Angela Booth's Writing Blog

Write and sell self-help ebooks for a great home business

In this week's Fab Freelance Writing Ezine our feature article is "Self-help Ebooks - Inspiration and Motivation Mean Profits."

Here's an excerpt from the Editorial:

Ebooks are HOT: if you can write ebooks, not only will you find a ready supply of buyers and people who will commission you to write, but you can also create your own ebooks and sell them online.

In our feature article this week we discuss finding topics for self-help ebooks. Self-help is an incredibly popular field, and all writers can write self-help, because you can use your own experiences.

Sell Your Writing Online NOW (SYWON) subscribers are finding that focusing on self-help leads to easy sales of articles, reports and ebooks because the self-help industry is huge.

Subscribe and read the issue tomorrow.

Technorati Tags: books, ebook, freelance writing, get published, get started freelance writing

The Lazy Way to write your book

I've just published "Write a Book the Lazy Writer's Way and Profit" on my Just Write a Book Blog, and thought you might enjoy it too, if you're considering writing a book - or are stuck, in the writing process.

Here's an excerpt:

Many people want to write a book. Few people ever get around to doing it, because writing a book is a considerable commitment. In my long and colorful writing career I've written many books, so in this article, I'll share my tried and tested "Lazy Writer's Method" with you.

My method will work successfully for nonfiction, less so for fiction. So if you're writing a novel, just sit down and write it. Novels are rewritten, rather than written.

My method works because it cuts down on the time needed to write a book, and it also lets you make a little money along the way - always useful for a working writer to keep the wolf from the door.

Read the rest...

Technorati Tags: write a book

A Christmas Carol: must-read for the season

It's that time of the year: time to read A Christmas Carol again, either for your own enjoyment, or the enjoyment of deserving children you love.

Here's a treat - a 4th edition copy of A Christmas Carol (1844)  for you, if you're feeling generous. (It would make a great investment, too.)

The details: Fourth Edition.

Small 8vo. Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in full crimson morocco, titles and decoration to spine gilt, raised bands, single rule to boards gilt, inset with coloured onlay reproducing the frontispiece to centre of front board, twin rule to turn-ins gilt, cream plain endpapers, original covers bound in at back, all edges gilt. With colour illustrations by John Leech. A couple of very light thumb marks, a fine copy.

Very, very nice... :-)

Technorati Tags: books

Marketing your book with a blog while you write

If you're writing a book, a good time to start promoting it is NOW.

From your initial idea, to a sale to a publisher and your book's ultimate arrival in bookshops can take anywhere from one to three years - sometimes longer. Since promotion is such a huge part of book publication these days, it's wise to start your promotion as early in the writing/ publication process as you can.

If you've published, you know this. For new writers already stressed with writing their book, the idea that they need to promote their book comes as a nasty shock.

Starting and writing a blog while you write the book makes sense. Feedback from readers can also improve your chances of publication. Publishers will know you're a writer who's a complete professional.

Read my "Writing Success with Blogs by Angela Booth" to get up to speed on promotional blogging.

Technorati Tags: books

Are you writing a book? Poll

I'm planning the content for the site over the next few months. Please help by taking part in the poll.

Many thanks. :-)

Currently reading: Horatio Hornblower

I'm currently working my way through all eleven Horatio Hornblower books (again) and am enjoying them thoroughly.

I don't know what it is about naval historical novels like the Patrick O'Brian series, and Julian Stockwin's Kydd books, I read one novel and then compulsively read the entire series. :-)

Stockwin's latest book is out soon, so that's another must-order.

Technorati Tags: books

Giggle of the Day: can't resist a cat post

Blooking - are you blogging your book?

Over the past few weeks I've had enquiries about the practice of book blogging, both fiction and nonfiction.

"Blooking" seems to be a trend.

Some writers write blogs which are picked up for book publication, and others blog to do market research, to see whether there's a readership for their book. By establishing a platform for a book, they're more likely to attract a publisher - or several publishers, which leads to a book auction and a six-figure advance.

Are you blogging your book?

Please share the blog's URL in the comments to this post, and tell us why you've chosen the blook road to publication.

Technorati Tags: blog your writing

Currently reading: Eat, Love, Pray

Great memoir. Funny, touching and real.

I love Elizabeth Gilbert's idea of structuring the book like a mala - 109 articles just like the 109 beads in a mala.

Although I'm only on the Italian "Pleasure" section, the first part of "Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia ", I'm already dreading finishing the book.

This one's a keeper.

P.S. I should mention I first discovered Eat, Love, Pray in Suzanne Beecher's DearReader.com. You get snippets of great books in your Inbox each day. I've been a member for years. Highly recommended.

Technorati Tags: books

From blog to book -blogging's one way to beat the slush pile

"How to Get a Six Figure Book Deal From Your Blog" by Penelope Trunk has some great tips on how get published via your blog.

Here's my tip: don't sweat book publication. Books come and go, but your blog can be forever. :-)

What's your opinion on the blog to book process? If you're blogging for publication, drop your URL into the Comments so we can all cheer you on.

Technorati Tags: blog how-to, blogs, books