses keen on maintaining a prolific online presence without having to pen down every word themselves. The allure of ghostwriting lies in its ability to cloak the identity of the actual writer, thus providing a voice to the ideas of the credited author. This symbiotic exchange allows for a seamless flow of ideas from thought to paper, without the demanding grind that writing often entails. Moreover, it’s not just about anonymity; it’s about quality, consistency, and a professional touch that can elevate the content. As the literary silhouette behind numerous successful publications, impactful speeches, engaging blog posts, and compelling stories, a ghostwriter is an unsung hero in the vast narrative of modern-day content creation. Through this lens, we delve into the essential skills every ghostwriter should possess, and the costs associated with hiring such a clandestine wordsmith.

Understanding Ghostwriting

The realm of ghostwriting is as vast as it is nuanced. Essentially, it involves crafting content where the writer’s identity remains concealed, attributing the credit to another individual or entity. The spectrum of ghostwriting traverses through various domains including books, articles, speeches, and digital content. Each domain necessitates a unique blend of skills and an understanding of the specific audience it caters to. For instance, ghostwriting for a novel requires a knack for storytelling and character development, while a ghostwriter for a corporate blog needs a firm grasp on industry-specific knowledge and a professional tone. The beauty of ghostwriting lies in its invisibility, allowing for a seamless meld between the thought bearer and the audience, sans the limelight. As we venture deeper into the essential competencies a ghostwriter should embody, it’s imperative to first appreciate the multifaceted landscape in which ghostwriting operates, and how it quietly shapes the narrative in various spheres of influence.

4 Core Skills of a Successful Ghostwriter

1. Adaptability. The hallmark of an exceptional ghostwriter is adaptability. Being able to mimic a client’s style, tone, and voice is crucial. It’s about transcending personal style to embody the client’s unique narrative essence. Whether it’s transitioning between different genres or varying tones, adaptability ensures a ghostwriter can meet diverse client needs while maintaining authenticity in each piece of work.

2. Discretion and Professionalism. Discretion is a ghostwriter’s silent companion. Maintaining a professional demeanor and ensuring client confidentiality is paramount. From respecting the client’s revisions to handling feedback with grace, professionalism fosters trust. The quiet integrity with which a ghostwriter handles a project reflects not just in the confidentiality maintained, but also in the quality and authenticity of the work delivered.

3. Research Skills. Meticulous research forms the backbone of credible ghostwriting. A ghostwriter must delve into extensive investigation to ensure every piece resonates with authenticity and accuracy. Whether it’s understanding complex industry jargon, historical contexts, or the latest market trends, a well-researched piece stands out for its depth and well-rounded understanding.

4. Time Management. In a deadline-driven domain, proficient time management is indispensable. Juggling multiple projects, adhering to deadlines, and ensuring consistent quality requires a well-organized approach. Effective time management not only helps in meeting deadlines but also in maintaining a healthy work-life balance, which is crucial for sustaining a long-term career in ghostwriting.

Cost of a Ghostwriter

The cost of a ghostwriter is influenced by several variables. Foremost among these are the ghostwriter’s experience and level of expertise. A seasoned ghostwriter, with a rich portfolio, is likely to charge more than a novice. Additionally, the complexity and length of the project significantly impact the cost. A comprehensive, research-intensive project that spans several months will naturally command a higher fee compared to a simpler, shorter task.

Price ranges can vary widely in the ghostwriting realm. For instance, ghostwriting a book might range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the factors mentioned above. Similarly, ghostwriting articles or blog posts may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, based on length, complexity, and the ghostwriter’s stature.

It’s imperative to find a balance between cost and quality. While budget constraints are real, compromising on quality can be detrimental to the project’s success. A prudent approach is to thoroughly vet ghostwriters, considering their experience, past work, and client testimonials, to ensure you’re investing in a professional who can deliver value commensurate with the cost.

Building a Ghostwriting Portfolio

A robust portfolio is a ghostwriter’s passport to gaining trust and showcasing skill. It mirrors a ghostwriter’s versatility and expertise, providing a glimpse into their style and ability to handle diverse projects.

A well-rounded portfolio should encompass varied writing samples, client testimonials, and a list of services offered. While the ghostwriter’s identity remains veiled in published works, creating anonymous or pseudonymous samples that reflect their range and ability is essential for attracting potential clients and establishing a reputable standing in the ghostwriting arena.

Conclusion

The art of ghostwriting is an exercise in humility, adaptability, and skill. It’s about lending your voice to manifest the ideas of others, while navigating a path that often goes unnoticed, yet is indispensable in the grand narrative of content creation. The journey of a ghostwriter is replete with continuous learning, discretion, and mastering the delicate balance between adopting a client’s voice and maintaining a standard of quality. The cost associated with hiring a ghostwriter is a reflection of the expertise and the unique set of skills they bring to the table. Whether you are an aspiring ghostwriter eager to hone your craft or an individual or business entity seeking to employ the services of a ghostwriter, understanding the core competencies and the financial aspects involved is crucial. This knowledge not only sets the stage for a fruitful collaboration but also enriches the broader understanding of the value and professionalism inherent in the ghostwriting domain. Through an in-depth exploration of these facets, we unravel the essence of what it takes to excel in the ghostwriting arena and how to make informed decisions when stepping into this collaborative literary voyage.

