Z.T. Soyoye's Blog, page 3

Best Gifts on a Budget

With the new year quickly approaching, comes the remembrance, joy and gifts. We all have people we need to buy a gift for but struggle to find items that will make them happy without breaking our wallets. Here are some tips, tricks and ideas for gifts that your loved ones will love.

Books

Books can be inexpensive and long-lasting, making it the perfect gift for friends and family at Christmas time. Relaxing in the wintertime with a good book is an experience everyone should have. . Here are some titles you should consider:

The Family Upstairs

by Lisa Jewell

One House, Two families, Three Bodies. This highly rated thriller is sure to keep them entertained throughout the winter. It has been described as “a twisty and engrossing story of betrayal and redemption“. This New York Times Bestselling novel has an interesting premise for a reasonable price. You can read the synopsis at the links below.

Buy Now (US)Buy Now (UK)Goodreads The Keeper of Lost Things

by Ruth Hogan

This is unique uplifting fiction is a fantastic gift for friends and family who love to read. This “Perfect Cozy Up” novel will be great as they wrap themselves up with blankets with some tea or coffee. A review of the book by J.D can be seen here. You can read the synopsis at the links below.

Buy Now (US)Buy Now (UK)Goodreads House of Earth and Blood

by Sarah J. Maas

Winter can make people in the mood for some Fantasy. This Goodreads winner for best fantasy is sure to scratch that itch. The captivating romance and suspense elements kept readers engaged throughout the novel. You can read the synopsis at the links below.

Buy Now (US)Buy Now (UK)Goodreads The Midnight Library

by Matt Haig

One Library. Infinite Lives. This Goodreads winner for best fiction has an intriguing story that entices all kinds of readers. It is a Sunday Times bestseller that will make you question your own decisions. You can read the synopsis at the links below.

Buy Now (US)Buy Now (UK)Goodreads The Unwanted

by Z.T.Soyoye

“Let the Lightning Engulf you”. This Fantasy Mystery novel is sure to keep them turning pages late into the night. This “amazing story of courage, self-discovery and so much more” is a great gift for any fan of the genre. You can read the synopsis at the links below.

Buy Now (US)Buy Now (UK)Goodreads

Gift Cards

A gift for everyone. When struggling to think of a gift for someone, you can never go wrong with a gift card. This can be given for a place you know they visit/use often e.g. Starbucks and Amazon(US ; UK). Many establishments provide a wide variety of options, this allows you to pick a price that works with your budget.

Funny/ Meme Gifts

Laughter is the best medicine and can also be the best gift. Sometimes getting a non-practical gift is the way to go. This is specifically for those people who can purchase what they want when they want it. What do you get for someone who has/ can get everything? A laugh. This can be something that references a funny moment between you two or just a general meme that makes you both laugh e.g. the circle hand meme

Sentimental/ Personalised Gifts

A great gift is something you know will make the person happy. This might be something useful that they might need. This could be as simple as clothes, a practical gift that everyone uses.

But when it comes to shopping for your parent or someone older, sentimental gifts work best. Something personal that they can cherish. Useful gifts are not always appreciated as it is something they can purchase themselves. An example of a personal gift might be an engraved necklace for your mom or a wallet with a nice message engraved inside for your dad. Although these are great gifts, they can also be quite expensive. If so, a gift that reflects your relationship might be better such as a cross necklace, a box of different memories.

For someone younger like a sibling or child, sometimes money works fine or something to consider their interests. For example, for a brother who enjoys gaming, you can get them some games they’ll love such as God of War, Detroit Become Human or Spiderman. Be careful when doing this as you have to confirm they do not have the game already as well as the console they play on. Another example is for a sister who enjoys makeup, a new makeup set might be a nice gift to give.

If none of these suit the person you are trying to buy a gift for, be sure to browse some stores until you find a gift that you think they’d enjoy. There are many great products out there even a Christmas jumper would do. Try Amazon’s Christmas Shop! Best of luck with your Christmas shopping! Happy Holidays!

The post Best Gifts on a Budget appeared first on Wisdom Nuggets.

Best Christmas Gifts on a Budget

Christmas is quickly approaching, with this comes the remembrance, joy and gifts. We all have people we need to buy a gift for but struggle to find items that will make them happy without breaking our wallets. Here are some tips, tricks and ideas for gifts that your loved ones will love.

Books

Books can be inexpensive and long-lasting, making it the perfect gift for friends and family at Christmas time. Relaxing in the wintertime with a good book is an experience everyone should have. . Here are some titles you should consider:

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

One House, Two families, Three Bodies. This highly rated thriller is sure to keep them entertained throughout the winter. It has been described as “a twisty and engrossing story of betrayal and redemption“. This New York Times Bestselling novel has an interesting premise for a reasonable price. You can read the synopsis here: US ; UK

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

This is unique uplifting fiction is a fantastic gift for friends and family who love to read. This “Perfect Cozy Up” novel will be great as they wrap themselves up with blankets with some tea or coffee. A review for the book by J.D can be seen here. You can read the synopsis here: US ; UK

