Jorlan Publishing: January 2006 Writer's Tips

Writer's Tips Newsletter — January 2006

Featured Title
Featured Title: Jorlan Publishing announces the release of One Man and the World: Selected Essays from The Thomas Wolfe Newsletter/Review, edited by Takashi Kodaira and Hiroshi Tsunemoto.
Preditors & Editors Poll: Jorlan Publishing is well represented in this year's Preditors & Editors contest! Editor and Book Designer, Jill Ronsley is currently #4 in the Editors category; Illustrator Bonnie Everett-Hawkes is #11 in the Artists category; and Jorlan Author Margy Ohring (Cat-House Sonnets) is #2 in the Poet category. Congratulations to them! If you would like to vote, please click here.

New Year Special: 10% off custom book design from now until February 10th Click here for more information. Get your publishing resolution started today!

Choose Your Best Author Website Setup
by Lars Clausen

This year, for the first time, the global Internet user population will top one billion people. In today’s world, publishers who are smart about setting up their websites can reap marketing and promotion rewards for themselves and their authors while saving hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars.

The three most important criteria for evaluating website effectiveness involve features, affordability, and ease of use. It pays to consider each of them in connection with the four basic types of website options.

Custom

In the early days of websites, skilled webmasters ruled the online world. Even today, most sites are designed and maintained by webmasters. Costs for designing a site are rarely less than $2000 and can run to $20,000 or more.

If you decide to have your site custom-designed, be sure to investigate each webmaster’s track record for providing timely updates.

Static

A simple two- to five-page static author website is a cheaper option. Typically, it features an author page, a title page, and a contact information page. Static sites usually cost hundreds, rather than thousands, of dollars but, as the name indicates, they aren’t flexible enough to grow with an author’s career. Also, they don’t provide for functions such as email management, newsletter emailings, event calendars, and online ordering. Beware of sites that are subdomains — e.g., www.PODcompany/yourbooktitle.com. It is important to own your own domain name.

Homemade

With a web-design program such as Front Page ($199 from Microsoft) or Dreamweaver ($399 from Macromedia), it is possible to create your own website. For some the process is even fun. Unfortunately, the functionality of sites created with such programs is often minimal and their look is often less than professional. Those who choose to build their own sites can purchase domain names for roughly $9 – $25 a year and register with a hosting service for roughly $4 – $30 a month. Other than cost, a big advantage of homemade sites is the ability to edit content.

CMS-based

In the last few years Content Management System technology has made it possible to self-publish an effective website. You hire a CMS Web site company to help set up your site’s design and provide the control panel you will use to create and manage content. Some of these systems operate as simply as a word processor. Costs range from $20 to $50 per month for domain registration, hosting and access to CMS technology, depending on services. Some CMS companies also provide custom design.

To explore possibilities, search “website design, cms” and ask each company that interests you about the following features:

Page count. Will the site have enough pages so that you and your authors can share expertise, provide information, and generate sales? Will it accommodate the FAQ sheet, the press kit, and free downloads, and how easy is it to create these kinds of content?

Newsletters and Blogs. Will the site’s email management features let you send regular messages to your lists? How will the lists be organized on the site?

Online Forms. Will you be able to gather emails and information from site visitors easily?

Online store. Is online ordering available with the site? Monthly fees for online store transactions can range from $25 to $100. For independent publishers, PayPal’s free setup with no monthly fees and competitive per purchase charges provides a cost effective solution.

Creating and editing content: Will you have control over content? Are there limitations? Will the site support multiple users, such as members of a book club?

Can sections of the site be password protected to allow restricted access to coursework, online manuscript submissions or other content that should not be available to everybody?

Finally, what about technical support? Is there a human being you can call for help?

With careful research, you should be able to create an affordable, effective website.

Lars Clausen works with American Author to help authors get online (www.AmericanAuthor.com). His book, One Wheel – Many Spokes, is a 2005 Benjamin Franklin Award recipient. He is the first person to unicycle through all 50 states.

Book Design, Part II: Book Cover Design

by Jill Ronsley

What is the first thing you see when you browse in a bookstore? Rows and displays of book covers! People pull books off the shelf just because the cover attracts them—sometimes before reading the title. As a writer, you want your book to be the one they reach for.

After the front cover attracts a person’s attention, he or she quickly flips the book over to glance at the back cover. It needs a catchy headline, color, and layout with a few entertaining or inspiring phrases that make your reader want to open the book and look inside. What’s the next step? He or she buys the book, takes it home, reads it—and hopefully, recommends it to others!

The Front Cover

The colors should be attractive. The design should match the content and the title. You won’t find many computer manuals with a Renaissance painting of a bowl of fruit on the cover. The cover of a children’s book will not display a political cartoon.

The concept for a cover design starts with the book title and subject. The designer can use a painting, a photograph, graphic art or a combination for color and image. He or she adds other design elements to create your cover.