Tips to Help You Write and Publish a Children’s Book

Congratulations! You’ve written a wonderful and endearing children’s book; one that sends an important message, tells a funny tale, or that will inspire tomorrow’s future. There’s no denying that writing a children’s book can be very rewarding; even more rewarding, however, is publishing that book. After all, you want to share your message with as many young readers as you possibly can, and in order to do that, you need to publish your writing. Before you get started, there are a few things that you need to know about publishing children’s literature. To help steer you in the right direction and increase your chances of achieving the success that you desire – and deserve – we’ve compiled a list of handy tips and details to keep in mind and guide you on your journey. 

So, without further ado, let’s dive in and explore some of the most important things that you should know about publishing a children’s book. 

Consider Your Audience

Before publishing a book for children, the first thing you need to do is consider your audience. The word “children” is a broad term that describes boys and girls who are younger than the age of adulthood (typically, 18 years of age); the fact is, however, that there are several different age groups that fall under the term “children”. This includes: 

  • Babies and infants
  • Toddlers
  • Primary school-aged children
  • Intermediate school-aged children
  • ‘Tweens and teens

So, the first thing you need to do is consider what group of children you want to gear your book toward. Once you’ve determined an age, you’ll then want to consider a few key elements about that age group that will influence your writing, such as: 

  • The topics that the specific age group is interested in
  • The stage of learning, growth, and development the age group is in
  • The cognitive and/or physical abilities of average children within the age group
  • The kinds of characters that they connect with
  • The language and illustrations that appeal to the age group

In addition to these factors, you’re also going to want to consider the attention span of the age group you intended on writing for, as attention span will directly impact the length and content of your book. Toddlers, for example, have shorter attention spans; therefore, shorter books that feature plots, storylines, characters, language, and images work best. Intermediate school-aged children, however, usually have longer attention spans, and they can relate to books that are longer and contain more complex topics, subject matter, characters, and language. 

Consider the Format

Another factor that you’ll want to consider if you’re planning on publishing a children’s book is the format. You can publish a traditional book (hard and/or soft-cover copy), a digital book (ebook), or an audiobook. You can choose to publish your book in one, two, or all three of these formats. 

Traditional books are largely appealing for children’s literature, as they are concrete, and thus, can be held, which means that children are more likely to develop a stronger, more powerful connection with them; however, the production process tends to be more costly. eBooks, on the other hand, are more cost-effective and can be instantly downloaded. The downside to this format, however, is that children – especially younger ages of children – usually don’t find digital books as appealing, as they can’t physically hold onto them, turn the pages, and otherwise interact with text; thus, they won’t form as powerful a connection. Audiobooks are a great option for listening at bedtime, during whole-group or independent instruction in classroom settings, and even on car rides. While they’re more economical than traditional books, the downside to audiobooks is that readers need to have access to devices that are equipped with speakers or headphones; plus, like eBooks, children usually don’t form powerful connections with audiobooks. 

Edit and Rewrite Your Book

After coming up with a unique idea for your children’s book and creating a manuscript, the next thing you’re going to want to do is edit and rewrite your book. Thoughtful, well-assembled, and polished manuscripts are more likely to catch the attention of a potential publisher, so take the time to make it as good as you possibly can prior to submitting it. 

Take the time to proofread and edit your book. If you don’t have the time do the proofreading yourself, or if you’d like a set of extra, experienced eyes to go over your book, hiring a professional children’s proofreader would be a worthwhile investment. It’s important to note that excellent books – those that become bestsellers and that live-on and are passed on from generation-to-generation got to where they are because they were meticulously proofread and edited, and thoughtfully rewritten. 

Seek Feedback 

Once you’ve polished your manuscript to the point where polishing is no longer possible, seeking the feedback from readers is strongly encouraged. Many of the most famous children’s authors had children read their manuscripts before publishing. Ask your children, nieces and nephews, students (if you’re a teacher), friends’ children, etc. if they would be willing to read your manuscript. If there’s one thing that you can count on children to provide much more than adults, it’s their honest, heartfelt opinions; hence why they are the ideal beta readers. 

Consider asking friends who are parents, grandparents, and/or teachers to read through your manuscript and give feedback, too. These are the adults who are actually going to purchase your books, so it’s important to get their feedback and make changes based on that feedback. 

Skip Illustrations 

Though illustrations are an extremely important element in children’s literature, unless you’re an established illustrator, nix the illustrations. You might be tempted to create them yourself, or to ask your spouse, a child, a sibling, a friend, or a colleague to create the images for you; however, it isn’t necessary. In fact, it’s a waste of time. Once you send out your books to editors, if your book is purchased, the editor who buys it will want to select the illustrator. So, don’t bother submitting sketches, or even any guidelines, because rather than helping, doing so will actually hinder your chances of success. 