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

Winter can make people in the mood for some Fantasy. This Goodreads winner for best fantasy is sure to scratch that itch. The captivating romance and suspense elements kept readers engaged throughout the novel. You can read the synopsis here: US ; UK

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

One Library. Infinite Lives. This Goodreads winner for best fiction has an intriguing story that entices all kinds of readers. It is a Sunday Times bestseller that will make you question your own decisions. You can read the synopsis here: US ; UK

The Unwanted by Z.T.Soyoye

“Let the Lightning Engulf you”. This Fantasy Mystery novel is sure to keep them turning pages late into the night. This “amazing story of courage, self-discovery and so much more” is a great gift for any fan of the genre. You can read the synopsis here: US ; UK

Gift Cards

A gift for everyone. When struggling to think of a gift for someone, you can never go wrong with a gift card. This can be given for a place you know they visit/use often e.g. Starbucks and Amazon. Many establishments provide a wide variety of options, this allows you to pick a price that works with your budget.

Funny/ Meme Gifts

Laughter is the best medicine and can also be the best gift. Sometimes getting a non-practical gift is the way to go. This is specifically for those people who can purchase what they want when they want it. What do you get for someone who has/ can get everything? A laugh. This can be something that references a funny moment between you two or just a general meme that makes you both laugh e.g. the circle hand meme

Sentimental/ Personalised Gifts

A great gift is something you know will make the person happy. This might be something useful that they might need. This could be as simple as clothes, a practical gift that everyone uses.

But when it comes to shopping for your parent or someone older, sentimental gifts work best. Something personal that they can cherish. Useful gifts are not always appreciated as it is something they can purchase themselves. An example of a personal gift might be an engraved necklace for your mom or a wallet with a nice message engraved inside for your dad. Although these are great gifts, they can also be quite expensive. If so, a gift that reflects your relationship might be better such as a cross necklace, a box of different memories.

For someone younger like a sibling or child, sometimes money works fine or something to consider their interests. For example, for a brother who enjoys gaming, you can get them some games they’ll love such as God of War, Detroit Become Human or Spiderman. Be careful when doing this as you have to confirm they do not have the game already as well as the console they play on. Another example is for a sister who enjoys makeup, a new makeup set might be a nice gift to give.

If none of these suit the person you are trying to buy a gift for, be sure to browse some stores until you find a gift that you think they’d enjoy. There are many great products out there even a Christmas jumper would do. Try Amazon’s Christmas Shop! Best of luck with your Christmas shopping! Happy Holidays!

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

This is simply a beautifully written book about redemption. The story is set in the current day in London, where an old man, Anthony Peardew, collects objects lost or misplaced in the streets, trains, parks, etc. Around these objects, Anthony creates stories about how they got lost, no matter how twisted and dark they can get. This specific aspect of the book reminds the reader, no matter how mundane they may be, of what others can go through in a lifetime. Anthony believes that all these objects mean something to someone and must be returned. When Anthony passes away (this is not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb), he gives his house along with all its ‘lost things’ to his helper and assistant Laura; a recently divorced middle-aged woman trying to start her life afresh. In his will, he asks her to return all the lost things back to their owners.

This is where the story begins, and it gets good. You follow Laura as she forms new relationships with Anthony’s gardener, and the neighbour’s daughter, a nine-teen-year-old, wholesome girl with down syndrome, or, as she loves to say it ‘dancing drome’. In all the books I’ve read, she has probably been my favourite or one of my favourite female characters.

I loved how the story tied in together. You get flashbacks in the point of view of different characters, and although they don’t relate to the main characters in any way, it all ties in beautifully with the main plot of the story. Each character has a defined backstory. You’re not left asking yourself who they are or what their role is. They feel real, especially with the kinds of relationships they have with each other. They react in ways that you’d expect to react in those certain situations.

The book included mystery, romance, a little bit of thrill, and boy was it a rollercoaster of emotions. It had me smiling, borderline crying, and full out crying when I actually finished it. It was wholesome and just a lovely read. I loved how the story went full circle, how the ending made it seem like these characters were even more alive. Some of the seemingly secondary characters, ended up having a much bigger role in the story than expected.

Here’s something I didn’t like about the book. The main character, Laura, for me, was difficult to love. Although she’s a likable character, I couldn’t relate to her because I am much younger and haven’t had any experiences similar to hers. She could irritate me sometimes, and she would do or say things that to me, seemed like complete overreactions to the situation.

I also thought the book was a little bit creepy at some points, and I don’t like that about books. I read every night before going to bed, so if I’m going to read something that’s going to creep me out in the dark, I’d rather skip over it. But although some parts were creepy, it wasn’t scary, and it made sense with the story that came along with it, and the way everything came together in the end, made reading those creepy bits worthwhile.

I think someone who’s into romance and just a really wholesome story about redemption would really enjoy this book. Everything made sense, there were no plot holes, and overall it was an incredibly beautiful and enjoyable read. I think this book is perfect for all adults and could be stretched for young adults too. I’d definitely recommend you giving it a read.

If you are interested in reading this book, be sure to grab a paperback or hardcover copy (UK).

If you’re in the US, you can get a paperback or a hardcover as linked.