Basic design elements, such as shape, line, color, and composition, go into the design process. The designer chooses a suitable font for the title and author’s name. The title of a book about volcanoes and lava will not use a calligraphic font suited to wedding cards. The designer decides how large the title and author’s name should be in relation to the colors and images. I like to make sure that they do not compete with each other. Both the colors and the words should appeal to the reader. If they rival each other, the reader may feel bombarded and move on to another book.

The Back Cover

The back cover must also be catchy. Its design should serve its main purpose—to maximize your marketing potential. When preparing the content for your back cover, do the following:

Write a headline. Pen a concise paragraph or two, or an inspiring phrase. Include a quote (or a few) from a reviewer, especially if you have one from a celebrity or someone who is well known on the topic of the book. Add a small picture of the author if it adds appeal. People enjoy knowing what the author looks like.

Article continues, click here to read more.

Writing Tip of the Month
by Rick Frishman
Are You a "Dime-A-Dozen" Author? ...Or, "One-In-A-Million!"

Wouldn't you prefer having NY Publishers fighting over you in a bidding war (trying to see who will pay you the most), rather than receiving reject number 24...or number 106...?

If you want publishing success, then you need to find out how others are doing it — (i.e., you need to learn from the people who have "been there, done that.") Here are three ways to step out away from the crowd, get noticed, and become a best-selling author...

1. Analyze what other successful people have done.
2. Follow their advice and do what works.
3. Avoid their mistakes and learn quickly from your own.

The AUTHOR 101 best-selling series I co-authored with Robyn Spizman is your magic key to success, because you get two authors who know the game of publishing from the inside out, and who can teach it to you in clear, easy-to-follow steps. And, we've recruited the top level people in the industry, who make the decisions, and we've gotten them to tell you exactly what they need from you so they can publish and promote your book.

If you want all of the secrets to publishing success, then the AUTHOR 101 series is your best bet. Your ten-dollar investment could easily turn into a hundred thousand dollar book advance. Plus you get thousands of dollars immediately in bonus gifts when you act right away...

To become a "One-In-A-Million" Best-Selling Author, go to: http://bestsellerpromotions.com/author101/

Writer's Tips Editor, Lana Jordan
Lana Jordan is the founder of Jorlan Publishing, for which she does consulting and editing. She is the author of two books, Journey to Motherhood (pregnancy and childbirth from a mother's perspective) and The Sleepytime Ponies Trick a Trickster (bedtime read-aloud for ages 4 and up featuring magical flying ponies; humorous Mouse Deer folk tales; and dreamy illustrations). Available from the Jorlan Bookstore and Amazon.com. Lana was also a contributor for Book Marketing from A to Z, by Francine Silverman and Megan's Party, by the Megan's Party Mom Squad (free eBook from the Jorlan Bookstore).

