R. Frederick Riddle's Blog, page 65
March 18, 2016
How To Build An Author’s Business You Can Be Proud Of
Writers, especially beginners, think of themselves as only authors. They fail to see the whole picture.
But there is much more! An author is:
A writer of stories
A publisher
A marketer
Let’s look at each of these.
A WRITER OF STORIES
What do you know about writing? Here is a partial list of things you should know:
your genre
how to set up your page
grammar
plotting
building characters
scene structure
All of these are tools. You have a trade, a business that involves writing. These tools are important. Lack of knowing and using these tools can devastate your business.
A PUBLISHER
Whoever and However you publish, you are a publisher to some degree. If you want to have creative control of your book, then you need to know certain things:
What is a traditional, self, and indie publisher
What is an ISBN and how do I get one
What are the publishers/printers guidelines
What publisher/printer offers the best features
What are the expected royalties
This is just a partial list of things you need to know.
A MARKETER
Today almost all authors are responsible for selling their books. If you’re a celebrity you may only have to do book tours. But the rest of us have to work to sell the books and this is the hardest thing to do. You need to know:
traditional book tours
virtual book tours
book trailers
social media marketing
TV/radio marketing
Again the list goes on.
Once you decided to write you became a business person whether you wanted to or not. And if you are like I was when I first started then you know very little about the business of writing.
When I first dreamed about being an author I had no idea of the real work involved. And when I wrote my first novel, I had next to no knowledge of what publisher to go with or what my involvement in marketing would be. These are things that are needed to know, but while there are courses on writing available there is scant information relating to the business of writing.
UNTIL NOW!
I have prepared a free mini-course on the business of writing that delves into:
why you as an author should consider yourself a business person
how it impacts your life
most importantly, how to set up a business that won’t detract from your writing.
The course consists of three videos, each answering one of the questions. The third video gets into the actual setup of the business.
I mentioned this is free. There is absolutely no cost.
Free Authors Mini-Course on Business of Writing
Answers 3 questions:
1) Why you are a Business person?
2) How it impacts you as an author?
3) How do you setup the business?
Click here to access Mini-Course
Filed under: Authors, books, business of writing, fiction, Marketing, Publishing, writers, Writing Tagged: Author Tools, basics on writing, blog, blogging, business of writing, free writing course, how to write, learning to write, Writing, writing career, Writing tools, writing training
March 14, 2016
The Indie Movement
I’ve written on this subject before, but today I want to expand on the subject.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE INDIE MOVEMENT
The Independent Press is sometimes referred to a small press. This is understandable as the Indie Press sprang from the small press. So first, let’s get a handle on small press.
Basically a small press has been categorized as a publisher with annual sales below $50 million dollars in the U.S. In addition they are categorized as publishers publishing an average of fewer than 10 books per year. However that is only an average, some do more.
According to Wikipedia these are “defined as publishers that are not part of large conglomerates or multinational corporations.”
WHAT IS AN INDIE?
What I am referring to, however, is authors becoming independent publishers of their own books! This was the purpose and inspiration for founding T&R Independent Books. We don’t handle any other authors, just ourselves. For this reason I suggest their is a clear line of separation between small presses and indie publishers.
Orna Ross (director of The Alliance of Independent Authors) says, “Being an independent author is an approach to writing and publishing, a matter of self-definition. If you see yourself as the creative director of your books, from concept to completion and beyond, then you’re indie.”
You could take that statement and expand on it. You could say, Being an independent publisher depends on how you see yourself. If you see yourself as a person wanting more control over the creative process (writing) plus the publishing, and marketing processes then you are an indie.
Being indie involves much more than just writing, but the potential rewards are also out there. Think of it this way: If you control most, if not all, aspects of writing, publishing, and marketing, you will also reap most of the profits.
Orna continues:
“At ALLi, “independent” is an inclusive description and always relative (everyone needs help to write and publish well). Some of our members are fiercely indie-spirited, as DIY as it’s possible to be. Others are happy to collaborate with a publisher where that seems advantageous, some working with paid publishing services, others with trade publishers.
So what marks out an indie from other authors? The Alliance allows that you are an independent author if:
You have self-published at least one book.
You recognize that ‘indie’ does not necessarily mean ‘self-publishing only’ and acknowledge that even the most indie-spirited self-publisher works in collaboration with other publishing professionals (editors, designers, distributors) to produce a good book and reach readers. You are open to mutual beneficial partnerships, including trade publishing deals where appropriate for you, so long as the author’s status as creative director of the book is acknowledged.
You expect your status in the partnership to be reflected in contracts and terms, not just lip service.