Final Thoughts

Writing and publishing a children’s book can be one of the most profound, life-changing, and meaningful achievements. If becoming a children’s author is something that you have always aspired to be, the tips above can help to guide you on your journey so you can make your dream a reality. 

20 Things You Didn’t Know About Fiction

How much do you really know about the history of literary fiction and more broadly, fiction authors? We’ve uncovered some thought-provoking facts about the genre and how authors write.

#1 Winnie-the-Pooh was banned in Russia in 2009 over Alleged Nazism

An alleged pro-Nazi owned a picture of a swastika-decorated Pooh, which to Russia was reason enough to ban Winnie altogether.

#2  Aristophanes’s “Assemblywomen” Features the Longest Greek Word

The word: Bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhoun-awnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk is 171 letters long and is a fictional food dish. The word refers to the thunderclap associated with the Fall of Adam and Eve.

#3 Danielle Steel is the Highest-Selling Living Author

American novelist Danielle Steel, or Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel, is the best-selling living author of all time. She has sold over 800 million books.

#4 Ray Brad­bury First dated a Book­store Clerk

Maggie, the only woman Ray courted. The couple married in 1947 and were together until she died in 2003.

#5 Dr. Seuss wrote “Green Eggs and Ham” on a Dare

Dr. Seuss was dared by his editor, Bennett Cerf, to write a book using fewer than 50 different words. After completing The Cat in the Hat in 236 words, Benent Cerf bet Seuss couldn’t achieve an entire book by exceeding that limit.

The 50 words he used in the book were: a, am, and, anywhere, are, be, boat, box, car, could, dark, do, eat, eggs, fox, goat, good, green, ham, here, house, I, if, in, let, like, may, me, mouse, not, on, or, rain, Sam, say, see, so, thank, that, the, them, there, they, train, tree, try, will, with, would, you.

#6 Cinderella’s Slippers were Originally Fur

The fairytale was altered in the 1600s by a translator. Interestingly, it was the left shoe Cinderella lost in the stairway when the prince was following her.

#7 Charles Dickens’s Secret Room

A fake bookcase formed the entrance to his secret room, containing counterfeit titles such as nine volumes of ‘The Life of a Cat”.

#8 Erich von Stroheims “Greed”

Written in 1924 as a literal adaptation of Frank Norris‘s novel McTeague, including the motion picture Greed. The director intended to film every aspect of the book in great detail, which was 9½ hours long!

The film was shortened to two hours in the studio but regarded as a failure on the theatrical release. It was restored to just over four hours and is considered one of the grandest movies ever created. Lesson learned: only a few directors attempted to detail an entire novel into a movie again.

#9 Alexandre Dumas fought in Duels

Dumas fought his first duel at 23 years old when his trousers fell to the ground. He successfully defeated his opponent almost immediately, but only after the trouser incident, and onlookers laughed at him.

#10 John Steinbeck Writing Frenzy

The Grapes of Wrath, created in the summer of 1938, was part of a 100-day creative frenzy for John Steinbeck. Despite the furious speed of Steinbeck’s text, it is immaculate, with few corrections or rewrites.

#11 Charles Dickens was a Language Innovator

Not only did Dickens give us incredible literary works, but he also gave us some exciting words. The Oxford English Dictionary credits Charles Dickens with the first use of butter-fingers, crossfire, dustbin, fairy story, slow-coach, and whoosh. Originally credited with ‘boredom’ coined in his novel Bleak House, his credit was removed when it was traced back to 1830.

#12 Austen Lost Out to His Publisher

Austen had sold the copyright for Pride and Prejudice to the publisher, Thomas Egerton, for a one-off payment of £110 and lost all royalties. Originally published in three volumes on 28 January 1813 for 18 shillings. Egerton generated quadrupled the amount of money from the novel as Austen.

#12 The Most Expensive Book Ever

‘Codex Leicester,’ one of Leonardo Di Vinci’s scientific journals, is owned by billionaire Bill Gates, who purchased it for $30.8 million.

#11 1984 Almost had Another Title

Orwell’s timeless masterpiece was initially set to be titled “The Last Man in Europe.” Fortunately, Orwell and his editor, Frederic Warburg, both reconsidered and thought 1984 was more appealing. First published by Secker & Warburg 35 years before the date mentioned in its title.

#13 The Longest Book Ever Written

‘A la recherche du temps perdu,’ translated to Remembers of Things Past by Marcel Proust, hold the record for the longest book in the world at 9,609,000 characters. It tells the story of the narrator’s experiences growing up.

#14 Roald Dahl’s Inspiration for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

While attending school, Dahl tested chocolates Cadbury’s, paired with his service in the Royal Air Force during World War II, the classic Charlie, and the Chocolate Factory was born.

#15 J.K. Rowling is a Pen Name

One of the great authors, whom we know by initials, doesn’t have a middle name. The ‘K’ for Kathleen is her grandmothers’ name, which she added after a suggestion from her publisher.