J.D.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry Review

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is a book written by the renowned Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. The title says it all, this book is perfect for people who have a slight interest in Astrophysics but don’t have the time to read a whole University textbook. It compiles all the most interesting and impactful moments about Astrophysics in an easy to read package.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is Limited. Imagination encircles the world.” – Albert Einstein.

This is not a quote from the book but one that I believe captures the spirit of it. The book reminded me of my love for Astrophysics. It was captivating to learn the ideas that develop from the people’s imagination and limited knowledge and the ingenuity to prove these concepts. I’ve always been a fan of space and learning about the origins of our universe. I was able to relive and enjoy those feelings while reading this book.

“Astrophysics for People in a Hurry” went surprisingly deep into the discovery of different ideas. It was a welcome surprise, learning the backstory to different theories was fascinating and made the final realisation more satisfying. The creativity of humanity is shown as he takes us through the years of collective human knowledge. How each discovery, intended or not, has led to some of the most basic equipment we use today and the most fundamental understandings of our universe.

The imagination needed to theorise and develop concepts was inspiring to read. To realise how incredibly lucky we are to even exist and how ridiculously small we are in the grand scheme of things, was jaw-dropping. I feel like I gained a lot of valuable knowledge that I can apply to my future ideas and stories.

Knowledge

Knowing the many unexplained and unexplored areas really gave me the motivation to write. It gives a sense that almost anything is possible and you can let your ideas run wild. The mysterious “Dark Matter” that is always referenced in Sci-fi and fantasy, learning what it actually is, I can see why many authors have chosen to use it to explain supernatural elements of their stories. It is an interesting idea that can be used in many different ways. The book made it very easy to understand why it is believed to exist and is not just a made-up phenomenon by Sci-fi authors.

Dark matter is “invisible” matter that is used to explain the unexpectedly fast orbit of distant planets. The speed is related to the mass of the plant, therefore the only way to explain the unexpected speed is to say there must be more matter that is unseen i.e. Dark matter. Dark as it doesn’t interact with light but it interacts with gravity. They are not detectable yet as they are not affected by the strong or weak force or electromagnetic forces. It is a theory, based in reality but sounds incredibly Sc-fi esque.

Interesting theories like that are what make it so interesting. I definitely plan on incorporating some information into my next book. I learnt that the last name of my main character, Alexander Charon, is also the name of Pluto’s largest moon. This information can be used for some symbolism. To have a character that is deeply connected to Alex, and name him Pluto to show Alex revolves around him.

Thoughts and opinions

The writing was witty and amusing, it kept me engaged through the more historic aspects of the book. My only “issue” with the book, some details did not need to be explored as much as he did. But this is very subjective, I feel most people would be glad to learn the more minute details of the history behind these theories. The book is relatively short and explains the more complex aspects of astrophysics in a digestible bitesize manner that made it perfect for “people in a hurry”. If you fondly remember learning about black holes and supernovas in your physics class or maybe you just enjoy looking up at the night sky, this book is perfect to satisfy your thirst for more information.

If you’re interested feel free to grab a copy of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry here:

Buy Now (US)Buy Now (UK)

I hope you enjoyed this one. This is my first “Thoughts and Opinions” post. I had a lot of fun reading this book and needed to get some of my thoughts out there. Let me know if you prefer these types of posts to my usual ones.

Be sure to vote, comment your thoughts and share the post so I know that you enjoy this type of content. I would also really appreciate it if you considered subscribing to the newsletter. It will keep you up-to-date with any of my posts and alert you of any giveaways, special offers and events.

The post Astrophysics for People in a Hurry Review appeared first on Wisdom Nuggets.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry – Thoughts and Opinions

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is Limited. Imagination encircles the world.” – Albert Einstein.

This is not a quote from the book but one that I believe captures the spirit of it. The book that reminded me about my love for Astrophysics.
The ideas that develop from the people’s imagination and limited knowledge and the ingenuity to prove these concepts was captivating to learn. I’ve always been a fan of space and learning about the origins of our universe, which I was able to relive and enjoy while reading this book.

Surprisingly it also went deep into the discovery of different ideas, which was a welcome surprise, learning the backstory to different theories was fascinating and made the final realisation more satisfying. The creativity of humanity is shown as he takes us through the years of collective human knowledge. How each discovery, intended or not, has led to some of the most basic equipment we use today and the most fundamental understandings of our universe.

The imagination needed to theorise and develop concepts was inspiring to read. To realise how incredibly lucky we are to even exist and how ridiculously small we are in the grand scheme of things, was jaw-dropping. I’m really glad I read this and I feel like I gained a lot
of valuable knowledge that I can apply to my future ideas and stories.

Knowing the many unexplained and unexplored areas really gave me the motivation to write. It gives a sense that almost anything is possible and you can let your ideas run wild. The mysterious “Dark Matter” that is always referenced in Sci-fi and fantasy, learning what it actually is, I can see why many authors have chosen to use it to explain supernatural elements of their stories. It is such an interesting idea that can be used in many different ways. The book made it very easy to understand why it is believed to exist and is not just a made-up phenomenon by Sci-fi authors.