You recognize that you are central to a revolutionary shift in publishing which is moving from seeing the author as resource (in the new parlance ‘content provider’) to respecting the author as creative director.
You are proud of your indie status, which you carry into all your ventures, negotiations and collaborations for your own benefit and to the benefit of all writers.”
Well put. If you are an author this is something that you should take a serious look at. But I go one step further. To me you are a business person and need to take a close look at establishing yourself as a legal entity.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
There are quite a few resources out there for authors to use. For example you could join ALLi, but they have an annual fee. There are others that offer you training at various prices, some reaching over $100. Then there are some who will give you some basics for free.
Some of you may be aware that I now offer a free package on the basics of writing. To learn more about the business of writing click Yes, Show Me More and discover our 3 in 1 free package.
Whatever you decide to do, remember that you are more than just a writer. You are a business person!
Filed under: Authors, Marketing, Publishing, Writing Tagged: Authors Resources, basics on writing, business of writing, Writing
March 3, 2016
After Setting Up my business, what’s next?
In my last blog I mentioned a video with a special offer, but today I want to expand on the subject of a writer being in business. This may be a rather new concept to you, but it is true nonetheless.
In the above mentioned video I also talk about our Mini-Course. And in that course I look at three aspects of business. I begin with why you are a business person, then follow up with how this impacts you personally, and end up showing you how to set up your business.
In this blog I want to discuss how your writing career benefits from your business.
Assuming that you have taken the necessary steps to establish the legal and structural aspects of your business, what next?
Obviously I think that the Authors Academy should be the answer. But let’s consider the real needs of an author. That brings us to the very first need: to educate yourself on writing.
Now you may already know everything you need to know about writing, but I am always seeking to learn more and you should also! Wherever you seek that knowledge you need to learn new or improved techniques for crafting a book that people will want to read. Fortunately there are many resources out there to help you. Resources on grammar, editing, and much more.
The second real need you have is to learn about publishing.
When I was doing my research for the academy on the subject of book publishing I discovered a great deal of information on the internet. The internet is a wonderful source of information, but you have to be careful. And this warning applies to the subject of publishing.
I have never come across a publisher yet that highlighted their shortcomings. So when reading their material you need to read with a little bit of skepticism. Do your research and discover not only the positive things, but the negative as well.
The same advice applies for marketing, but even more so! There is conflicting advice on how you are to market. The ‘experts’ can’t even agree on the best marketing strategy.
Yet, at the same time, if you pay attention you can discern common facts and truths that will help you. Then, of course, you will need to pull them all together to form a cohesive strategy.
But those are only the beginning phases of your business. You will need to track your income and expenses throughout the year. You may, depending on the type of business you are registered as, be required to file periodically with the government as well.
While most of you would not have employees that is not out of the question. And if you do hire employees you will need to comply with federal and state laws.
I am not trying to scare you but simply give you some practical advice. These increased responsibilities will require time and effort, but they will also give you more control and time for your writing. And after all, isn’t that what you want to do?
Filed under: Authors, Marketing, Publishing, Writing Tagged: basics on writing, business of writing, Writing, writing career, Writing tools
February 29, 2016
Should Writers Use Video?
The inspiration for this course came once again from my own experience and from what I have learned over the years. The hardest part, believe it or not, was putting my face out there on video for all to see. I am not a person who in the beginning liked to stand in front of people, let alone a camera, and talk.
But the Lord has enabled me. Over the years He has used me as a Sunday School teacher, which really broke the ice. But He has also taught me how to use video to express ideas. And one of the truths He taught me is that it is not all about me, but about the idea I am promoting or talking about.
In the title I asked a question, “Should writers use video? Now I am not going to say that using videos in marketing your book will make you a great success, since I have only recently started using it. However, others do say so.
Among other things you can create videos for book trailers, YouTube ads, Facebook ads, and much more.
Actually I am increasingly using videos. Both in marketing and in the Authors Academy. I have found that it is an effective way of communicating.
If you have doubts just check my video out. As you will see I don’t have a fancy studio, I actually filmed it in my home office. Nor did I use fancy equipment. And that is the real beauty of it, you can create an interesting video without spending hundreds and thousands of dollars. As I said, watch the video. You will probably end up saying, “If he can do it, then so can I.”
It’s worth investigating!
SO HOW DO YOU DO VIDEO?
As mentioned above I use my home office. And I recommend you do the same. Even if you don’t really have an office, you can film it in your living room or wherever you feel most comfortable. That is important.
Standing up is also important. I have both stood and sat. Both can be effective, but I have rediscovered a truth that someone told me years ago, “you think better on your feet.” It is true. I’m no doctor so I can’t explain why, but standing seems to help your focus.
WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?