#16 Charles Dickens’ was Superstitious

Dickens carried a compass everywhere he went, ensuring he slept north-facing believing this would improve his writing. For luck, he always touched items three times.

#17 Tolstoy Got Inspiration from His Wife

Leo Tolstoy’s wife, Sophia, copied the 1400-page novel ‘War and Peace’ seven times by hand. An exemplary display of true love.

#18 F. Scott Fitzgerald was Another Language Innovator

Fitzgerald’s novel ‘This Side of Paradise’ is infamously noted by The Oxford English Dictionary as the earliest use of the word ‘wicked’ to mean good or excellent. He’s thought to be the pioneer of the word T-shirt.

#19 Victor Hugo Wrote an 823-word Sentence

Hugo’s novel, Les Miserables, contains an 823-word sentence. We cannot confirm this to be the longest sentence; there may be others, but still an interesting fact.

#20 George Eliot was a Woman

The Victorian era was unkind to women filling any roles men should fill, so Mary Ann Evans changed her name to George Elliot to become one of the leading penmen of the era. Her various famous novels are renowned for their pragmatism and psychological insight.

Top Reasons to Hire a Ghostwriter

Are you a business owner who just doesn’t have the time to write the blog posts and social media posts for your marketing campaign? Do you run a company and you need assistance conveying the products and services you offer on the new website you’re launching? Whether you aren’t a wordsmith or you just have too much on your plate, if you need assistance with a writing project, using a ghostwriter for hire would be the perfect solution for you. 

What is a ghostwriter? Why should you hire one? To find the answers to these questions and more, keep on reading. 

What is Ghostwriting? 

Ghostwriting refers to writing that has been created by someone else. It’s a type of content creation has been practiced for a long time. Executives of multi-national businesses, mom-and-pop business owners, online marketers, researchers, students, celebrities, and even authors (and that’s just a short list) are some of the people that can and do make use of ghostwriting services. 

What is a Ghostwriter?

The title of “ghostwriter” isn’t limited to someone who writes literature alone. It can refer to anyone who creates works of writing on behalf of another individual or entity, such as fortune 500 companies, bloggers, social media influencers, journalists, and yes, even copywriters. Essentially, ghostwriters for hire are wordsmiths who offer their services to anyone who is in need of any type of written content. The ghostwriter creates the content according to the needs of the individual or entity that they are writing for, though the writer does not take credit for the writing; rather, the credit is given to the individual or entity that employed the ghostwriter. 

Why Would Someone Employ a Ghostwriter for Hire? 

There are many reasons why someone would employ a ghostwriter for hire. Sometimes, professionals have great ideas and information that they want to convey, but they don’t have the skills the skills that are necessary for effectively communicating that information in the written form. Sometimes, individuals have jam-packed schedules and they don’t have the time to dedicate to writing great blog posts, website content, research papers, reports, and even books. In these types of situations, employing a ghostwriter for hire is a very practical solution. 

The person or entity that hires the ghostwriter communicates what type of content they need to have written. The information the ghostwriter is provided with can be very detailed and include titles, subheadings, and references, or it can be as minimal as keywords or phrases and the ghostwriter uses his or her discretion to generate the content based on those keywords or phrases. 

Great Reasons to Use a Ghostwriter for Hire

If you’re contemplating hiring a ghostwriter but you’re still on the fence, here’s a look at some great reasons why you should. 

A Ghostwriter will Save You Time

Writing is time-consuming; especially good writing. Often, people underestimate how much time goes into writing. From articles to blog posts, from website content to marketing content, from research papers to non-fiction books, creating thoughtful, concise, well-written content takes time. For many professionals, they just don’t have the time to dedicate to writing. 

Employing a ghostwriter for hire will save you a tremendous amount of time. You won’t have to worry about readjusting your schedule, losing sleep, or adding even more working hours to your already hectic schedule. Simply provide the ghostwriter with details about the content you need to have created and he or she will take care of the rest for you. 

A Ghostwriter will Boost Your Reputation 

Whether you own and operate a company, you’re a student, a researcher, a social media influencer, or a journalist; no matter your professional role, your reputation is important, and professional ghostwriters for hire can help to boost your reputation.

Ghostwriters are professionals. They know how to turn complicated topics and unusual keywords into clear, concise, informative, engaging, and easy-to-read content. A talented ghostwriter can take any idea or topic and turn it into a fantastic blog post, article, website content, or any other type of content. Ghostwriters aren’t just wordsmiths; they’re also experts with the rules of writing, such as grammar, syntax, formatting, and punctuation. Since a professional ghostwriter will generate thoughtful, well-written content for you, but your name will be attached to that content, he or she will help to boost your reputation. 

Some Ghostwriters Know SEO

Writing website content, blog posts, and social media posts is one thing, but making sure that your content shows up in the search engines is quite another. In the age of technology, having an online presence is an absolute must. That’s where search engine optimization (SEO) comes in. A cornerstone of SEO is creating keyword-specific content. The search engines will crawl the content and rank it according to the keyword presence, as well as the usefulness of the writing. 