Dark matter is “invisible” matter that is used to explain the unexpectedly fast orbit of distant planets. The speed is related to the mass of the plant, therefore the only way to explain the unexpected speed is to say there must be more matter that is unseen i.e. Dark matter. Dark as it doesn’t interact with light but it is affected by gravity. They are not detectable yet as they don’t seem to be affected by the strong or weak force or electromagnetic forces. It is a theory, based in reality but sounds incredibly Sc-fi esque.

Interesting theories like that are what make it so interesting. I definitely plan on incorporating some information into my next book. I actually learnt that the last name of my main character, Alexander Charon, is also the name of Pluto’s largest moon. I can now use this information for some symbolism, maybe have a character that is deeply connected to Alex, and name him Pluto to show Alex revolves around him.

The writing was witty and amusing, it kept me engaged through the more historic aspects of the book. This was my only “issue” with the book, some details did not need to be explored as much as he did. But this is very subjective, I feel most people would be glad to learn the more minute details of the history behind these theories. The book is relatively short and explains the more complex aspects of astrophysics in a digestible bitesize manner that made it perfect for “people in a hurry”. If you fondly remember learning about black holes and supernovas in your physics class or maybe you just enjoy looking up at the night sky, this book is perfect to satisfy your thirst for more information.

If you’re interested feel free to grab a copy here.

I hope you enjoyed this one. This is my first “Thoughts and Opinions” post. I had a lot of fun reading this book and needed to get some of my thoughts out there. Let me know if you prefer these types of posts to my usual ones.

Be sure to vote, comment your thoughts and share the post so I know that you enjoy this type of content. I would also really appreciate it if you considered subscribing to the newsletter. It will keep you up-to-date with any of my posts and alert you of any giveaways, special offers and events.

The Power Of Weather

The weather is one of the most underappreciated aspects of a story. Most readers will skim over it without a second thought. Yet, it has such an integral impact on their experience. A tool that embodies ‘You Don’t Know What You Have Until It’s Gone’. The weather is truly a hidden gem.

There is no right way to write a book. It depends on your strengths and weaknesses, but there are some ways to help improve your story. One of which is, utilizing the weather properly. It can serve as a vital instrument to enhance the plot or as a means to drive the story forward. An obstacle or a clue? The weather has numerous applications. Here are some that I have learnt.

Immersion

When reading a book, the reader is hoping to be immersed in a story. It is the sense that they are not just reading words on a page—they are experiencing the story. It briefly takes them away from reality and pulls them into a new world.

There are many ways to do this, one of which is to engage some of the viewer’s five senses. Other mediums of entertainment have many ways of achieving this. For example, a movie in 4D can use a viewers sense of sight, sound and even smell.

Writing a book doesn’t have these advantages. Authors rely on engaging the reader’s imagination to pull them into their stories. To achieve this, a description of what’s going on around the characters is vital. This includes the weather. It sets the scene and helps build a clearer image for the reader’s imagination.

Plot Device

Creating a plot can be very difficult. Making sure your audience can follow the story is essential. Therefore, having an easy mechanism to lead to a location or as a clue of a certain event would be beneficial. The weather is relatable to most readers and can serve this purpose. For example, using snow/rain to leave trails leading to something. This could be a valuable tool when writing a mystery storyline.

Furthermore, the weather allows for events to take place that influences the plot. This includes allowing for chemical reactions to happen due to the presence of water. This can serve to add some depth and intrigue. If explained properly, the reader will feel they have learnt from reading your story.

The weather can be utilised to create situations that provide a believable motive and reasoning. A useable Deus ex machina. For example, a snowstorm making it difficult for someone to leave a town/building. This can be a versatile instrument that doesn’t break the immersion of the reader. It sets the scene for tense situations such as blockades, heatstroke and more. It forces these scenarios for the characters and can elevate your story.

Pacing

A necessary pause. Taking a beat to describe the scene around a character. It is a great way to avoid overwhelming readers with exposition. It allows for a beautiful description of the world around the character. This can be a great way to prove your writing skills. To give the reader an enjoyable description that would improve their experience.

Symbolism

Much like in real life, the weather can set the mood. A dark, rainy night instinctively gives the reader the impression of an eerie atmosphere. A cold snowy morning puts the reader in a cosy mindset. The weather allows the reader to connect with the mood you are trying to set.

It shows the mindset of your characters. Good character development is essential for a story. The weather is a great way to reflect this. The progression of the weather throughout a story can be used to show how far a character has come. For example, a thunderstorm to show the chaotic, angry nature of character at the start. To the sun coming out at the end, to show this character’s growth to a mature, calm individual.

Conclusion

The power of the weather is something that is underestimated. Hopefully, this article helped bring light to some of its beneficial attributes. This doesn’t mean you should spend a long time focusing on describing the perfect weather. But I hope the next time you write or read a story, you’ll give it a bit more thought.

I hope you enjoyed this one. I had a lot of fun writing some of the elements of my story that I took time to think about.

Be sure to vote, comment your thoughts and share the post so I know that you enjoy this type of content. I would also really appreciate it if you considered subscribing to the newsletter. It will keep you up-to-date with any of my posts and alert you of any giveaways, special offers and events.