How about your computer’s camera? Or do you own a tablet, etc? These may not be the best cameras in the world, but they certainly seem capable to me. I have both a laptop and a cell phone. Haven’t used the cell phone much, but I have been real pleased with the laptop camera.
If you watched the video above, then you can see the quality. I am sure that if you spend hundreds of dollars you can do better, but I suggest you try your camera on either the laptop, tablet, or cell phone first.
WHAT ABOUT YOU TUBE?
The video above is on YouTube. It is a free service unless you start promoting the video on AdWords or elsewhere. Again, I encourage you to check it out.
This is not an in-depth look at videos, but it just might get the wheels spinning in your head. Explore ideas and do some research. I think you will be at least intrigued.
Filed under: Authors, Marketing, Video marketing, Writing Tagged: Authors Resources, basics on writing, Writing tools
February 24, 2016
Writing is not a hobby
Writing is not a hobby.
Some people talk about writing as though it is a hobby. Some day they may write a book. Some day that story they know exists within will come out. Some day.
Actually, writing a book takes time, effort, and knowledge. A hobby requires all three and can be intense. But that is the wrong approach to writing.
I understand that there are authors who have a full-time job or maybe they are full-time mothers (a job) and only have a little time to write. So they consider what they do a hobby.
I don’t mean to disparage hobbies at all. It has been my experience that hobbies are very demanding. Yes, I have had hobbies over the years. One hobby I had involved working with Styrofoam, plywood, and a train set. For years I worked on this hobby of building a small village with a train going through it. I enjoyed it immensely.
I poured a lot hours, sweat, and money into that hobby, but in the end it was still a hobby. And the day came when I walked away.
Which brings me to writing.
If you are writing as a hobby you are in effect denying yourself any chance of success. I don’t know of any author who wrote as a hobby and suddenly produced a best seller. In fact, I don’t know of any writer who made good with writing being simply a hobby.
Writing demands more. Yes, it demands lots of hours, plenty of sweat, and significant money, just like a hobby. But it goes beyond that! It requires learning the craft, hours of research, and much trial and error.
I think that what separates hobbyists from authors is the desire factor. A hobbyist is primarily seeking to please herself, while a businessman is trying to make money. Both have a desire to succeed. But the desire to succeed as a writer goes beyond the norm.
What I am trying to say is that when you commit yourself to becoming a writer, you are declaring yourself to be a businessperson. You may not know all that is involved but you are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.
Some hobbyists may disagree with me, but the fact is that you can walk away from a hobby fulfilled (I did), but walking away from writing isn’t so easy. You see, writing is a career.
It doesn’t matter how much money you make although you want to make money. Writing gets in the blood. You want to write no matter what. Quitting doesn’t seem like an option.
When you complete that book chances are you have already begun thinking or maybe writing another book. And you turn your energies in that direction.
Again, a hobbyist may say, we are the same. But a hobbyist can stop at any time whereas an author finds it very difficult to pull away for even a brief break. There is a commitment that drives the writer beyond the hobby stage.
I’ve written all this to say that if you are going to write think of it as a career not a hobby.
Feel free to comment on this blog. Or if you want to learn more about the business of writing go to my website RFrederickRiddle and watch video with a special offer.
Filed under: Authors, Writing Tagged: Hobby, Writing, writing career
February 3, 2016
Can I Write?
That is a question that people are asking themselves all the time. We’ve all seen the rich and famous authors, but we forget that once they were unknown. Once they may have entertained doubts about whether they can write.
But now they are authors!
How did this happen? Did they attend a college, a seminar, or some other educational institution. Or did they just start writing?
The truth is that authors travel many roads to reach the pinnacle. And there may exist roads not yet traveled. What does that mean to you? Well, for one thing it should mean that there isn’t one road for everyone. Secondly, it should cause you to look at what may be the common denominator.
Is it motivation? There are plenty of motivating factors out there. Motivation is important, but it varies from person to person.
Is it know how? Well, know how can make the difference in a well crafted story or a flop, but not always.
Is it education? We have already pointed out that there are differing educational routes you can take.
So what is the common factor?
It is really simple. If you want to be a writer you must start. Whatever route you are going to take must have a beginning.
That’s why we started the Authors Academy. The beauty of it is that it allows you to learn, apply, and start writing now. You are in charge and apply the lessons as they best suit you.
Why not go to Authors Academy and learn what TR Authors Academy is all about?
Authors Academy is a product of T&R Independent Books.
Filed under: Writing
January 26, 2016
ONGOING SURVEY for Authors Academy
As some of you know we have opened up Authors Academy for anyone interested in starting their authoring career. I would like to take this moment to ask of you a favor. Namely to visit our Landing Page and comment.