Many ghostwriters for hire are experienced with SEO. They have the skills that are necessary to take the most complicated keywords and generate unique, engaging, and informative content that is centered on those keywords. The SEO content that a ghostwriter produces can help to increase your ranking on the search engines and boost your online visibility. 

Ghostwriters are Flexible and Available When You Need Them

Professional ghostwriters are flexible and are available when you need them. You can contact a ghostwriter on short notice, and he or she will be able to turn around a great piece of content in no time. Ghostwriters for hire offer their services for one-off projects, by the hour, and full-time. Thanks to ghostwriters’ flexibility and availability, you will always have access to the great quality content you need, whenever you need it. 

Final Thoughts

Ghostwriting is a highly effective way to communicate your message with your targeted audience without having to worry about dedicating the time, effort, and energy that high-quality writing demands. From marketing your business to improving your online presence, hiring a ghostwriter is a worthwhile investment and can certainly be a wonderful asset. 

Behind the Dust Jacket

Historically, a publisher has been the gatekeeper of literature, bringing readers and authors together through advertising and a distribution network. The publishers pay authors money to write books in the form of “advances” for the authors to live on while they write. Thereafter, a publisher will pay a writer a “royalty” for every copy of the author’s book they sell. The publisher assumes the risks in the hope that they will be rewarded by fantastic global sales. To manage the risk of a book not being publically well received, publishers assume artistic control of the writing and story development, “guiding” the author through a tried and tested recipe for success. In a declining global economy with disposable income evaporating, publishers tend to stick to what they know will sell – genres and themes that are currently trending – to ensure sales.

Consequently there is a limited amount of diversity and new ideas in an industry geared towards creating and supplying a mass market. That is where self-publishing is starting to disrupt the industry. There is more variety on offer than ever before, but the general public, as yet, are not aware of it, as change comes slowly to readers. Many cling puritanically to the idea of hard copy whilst the, shall we say more heretical, younger readers have embraced the concept of kindles and ebooks. It is those brave new worlders that self-publishing authors are hoping to convert and attract away from the conventional and traditional publishers who “know what’s best” for the reading public.

For now, publishers continue to be powerhouses from which we get the likes of Harry Potter and The Girl with the Dragoon Tatoo, and they are still especially powerful in the arena of educational and academic textbooks which carry hefty price tags. Here is a list of the top ten publishers by revenue. See if you recognize any of them.

Penguin Random House.
Annual Revenue: $3.3 billion. Germany.
Penguin Random House publishes 15,000 titles annually under its 250 divisions.

Hachette Livre.
Annual Revenue: $2.7 billion. France.
Founded in 1826,it now includes Hachette Australia, Hachette UK, and Hachette Book Group USA.

Springer Nature. 
 Annual Revenue: $1.9 billion. English-German.
 Its subsidiaries include Springer Gabler, Springer Healthcare, BioMed Central, Scientific America, Macmillan Education, and Nature Research.

 Wiley (John Wiley & Sons).                 
 Annual Revenue: $1.7 billion. USA.
 Founded in 1807, Wiley focuses on academic publishing and instructional materials for educational purposes.    

McGraw-Hill Education.                       
Annual Revenue: $1.7 billion. USA.
McGraw Hill supplies their traditional educational materials, digital products and services to over 11 million users.             

Scholastic Corporation.                        
Annual Revenue: $1.7 billion. USA. 
Founded in 1920, Scholastic has three divisions including children’s book publishing and distribution, education, and international.          

Cengage Learning.
Annual Revenue: $1.5 billion. USA. 
Cengage’s reference library arm specialises in e-research and educational publishing.  They also develop and maintain databases published online, in print, as e-books, or in microform.                 

HarperCollins. 
Annual Revenue: $1.5 billion. USA. 
This household name is also represented in Australia, Canada, China, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Macmillan Publishers.
Annual Revenue: $1.4 billion. Britain.
Founded in 1843, Macmillan is regarded as one of the “Big Five” publishers.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 
Annual Revenue: $1.4 billion. USA.
HMH publishes textbooks, non-fiction and fiction, assessments, instructional technology manuals and materials and reference works. They are venturing into TV through Netflix.

Last Book Stand

It is sad to think that these and other institutions may not be around much longer as they are swept away by the digital revolution. Certain names have already disappeared through mergers and acquisitions as publishing houses have circled the wagons in a bid to survive.

Everything You Need To Know About Audio Books As A Self-Published Author

Publishing a written book is a heady experience, however, there are also other ways to bring your story to the masses. Audiobooks are a great way to help people who may be visually impaired get their daily dose of the written word. Audiobooks are also ideal for those who like to zone out and tune in during their daily commute or while they are doing anything else that may keep their hands engaged. Self-publishing your audiobook is a bit different than self-publishing, but we have put together an easy-to-understand guide that will tell you everything you need to know about audiobooks.

How Popular are Audiobooks?