The Journey of Publishing

What you need to do before publishing

You’ve reached the top of the mountain. You finally finished your novel. After months of hard work and dedication, you survived the treacherous journey to the summit. You’ve overcome writers’ block, lack of motivation and so much more. At last, you can appreciate the view from the top. As you stand at the peak, your eyes adjust to the blinding light of the sun. But, the fading rays of light reveal a steep, slippery slope that you must descend to complete your journey.

When I started my journey of publishing my first book, I almost fell down that slippery slope. There are a lot of unexpected costs associated with publishing that a lot of new writers are not prepared for. I did months of research to prepare for self-publishing my novel and still felt overwhelmed by the number of services required. My intention in writing this article is not to detour any new writers, but to inform them. I suggest reading on if you have finished your novel and are preparing for the next step. I will be sharing the best tools for the journey on your budget.

Your First Steps

Analysing the lay of the land before decent is crucial. In the same vein, having a clear starting budget is important. The size of your budget depends on the services that you are planning on requesting. I had a clear budget of around £1000 when I first published and tried my best to keep to that. Unfortunately, this only allows for the barebones minimum when publishing a book. This meant I spent a lot more time attempting to do some of the essential services by myself. This prolonged the launch date and led to many difficulties. So, be sure to plan before taking your first steps. This article covers the services that you need and helps you determine your budget.

Editing

The most important service when publishing a book is the content. Thus making sure the content is properly edited is important. I implore you not attempt to do this by yourself or even have a friend do it unless they are an expert. That is not to say you should not look over your work or have a friend do it. But hiring a professional editor before publishing is key. There are a few sites that will ask if the book is professionally edited or self-edited. You don’t want to put your book at a greater disadvantage against the sea of other books. Therefore, this service is essential and should be factored into your budget.

The cost of editing varies depending on the service you choose and your word count. These are some of the usual prices you can expect to find for these services:

Proofreading: $0.012 per wordCopyediting: $0.016 per wordLine Editing: $0.021 per wordDevelopmental Editing: $0.04 per word

Depending on your experience these prices might seem low. But keep in mind that the standard book size is around 50 000 words. Therefore, the cost is £4450 for all the services! Most books will have much more than 50000 words.

Not everyone has access to £4450. At least I know I don’t. If you do have £4450 to spend on editing, all these services are sure to take your writing to the next level. This will make the content stand out above most others and can also help with marketing.

For those who don’t have access to the £4450, do not panic. Choose which services are essential and within your budget. Understanding what each service offers can help you make your decision.

Proofreading

Proofreading, the cheapest service. This service should be used after you have worked and reworked your manuscript. It should be used as the final check once you have formatted your book and got it ready for publication. This protects your credibility as an author. It prevents the readers from catching errors after you have published. Thus, you need a professional editor to proofread your final, laid-out PDF. I do not recommend only choosing this service. This should be the final step as it only checks grammatical and spelling errors.

For the standard book size of 50 000 words, this service costs:

50 000 * 0.012 = £600

Copyediting

A copyedit focuses on grammar, spelling and punctuation. It is most productive after an author has done significant revision. The editor focuses on perfecting the language and eliminating typos. The goal of copyediting is to ensure your book is error-free when it lands in readers’ hands. It further provides improvement to the consistency, usage and gives in-document comments.
It can also be used for writers with a smaller budget who can only afford one of the editing services. If this is your situation, I suggest using copyediting. You might want to buy proofreading alone due to it’s similarities to copyediting and lower price. But copyediting improves the consistency of your storyline and provides some much-needed comments. In my opinion, this is the best bang for the buck service available.

For the standard book size of 50 000 words, this service costs:

50 000 * 0.016 = £800

Line editing

Line editing dives deeply into a manuscript. It corrects basic writing mechanics and also strengthens higher-level elements. Therefore, line editing is best for authors looking for help with characterization, pacing, voice, dialogue and plot. I believe this is the most useful for authors with the budget to afford it. It provides the best value for the high price.

For the standard book size of 50 000 words, this service costs:

50 000 * 0.021 = £1050

Developmental editing

Developmental editing delves even more deeply, uncovering the heart of the story you want to tell and finding the best way to tell it. As a result, it’s great for authors who want to take their book to the next level. There are authors willing to make significant changes to their story in the service of telling a better story. But keep in mind this is also the most expensive service. Furthermore, some people feel they should keep the heart of the story solely to the author. If you feel this way then this service is probably not for you.

For the standard book size of 50 000 words, this service costs:

50 000 * 0.04 = £2000

Helpful Advice

Depending on the company you chose to carry out these services, the number of services you request and your word count. The prices may fluctuate. I suggest requesting a discount if you are using the same company for more than one of these services. This might save you some money that you can spend on the other tools on your journey to publishing.

I personally used a company known as Elite Authors. They are Amazon recommended and did a great job helping me complete my first publishing journey.