Copyright © 2006 Jorlan Publishing

Writer's Tips Newsletter — January 2006
Featured Title	Featured Title: Jorlan Publishing announces the release of One Man and the World: Selected Essays from The Thomas Wolfe Newsletter/Review, edited by Takashi Kodaira and Hiroshi Tsunemoto. Preditors & Editors Poll: Jorlan Publishing is well represented in this year's Preditors & Editors contest! Editor and Book Designer, Jill Ronsley is currently #4 in the Editors category; Illustrator Bonnie Everett-Hawkes is #11 in the Artists category; and Jorlan Author Margy Ohring (Cat-House Sonnets) is #2 in the Poet category. Congratulations to them! If you would like to vote, please click here. New Year Special: 10% off custom book design from now until February 10th Click here for more information. Get your publishing resolution started today!
Choose Your Best Author Website Setup by Lars Clausen This year, for the first time, the global Internet user population will top one billion people. In today’s world, publishers who are smart about setting up their websites can reap marketing and promotion rewards for themselves and their authors while saving hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. The three most important criteria for evaluating website effectiveness involve features, affordability, and ease of use. It pays to consider each of them in connection with the four basic types of website options. Custom In the early days of websites, skilled webmasters ruled the online world. Even today, most sites are designed and maintained by webmasters. Costs for designing a site are rarely less than $2000 and can run to $20,000 or more. If you decide to have your site custom-designed, be sure to investigate each webmaster’s track record for providing timely updates. Static A simple two- to five-page static author website is a cheaper option. Typically, it features an author page, a title page, and a contact information page. Static sites usually cost hundreds, rather than thousands, of dollars but, as the name indicates, they aren’t flexible enough to grow with an author’s career. Also, they don’t provide for functions such as email management, newsletter emailings, event calendars, and online ordering. Beware of sites that are subdomains — e.g., www.PODcompany/yourbooktitle.com. It is important to own your own domain name. Homemade With a web-design program such as Front Page ($199 from Microsoft) or Dreamweaver ($399 from Macromedia), it is possible to create your own website. For some the process is even fun. Unfortunately, the functionality of sites created with such programs is often minimal and their look is often less than professional. Those who choose to build their own sites can purchase domain names for roughly $9 – $25 a year and register with a hosting service for roughly $4 – $30 a month. Other than cost, a big advantage of homemade sites is the ability to edit content. CMS-based In the last few years Content Management System technology has made it possible to self-publish an effective website. You hire a CMS Web site company to help set up your site’s design and provide the control panel you will use to create and manage content. Some of these systems operate as simply as a word processor. Costs range from $20 to $50 per month for domain registration, hosting and access to CMS technology, depending on services. Some CMS companies also provide custom design. To explore possibilities, search “website design, cms” and ask each company that interests you about the following features: Page count. Will the site have enough pages so that you and your authors can share expertise, provide information, and generate sales? Will it accommodate the FAQ sheet, the press kit, and free downloads, and how easy is it to create these kinds of content? Newsletters and Blogs. Will the site’s email management features let you send regular messages to your lists? How will the lists be organized on the site? Online Forms. Will you be able to gather emails and information from site visitors easily? Online store. Is online ordering available with the site? Monthly fees for online store transactions can range from $25 to $100. For independent publishers, PayPal’s free setup with no monthly fees and competitive per purchase charges provides a cost effective solution. Creating and editing content: Will you have control over content? Are there limitations? Will the site support multiple users, such as members of a book club? Can sections of the site be password protected to allow restricted access to coursework, online manuscript submissions or other content that should not be available to everybody? Finally, what about technical support? Is there a human being you can call for help? With careful research, you should be able to create an affordable, effective website. Lars Clausen works with American Author to help authors get online (www.AmericanAuthor.com). His book, One Wheel – Many Spokes, is a 2005 Benjamin Franklin Award recipient. He is the first person to unicycle through all 50 states.
Book Design, Part II: Book Cover Design by Jill Ronsley What is the first thing you see when you browse in a bookstore? Rows and displays of book covers! People pull books off the shelf just because the cover attracts them—sometimes before reading the title. As a writer, you want your book to be the one they reach for. After the front cover attracts a person’s attention, he or she quickly flips the book over to glance at the back cover. It needs a catchy headline, color, and layout with a few entertaining or inspiring phrases that make your reader want to open the book and look inside. What’s the next step? He or she buys the book, takes it home, reads it—and hopefully, recommends it to others! The Front Cover The colors should be attractive. The design should match the content and the title. You won’t find many computer manuals with a Renaissance painting of a bowl of fruit on the cover. The cover of a children’s book will not display a political cartoon. The concept for a cover design starts with the book title and subject. The designer can use a painting, a photograph, graphic art or a combination for color and image. He or she adds other design elements to create your cover. Basic design elements, such as shape, line, color, and composition, go into the design process. The designer chooses a suitable font for the title and author’s name. The title of a book about volcanoes and lava will not use a calligraphic font suited to wedding cards. The designer decides how large the title and author’s name should be in relation to the colors and images. I like to make sure that they do not compete with each other. Both the colors and the words should appeal to the reader. If they rival each other, the reader may feel bombarded and move on to another book. The Back Cover The back cover must also be catchy. Its design should serve its main purpose—to maximize your marketing potential. When preparing the content for your back cover, do the following: Write a headline. Pen a concise paragraph or two, or an inspiring phrase. Include a quote (or a few) from a reviewer, especially if you have one from a celebrity or someone who is well known on the topic of the book. Add a small picture of the author if it adds appeal. People enjoy knowing what the author looks like. Article continues, click here to read more.
Writing Tip of the Month by Rick Frishman Are You a "Dime-A-Dozen" Author? ...Or, "One-In-A-Million!" Wouldn't you prefer having NY Publishers fighting over you in a bidding war (trying to see who will pay you the most), rather than receiving reject number 24...or number 106...? If you want publishing success, then you need to find out how others are doing it — (i.e., you need to learn from the people who have "been there, done that.") Here are three ways to step out away from the crowd, get noticed, and become a best-selling author... 1. Analyze what other successful people have done. 2. Follow their advice and do what works. 3. Avoid their mistakes and learn quickly from your own. The AUTHOR 101 best-selling series I co-authored with Robyn Spizman is your magic key to success, because you get two authors who know the game of publishing from the inside out, and who can teach it to you in clear, easy-to-follow steps. And, we've recruited the top level people in the industry, who make the decisions, and we've gotten them to tell you exactly what they need from you so they can publish and promote your book. If you want all of the secrets to publishing success, then the AUTHOR 101 series is your best bet. Your ten-dollar investment could easily turn into a hundred thousand dollar book advance. Plus you get thousands of dollars immediately in bonus gifts when you act right away... To become a "One-In-A-Million" Best-Selling Author, go to: http://bestsellerpromotions.com/author101/
Writer's Tips Editor, Lana Jordan Lana Jordan is the founder of Jorlan Publishing, for which she does consulting and editing. She is the author of two books, Journey to Motherhood (pregnancy and childbirth from a mother's perspective) and The Sleepytime Ponies Trick a Trickster (bedtime read-aloud for ages 4 and up featuring magical flying ponies; humorous Mouse Deer folk tales; and dreamy illustrations). Available from the Jorlan Bookstore and Amazon.com. Lana was also a contributor for Book Marketing from A to Z, by Francine Silverman and Megan's Party, by the Megan's Party Mom Squad (free eBook from the Jorlan Bookstore).
Copyright © 2006 Jorlan Publishing