Audiobooks are currently rising in popularity, however, only 10% of books actually have an audio version available. In the past, many publishers assumed that only older people or those who had trouble reading would be interested in audio versions of most books. This way of thinking not only made those interested in audiobooks embarrassed about their desires, but it also didn’t encourage authors to pay attention to the audio medium. These days, modern technology and easy access to self-publishing tools have helped the niche grow by leaps and bounds.

The Cost of Audiobooks

Thanks to the increased usage and the wide availability of audiobooks and audio programs across devices, the sale of audiobooks has grown exponentially. This fast growth has also brought down the overall cost so much that millions of titles are available for download for no more than a few dollars a month via subscription services. With the cost so low that it is affordable for just about anyone who is interesting in hearing their favorite books in audio form, the niche is becoming even more popular with authors from all walks of life.

Popular Audiobook Content Genres

Although audiobooks, in general, are increasing in popularity, there are some genres that perform better than others. The most popular books downloaded in the audio form are suspense, thrillers, and mystery novels. Sci-fi & fantasy are also widely popular and tend to get more engagement and active reviews than any other type. If you are a writer who favors any of the categories, converting your manuscript to audio form is an easy way to increase your fan base without releasing new titles.

Does Book Length Affect Popularity?

Most readers will happily dive into a long book even if it takes them several weeks or even months to finish. The experience that comes from reading a physical book is much different than having a story read to you while you are engaged in other activities. Shorter novels tend to do much better as audio titles with just under half of the purchases being books that are three hours long or less. That is not to say longer books won’t sell, only that they have a much smaller market reach than books that can be completed in a few days at the most.

The Cost of Creating a Self-published Audiobook

Like with traditional self-publishing, there are costs involved with making an audiobook on your own. You can edit, narrate, and publish your manuscript on your own with just some audio equipment and a solid editing program. This will cost anywhere from $200 to $600 depending on the quality of equipment you purchase. Hiring someone to narrate on your behalf will increase the cost by $1,000 to $2,000 while hiring a production company will raise it even further to as much as $5000. Marketing cost and advertising are separate which will vary depending on your needs. Regardless of the cost or publishing options you choose, transforming your manuscript into an audio title is a great way to grow your audience organically.

How to Work From Home When You Have Kids

Since the COVID 19 pandemic, many people have been working from home. For some, it’s a joy to be home and around the kids all day. But getting work done with the kids around can also be challenging. As a freelancer with children, this way of life is not new to me. Here are tips for working home effectively when you have kids. 

1. Create a routine.

Having a routine is very important in that it helps you organize your day in advance. Plan out your day the night before so that you have a priority for the work you need to complete. Throughout the day, keep an eye on your task list to keep yourself on track. Having a routine will also mentally prepare you for accomplishing tasks around your kids’ schedules, such as nap time or snack time. Kids work well with schedules, so creating a combined home and work schedule can be beneficial.

2. Wake up early.

This is especially important if you have kids who need lots of attention. Waking before they wake gives you kids’-free quiet time to get through work. Then, you can then spend the rest of the day with them without worrying. Use any chance they sleep, including naps, to work and handle phone calls.

3. Keep kids entertained.

As any parent knows, entertainment is a very effective way of distracting a child. As much as we don’t want to rely on TV, there will come a time when it’s necessary. If you have an important meeting and cannot be interrupted, try putting on their favorite shows. Choosing one of the best children’s books can go a long way too.

4. Give them tasks to handle too.

When you are busy, make sure the kids are active. Set up a small space for your kids to “work” too. It can be art projects, reading, homework, or anything they can do quietly while close to you. They will try so hard to emulate what you are doing since you are both in the office. This will automatically create a conducive work environment, and you will both enjoy working as a team. It’s never too early to learn to talk to kids about money.

5. Make them understand that you have to work.

Due to frustrations and rushing deadlines, most parents may lose their temper and become angry at their kids for distracting them while working. Instead of getting mad at the kids for being a distraction, find a way of making them understand that you have to work. For instance, if they have always wanted a specific toy, you can tell them that you can only get that toy for them if you work hard. Since they need this toy, the kids will ensure that you have a very conducive environment for working. They will try so hard not to interfere with you in any way when you are working. 

6. Set clear boundaries.

Setting clear boundaries effectively communicates to your kids that you need time and space to work. This works effectively for work-from-home parents who have older kids who can read and write. For example, when you are busy in the office and have things done on time, you can have a “Do Not Disturb” or “At Work” sign on your door. When they approach the door, they will see this sign and understand that you need space to work and respect it. This allows you to work and complete your tasks on time. 

7. Set up a food station in the house.    

This is another fun way of keeping your kids distracted while you are working. Although the house may be messy at the end of the day, you will have completed all the tasks that you need to. In addition to that, you can engage them when you are clearing the mess they created to feel the need to help you. Not only is this cleaning time, but it is also time that you can use to bond with your kids after working for several hours. 