Elite authors website:

Book Editing Services

Book Cover

I understand the desire to use an image off the internet for your book cover. After spending hours to find that perfect image, you edit it to fit your ideal cover and add your book title. I’ve done it. Most writers will still do it. But getting a picture from the internet will make your book look less professional and less appealing to your audience. It could also lead to some licencing and copyright issues further on. I recommend purchasing a book design service unless you feel you have skills in graphic/art design. Although I wouldn’t recommend it. It will have to be 100 per cent original which can be very time consuming and stressful. Let the professionals handle it. They understand the industry standard and you still have the final say. It saves much needed time and effort.

When choosing what book design company to go with, be sure to check their portfolio. This will be featured on their website. If their portfolio is not on their website, you can always email them and request it. Be sure to pick a company that you believe can capture your vision. Base this belief on their previous works. Not if they offer you a cheap price. It is important to make sure they have experience in the genre that your book is in. They should have a decent amount of covers in your genre but be careful that they don’t have too many. This may be a sign that they will not give your cover the care and attention it needs. Too many cover designs might mean they rush their products and don’t produce high-quality products.

Communication and budget are important. Making sure you choose a company that replies quickly to your questions and requests is key. They might not get your vision right the first time but do not panic or be afraid to critique. Tell them if you are not happy with it and continue requesting revision until you are satisfied.

Take note of your chosen company’s revision plan. Some companies don’t offer unlimited revisions and may request more payment for each revision. Other companies will offer free revisions if it doesn’t meet your vision. But will require payment if you want to add something to your initial request. This should warn you to make sure your initial request is exactly what you desire. The company might also vary prices based on whether your book is paperback or ebook or both.

This service usually ranges from £300-£500. Although there are cheaper alternatives such as Fiverr to request freelance designers. But proceed with caution if you decide to use these services. You get what you pay for.

ISBN

The cost to purchase an ISBN varies depending on where you live. In the Uk, the cost is about £89 for one ISBN number (not including the barcodes). Keep in mind that you will require 2 ISBN numbers for your paperback and ebook separately. It would be cheaper to bulk buy ISBN numbers. This depends on your budget and whether you’re planning on writing multiple books. The options are:

There are tricks you could use to prevent buying 10 ISBN numbers if you wish to publish one novel in paperback and ebook. The strategy I used was purchasing the single ISBN number for my eBook. This allows you to sell on multiple websites, reaching a wider audience. For the paperback, I used Amazon’s free ISBN number. This should be used if you plan on only getting your book printed by Amazon. The Amazon free ISBN can not be used on websites other than Amazon. This means sites like IngramSpark and other paperback publishers can not be used. Unless they offer a free ISBN as well but do not attach multiple ISBN numbers to the same book. This makes it harder to find and causes issues in the future.

Keep in mind that some countries government offer free ISBN numbers such as Canada. So be sure to check if your country’s government offers a free ISBN. Please do not purchase an ISBN from a ‘shady’ website as this can lead to problems about ownership in the future.

If you require a barcode on your book cover, the company you choose for your cover will do this upon request. If not, Amazon can print the barcode unto the paperback. DO NOT to tick the option below and Amazon will add the barcode for you.

Note: I have ticked it because the company that made my cover added the barcode for me.

Book Interior

This service formats your book to the industry-standard. Using a catalogue of options, you can choose additional features to make your book stand out. This can help give your book the tone of your genre. I did not pay for this service so can not offer too much information on my experiences. It is an important step but I prioritised the other three services. This meant having to watch numerous videos to learn how to format. This process was very time consuming and prolonged the release date. Manage your budget to take this service into account to save time and effort.

This service is usually around £350 – £400 for the simple interior formatting.

Conclusion

These are the four main cost associated with self-publishing. There are a lot more that can help produce a final, polished version of your story. It depends on your budget and dedication. I advise a budget of around £1000 to cover a majority of the services. If you’re on a tight budget, prioritise the essential services and attempt the others. You can still make a polished version on a modest budget. For those planning on purchasing all the services, a full package can be anywhere from £5000 – £10000! So be prepared.

I hope this was helpful to any writers about to start their journey. Hopefully, these costly services didn’t demotivate you. Publishing a book is an amazing experience, one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Once everything is done, safely on at the bottom of the hill, you can admire the journey that you’ve completed. It will be worth the view.

But what about the walk home?

I’ll soon cover the tips to marketing where I’ll show that the walk home is a marathon, not a sprint.

Be sure to vote, comment your thoughts and share the post so I know that you enjoy this type of content. I would also really appreciate it if you subscribed to the newsletter. It will keep you up-to-date with any of my posts and alert you of any giveaways, special offers and events.

Tips to combat writer’s block and burn out

The first step is to recognise the problem. Every writer struggles with it. It is inevitable. The feeling of getting nowhere no matter how much time or effort you put in. There is no shame in it, nor does it mean you are less skilled. If you are just about to write your first book, there is no need to read this article, Just go write! But for those who have started and are experiencing these issues, feel free to read on.

Through the process of writing my book weekly, I experienced writer’s block on numerous occasions. It frustrated me greatly when I wanted to capture an amazing scene but the words weren’t coming to me. With the other factors in my life such as work, it became hard to get the motivation to keep writing. I found myself writing less and less each week. But out of that frustration, I was able to learn a couple of trick and tips that may be of use to other writers.

1. Take a break – Although this seems like the most obvious solution. Sometimes the most obvious solution is the right one. Taking a break for an hour or even a week can let you experience things that let the creative juice start to flow again. Don’t put any pressure on yourself to write anything and just go enjoy life. And set a reminder for like a week or two, that says “Try and write”. Usually, this helps the creative juices feel replenished and ready to go.

2. Be your own fan – View your story through the eyes of a reader. Sounds simple and it is. Basically act like the biggest fanboy/girl of your story and start theorising what would happen, how it would happen, what the characters would do etc. Start getting excited even thinking about your story. Then fester it. Let that excitement and anticipation build up until you can’t hold it back and then let it consume you and feel the motivation.

3. Check out other works – Checking out other pieces of entertainment, whether in your genre or not, can really boost motivation. Watching TV shows, anime and other pieces of entertainment allows you to see stories from the reader’s perspective and allows you to find what motivated you to write your story in the first place.

4. You’re not perfect… and that’s okay – Remind yourself that it’s okay to make mistakes. Verbalizing is very effective (more than you realise). It’s okay for your story to not be the most perfect piece of media in the world. It’s about getting your novel to the best level you can with your current skills. Take that pressure off yourself.

4.Don’t write! – When experiencing these moments, it’s important not to force the words out as this can lead to a rushed and uninspired product. Depending on your schedule, I think this is the most important step. In my experience, I did not have a deadline so I used that to my advantage. I only wrote when I felt creative. This lead to immersive descriptions that painted the scene perfectly in the minds of my readers. But keep in mind do not procrastinate! It is difficult trying to find the perfect balance.

5.Write! – This is a complete contradiction of the second step. But it works for some people. Forcing yourself to write a few lines even if they are not up to your usual standard can sometimes help get the right words flowing. It allows the writer to identify why it’s not up to the usual standard and fix it. Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. Make a habit of writing.

Identifying your unique situation and finding what works best for you can allow for your book to reach the standard you are hoping for. Hope this helped any writers that were experiencing writer’s block to create an amazing product. Comment below how you dealt with your writer’s block!

Prices associated with publishing a book

When I started the journey of publishing my book, there was a lot of unexpected costs associated with publishing that not a lot of new writers who are thinking of self-publishing are aware of. I did months of research and still felt overwhelmed by the number of services required to get your book ready to be published. In this article I will give the minimum total amount I feel is necessary. As well as the best services for your budget.



Making a book on a budget



Knowing your budget is important. I had a clear budget of around £1000 in mind when I first started and tried my best to keep to that. Unfortunately, this only allows for the barebones minimum for publishing a book. This meant I spent a lot more time attempting to do some of these services by myself. This prolonged the launch date and let too many difficulties. So be sure to plan before jumping into self-publishing.

Editing

I will say this is the most important service when publishing a book. Do not attempt to do this by yourself or even have a friend do it for you. Hiring a professional editor is key and very helpful. There are many services of editing available such as copyediting, line editing, developmental editing and proofreading.

There service's cost varies depending on the service you choose and your word count. These are some of the usual prices you can expect to find for these services:

Copyediting: $0.016 per word

Line Editing: $0.021 per word

Developmental Editing: $0.04 per word

Proofreading: $0.012 per word



Depending on your experience these prices might seem low, but keep in mind this means for a standard book size of around 50000 words the cost is £4450 for all the services! Most books will be much more than 50000 words.

Obviously not everyone can have access to £4450, in this case, it is important to choose which service is enough for your budget. These are some helpful information to help you make your decision:



A copyedit focuses on grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Therefore, it’s most productive after an author has already done significant revision and now wants an editor to focus on perfecting the language and eliminating typos. Hence, the goal of copyediting is to ensure your book is error-free when it lands in readers’ hands. But it can also be used for writers with a very small budget who can only afford one of the editing services available. If this is your case, I highly recommend using copyediting once you have a finished manuscript as it also helps with consistency and some much-needed comments.



Line editing goes more deeply into a manuscript. Thus, it's best for authors with a fully completed draft. It corrects basic writing mechanics and also strengthens higher-level elements. Therefore, line editing is best for authors looking for help with characterization, pacing, voice, dialogue, and plot. I believe this is the most useful for authors with an average budget but can only afford one of the editing services. It provided the most bang for your buck.



Developmental editing delves even more deeply, uncovering the heart of the story you want to tell and finding the best way to tell it. As a result, it's great for authors who want to take their book to the next level—authors willing to make significant changes in the service of telling a better story. But keep in mind this is also the most expensive service. Furthermore, some people also feel they should keep the heart of the story solely to the author. If you feel this way then this service is probably not for you.



Proofreading is for after you have worked and reworked your manuscript. Then you formatted it and got it ready for publication. However, you still need to protect your credibility as an author. Likewise, you don't want to pay to fix expensive errors readers catch after you're published. Thus, you need a professional editor to proofread your final, laid-out PDF. I do not recommend only choosing this service as this should be the final step as it only checks grammatical and spelling errors.