8. Be gentle with the kids.

Kids pick up the vibrations around them. If you are mad or angry at them, they will feel it. Your job definitely means so much to you, but so do your kids. You need to make them a priority in everything you do to feel that parental love. Instead of being mad at them or shutting them out when working, you should be gentle with them. Talk to them calmly and make them understand why you need to complete your work first. Once this conversation is successful, you will have ample time to work. 

9. Get help from other family members. 

At times dealing with the kids alone can be a challenge to so many parents. You get overwhelmed with work and taking care of your kids to a point, you can lose your mind. However, if any of your family members are around, you can talk them into helping you look after the kids. 

Consequently, if you have a nanny around who your kids are familiar with and relate with perfectly. You can ask her to help you out with the kids for a few hours before bonding with them. If you have friends working from home, consider setting up a childcare swap, giving them some alone time for work while you care for yours and their children, and then swapping for the second half of the day.

Working from home is a challenge for many parents, especially with the kids around the house. However, with all of the above tips, you can effectively work from home, even with the kids around.

Rose Rosie is a writer for the personal finance website, Joy Wallet, which provides readers with useful information, resources, and tools to help maximize their financial fitness.

How to Become a Professional Proofreader

You have a knack for the written word – specifically grammar, spelling, and formatting – and you’ve decided that you want to offer your services as a proofreader. Good for you! Proofreading is a growing industry and one that will always be needed. From authors to website owners to blog posts and journal articles; there is so much content out there that needs to be proofread. You can also make a pretty decent living for yourself if you have great skills, offer high-quality results, and land some great clients on a regular basis. 

With all of that said, however, if you’re new to the proofreading industry, you’re probably wondering where to get started. How do you go about offering your services as a proofreader and finding clients? Read on for some handy tips that you can use to start your own proofreading business. 

What is a proofreader? 

First, let’s clarify what a proofreader is. A lot of people confuse editing and proofreading, and it’s important to understand that while they’re both equally important, they’re very different parts of the writing process. Editing occurs prior to proofreading and entails the stuff that makes up the bigger picture, such as restructuring, erasing big parts of text that aren’t needed, and just making sure that the content flows and reads well for the audience that it’s intended for. 

Proofreading, however, is the last stage of the writing process. It’s involves meticulously reviewing the content with a fine-tooth comb to check for things like spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors. This part of the writing process helps to ensure that a final draft is polished and ready to be published. 

What skills do professional proofreaders need? 

In order to become a professional proofreader, you need to have a firm grasp on the written language. You have to have a firm understanding of grammar, syntax, punctuation, and formatting. Depending on who you work for, you may need to have a degree, such as a BA or an MS in English; however, that isn’t always the case. There’s no doubt, however, that you’ll be asked to share samples of your proofreading skills with prospective clients. They may even ask you to do a sample proof of a piece of content that they provide. It’s important to note that if you’re asked to proof a sample, make sure that you are paid for your services; it may be a lower rate than what you would be paid if you were hired, but you shouldn’t offer your proofreading services for free – even if it’s for a sample. 

Determine your proofreading niche

There are so many different types of writing, so you want to make sure that you figure out what niche you are most adept to correct the writing for. Examples of different niches that you can proofread for include: 

  • Books and manuscripts
  • Website content
  • Blog posts
  • Journal and magazine articles
  • Legal documents 
  • Emails 
  • Transcripts
  • Court reports
  • Essays 
  • College papers

Do note that each of these niches will have their own unique requirements in regard to language and formatting, so you’ll want to be sure that you’re well-versed in the specific niche that you intend on proofreading for. 

Look for proofreading jobs

Once you’ve determined what niche you’d like to proof for and you have your samples and credentials in order, it’s time to start looking for work in this sector. A great way for beginners to land work is by using job boards that post content writing and proofreading jobs, like Indeed.com. You can also try to advertise your services on online forums, as well as on job websites, or even in the newspaper or on your social media profiles. 

How to self-publish a book

Not everyone can approach a publisher and for every new project. It’s understandable why authors want to self-publish. Many books get rejected on the grounds that the author isn’t writing about a life they’ve lived. For some, it might also be a financial issue to go for a publisher. And last but not the least, getting approval from a publisher takes time – especially if you’re a new writer.

In this piece, we’re going to discuss the procedure that any author should follow while self-publishing their book.

Writing, editing, formatting, and covers

First things first.

  • Writing: Preparing the manuscript and the first draft are obvious prerequisites to self-publishing.
  • Editing: Get your work edited or proofread by someone qualified for this role. It will help. It also helps to get a second opinion or multiple perspectives on the first draft. You might figure out loopholes or awkward mistakes to iron out.
  • Formatting: Whichever software you’re writing in – make sure your formatting is top-notch. Getting a copy of the first draft printed as a book would help.
  • Covers: Front cover, back cover, and spine need to be designed. You can hire a designer for this or you can do it yourself using graphic design software and freely available assets and photographs.