To help compare these services please check out:

https://eliteauthors.com/book-editing...

They have an amazing table to display exactly what each service provides.



Book Cover

Getting a design off the internet will probably make your book look less professional and less appealing to your audience. As well as lead to some licencing and copyright issues further on. I recommend purchasing a book design service online but if you feel you have skills in graphic/art design, you can attempt to make it yourself. Although I wouldn't recommend it, as this can be very time consuming as well as stressful if you don't get the desired result.

When choosing what book design company to go with, be sure to check their portfolio that would usually be on their website. If their portfolio is not on their website, you can always email them and request it.

Be sure to pick a company that can capture your vision. It is important to make sure they have experience in the genre that your book is in. They should have a decent amount of covers in your genre but be careful that they don't have too many as this may be a sign that they will not give your cover the care and attention it needs. Too many cover designs might mean they rush their products and don't produce a high-quality product.

Budget is important so be sure to find the right company for you. Make not on their revision plan, as some companies don't offer unlimited revisions and may require more payment for each revision. The company might also vary values based on whether your book is paperback or ebook or both.

This service usually ranges from £300-£500



ISBN

The cost to purchase an ISBN varies depending on where you live. In the Uk, the cost is about £89 for one ISBN number (not including the barcodes). It would be cheaper to bulk Buy ISBN numbers but that would depend on your budget and whether you're planning on writing multiple books.

Keep in mind that some countries government do offer free ISBN numbers such as Canada. So be sure to check if your country offers a free ISBN.



Book Interior

This is a service that will help format your book to the right size as well as add some feature to make your book give the tone of your genre. I personally did not pay for this service so can not offer too much information on it. I believe it is an important step but my budget was spent on the other three services. This meant I had to google and watch videos on formatting, which was very time consuming and prolonged the release date. Learn from my mistake. Manage your budget!

This service is usually around £350 - £400 for the simple interior formatting.



These are the three main cost associated with self-publishing but there are a lot more that can help produce an amazing, polished final version of your story. It really depends on your budget and dedication. I would say a minimum of £1000 is required. This should cover the cost for copy editing as well as book cover design. Again that is the minimum amount that should be done to any self-published book and if only for those with a very low budget. A full package can be anywhere from £5000 - £10000! So be prepared.

I hope this was helpful to any first-time authors or anyone thinking about writing a book. Hope these values didn't scare you off. Cause hopefully after everything is done, it will be worth it.

Tips to combat writer's block and burn out

The first step is to recognise the problem. Every writer struggles with it. It is inevitable. The feeling of getting nowhere no matter how much time or effort you put in. There is no shame in it, nor does it mean you are less skilled. If you are just about to write your first book, there is no need to read this article, Just go write! But for those who have started and are experiencing these issues, feel free to read on.

Through the process of writing my book weekly, I experienced writer's block on numerous occasions. It frustrated me greatly when I wanted to capture an amazing scene but the words weren't coming to me. With the other factors in my life such as work, it became hard to get the motivation to keep writing. I found myself writing less and less each week. But out of that frustration, I was able to learn a couple of trick and tips that may be of use to other writers.



1. Take a break - Although this seems like the most obvious solution. Sometimes the most obvious solution is the right one. Taking a break for an hour or even a week can let you experience things that let the creative juice start to flow again. Don’t put any pressure on yourself to write anything and just go enjoy life. And set a reminder for like a week or two, that says "Try and write". Usually, this helps the creative juices feel replenished and ready to go.



2. Be your own fan - View your story through the eyes of a reader. Sounds simple and it is. Basically act like the biggest fanboy/girl of your story and start theorising what would happen, how it would happen, what the characters would do etc. Start getting excited even thinking about your story. Then fester it. Let that excitement and anticipation build up until you can’t hold it back and then let it consume you and feel the motivation.


3. Check out other works - Checking out other pieces of entertainment, whether in your genre or not, can really boost motivation. Watching TV shows, anime and other pieces of entertainment allows you to see stories from the reader's perspective and allows you to find what motivated you to write your story in the first place.



4. You're not perfect... and that's okay - Remind yourself that it's okay to make mistakes. Verbalizing is very effective (more than you realise). It's okay for your story to not be the most perfect piece of media in the world. It's about getting your novel to the best level you can with your current skills. Take that pressure off yourself.



4.Don't write! - When experiencing these moments, it's important not to force the words out as this can lead to a rushed and uninspired product. Depending on your schedule, I think this is the most important step. In my experience, I did not have a deadline so I used that to my advantage. I only wrote when I felt creative. This lead to immersive descriptions that painted the scene perfectly in the minds of my readers. But keep in mind do not procrastinate! It is difficult trying to find the perfect balance.



5.Write! - This is a complete contradiction of the second step. But it works for some people. Forcing yourself to write a few lines even if they are not up to your usual standard can sometimes help get the right words flowing. It allows the writer to identify why it's not up to the usual standard and fix it. Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. Make a habit of writing.



Identifying your unique situation and finding what works best for you can allow for your book to reach the standard you are hoping for. Hope this helped any writers that were experiencing writer's block to create an amazing product. Comment below how you dealt with your writer's block!