Print-on-demand for books and Kindle for ebooks

Find a print-on-demand (POD) service in your area or the area you wish to serve. POD services work in a straightforward way:

  1. You make an account,
  2. Send your final book in PDF format,
  3. Publish it.

You’ll get a link that people can use to directly purchase the book. There are POD services that allow purchases and then there are some which only allow printing. In the case of the latter, you need to build another system on another platform for online purchases and hook that up with the POD service.

Another great platform is Amazon.

You can use Amazon’s KDP Print service as a POD service or as an ebook publishing service, allowing you to be listed on the Kindle Store. The setup process is very simple and entails details such as your full legal name, tax information, and payment method apart from the book itself (cover image files, book in .epub format for Kindle, and so on).

Amazon self-publishing has helped plenty of authors. Though it’s more or less a rudimentary science in many ways. The priorities of big retailers like Amazon change regularly. Generally, it’s a better idea to not put all your eggs in the same basket – diversify and make use of multiple channels to increase your coverage.

What other POD services are out there?

  • IngramSpark ($49 setup fee)
  • BookBaby ($399 setup fee)
  • D2D Print
  • Blurb

Depending on your region you might find better sources by doing a simple Google search. 

Marketing

Utilize marketing channels. Your book is only as good as the number of eyeballs it gets. If you don’t have a following (such as social media fans) and you cannot hire an influencer for marketing, then here are a few things to do:

  • Spending on online ads and social media ads
  • Mailing lists
  • Cross-promoting with other authors
  • Organic advertising on blogs and social media
  • Being a part of podcasts
  • Tying up with local bookstores
  • Book donations

Wrapping up

And that’s it! Formulate the perfect launch plan after you’ve built up some hype to get a better start.

Self-publishing is truly an effective tool.

No waiting times, creative freedom, no rejections, better royalties, and 100% ownership rights to your material are all great perks of self-publishing. Even remarkable authors are increasingly flocking to the self-publishing world. An indie author is more likely to build an audience with self-publishing vs. going for a publishing house.

The trend of self-publishing has been gaining more and more momentum. Is it the right time to get in? Yes!

Common Mistakes You Can (and Should!) Avoid in Your Creative Writing

Some texts suck us in so completely that we just can’t stop reading — though our eyes may have trouble keeping up, every word is so perfectly placed, and so easy to understand, that our minds are flying. Other pieces of writing are, well, a little trickier. These might require you to read the same paragraph over and over again, leave you wondering what just happened, or tempt you to abandon them altogether as you discover yet another page devoid of substance. Even worse, there might be careless typos, word choices that completely miss the mark, or aimless rambling. 

You, of course, want your creative writing to be the kind people simply can’t put down. By avoiding some of the most common mistakes creative writers make, you get a whole lot closer to that aim. What should you look out for in your own writing?

Your introduction is boring

What’s true for people is also true for creative writing — you can only make a first impression once. If people don’t like what they see, and aren’t curious what’s going to happen next, you are at risk of losing them. Just like it takes writers a while to get into the swing of a creative writing project, readers also need to be seduced. To make sure your readers stay with you until the end, hook them with a riveting beginning. 

Your pages are filled with purposeless details

Creative writers are continuously told to “show, don’t tell”, but if you take this advice to the extreme, you could easily fall into the trap of filling your pages with vivid and beautiful, but ultimately excessive, details that simply don’t advance the story or message in any way. Good questions to ask yourself when you decide what to cut are if the details show emotion, set the stage, or tell the reader more about your characters. If it’s not relevant, and especially if it’s also distracting, it’s got to go. 

The characters in your creative fiction don’t have any flaws

Creative writers who are attempting to write a short story or novel will want their readers to care about their protagonist. That becomes much easier if they create a three-dimensional, human character that people can root for and sympathize with. Flaws, hardships, and pain are essential parts of the human experience, so without them, you risk crafting robots. 

Your progression is too predictable

While you definitely want a coherent whole, don’t forget to add some turns and twists to the story to keep your audience on its toes! Nobody wants to see the end coming from miles away.

You’re trying to be someone else

As a creative writer, you are going to have role models — but to be the best writer you can be, you have to find your own voice. Try not to compare your work to the style of other writers whose work you admire, but instead ask yourself if your writing feels authentic. 

You don’t edit properly

This is the big one, because there’s so much ground to cover. Beginning creative writers often fall into these traps when they try to edit their work:

  • If you try to proofread your work soon after you have written it, your brain is at risk of reading what you intended to write — rather than what you actually wrote. 
  • You may get so attached to a word or sentence that you find it hard to let go, even though you know that it doesn’t belong in your text. 
  • You constantly second-guess yourself, and end up deleting passages that were perfect just the way they were. 
  • You think your writing isn’t sufficiently literary and you go overboard with the thesaurus. 

It’s nearly impossible to be objective about your own work, and very few creative writers are able to effectively self-edit. That is why it’s so important to bring a fresh pair of eyes in. You won’t hire a professional editor for every piece of creative writing you craft, but you can at least ask for feedback on a writers’ forum or get a friend to take a look.

Creative writing might be exciting, but it’s also hard work. The good news is that you get better with practice — so keep writing!

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