If you were looking for help on your writing would you sign up?
Do you find the content compelling?
Do you have any criticisms?
On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being poor, 5 being great or awesome) rate the page.
I understand I may hear comments I don’t really want to hear. However, marketing is an evolving process even as writing. I am interested in hearing anything that will make my marketing better.
I promise to read your comments. Who knows, I may even accept and act on your advice!
Thank you,
R. Frederick Riddle
Filed under: Authors, Writing, writing academy
January 20, 2016
What is TR Authors Academy?
That is a good question and the short answer is that TR Authors Academy is many things to those seeking to learn to write. But the longer answer is explained below.
Perhaps the most important aspect of TR Authors Academy is that it has been my dream to write and later to teach writing for a good portion of my life and a calling ever since I got saved in 1973. It is my dream because as a young wannabe author I was limited in the availability of resources I could tap into for instruction on what makes good writing. There were resources available but they were not free or inexpensive. So I was forced to learn at the school of hard knocks!
In fact, it took me almost forty years after dropping the course to write my first book. I learned a great deal about writing during those years, but it was slow and frustrating. This school of hard knocks took me down some interesting roads, but none resulted in writing a novel. It wasn’t until I was sixty years old that my first book was published. What an exciting day that was!
Today the literary world is a different picture altogether, yet at the same time similar. There are certainly free mini-courses out there which are designed to give you just enough information to entice you to sign up for the more expensive courses. And if you are pleased with the mini-course on writing and can afford the more expensive course then I say go for it. These mini-courses usually amount to about three videos or lessons which give the participant an overview of certain aspects of writing. They are generally good (some by famous authors) and offer good points that you can use. But they are not the complete package. You don’t get the complete package until you have signed up for the higher priced course.
But my dream has been to offer a complete course of all three aspects of writing (writing, publishing and marketing) for a moderate sum that enables the would-be author to develop his or her talents to the fullest potential. It has also been the idea of a self-teaching course where the students have the lesson material at hand, but they control the learning pace. They also learn how to edit and critique their own work, a valuable tool in itself for the serious independent writer.
TR Authors Academy fulfills that dream. Moreover it offers self-teaching lessons on:
Finding and knowing your genre.
Plotting.
Writing scenes.
Developing characters.
Editing.
Proofreading.
And more
In addition to that there is training in publishing and marketing. Among other things you are taught about being an independent publisher (Indie Publisher) and independent marketer (Indie Marketer). The would-be author gets the option to write a novel from scratch and develop it through the course which results in ultimately publishing and marketing it. This involves editing and proofing their manuscripts, as well as performing the duties and opportunities of an publisher.
This course also goes into setting up your office space, establishing your business as a legal entity, organizing your time, and more. In effect, it teaches you to be an independent business person and gives you the basics you need to be successful.
At the beginning of this blog I stated that the Authors Academy was both a dream and a calling. What I mean by “calling” is that I was born into this world with the gift to write, but that is not what makes me a writer. It is God’s calling and gifting when I got saved that transformed me from struggling to write my first novel to now having written five novels and several non-fiction books.
God’s calling is not just for service in the church, but is always for the furtherance of His Gospel. Some people serve in the church (I do) and some serve in other ways. While I do volunteer work for the church, it has been my writing wherein God has guided, equipped, and provided me with the necessary tools and insight. He has a plan for me and I am just a part of that plan.
So writing can be a calling from God. If it is, you will never be asked by God to write anything that violates His Word but it can take many turns before you are certain of the direction. I started out writing and still am writing novels that are primarily based on Biblical events. But it didn’t stop there. Now I write fiction based on American history and non-fiction books that cover different subjects.
Over the years God has used me to teach Sunday School and Masters Club, thus learning how to pass knowledge along to others. And the Academy itself, I believe, was implanted in my mind by God in 2014. Not only my mind but my wife’s as well which led us to co-partner in establishing TR Independent Books, which is the parent of TR Authors Academy.
Please don’t misunderstand me. You don’t have to be a Christian to take this course. It is not a religious writing course but will have a Christian flavor since I am a Christian. Anyone can take the course no matter their religion. We don’t prejudge or insist on any credentials other than a willingness to learn.
This course draws from my own experience as an author plus the knowledge that I have learned through research and application. It is a course that could easily be marketed for hundreds of dollars, but that is not what I wanted to do.
So why do I Market it for less than $10 a month? I do so because I realize that there are talented people out there waiting for the opportunity to write but they simply cannot afford to go to college or to participate in an expensive course. By keeping the price low I am able to give them their best opportunity now!
The Authors Academy is now accepting students. To learn more and to have the opportunity to subscribe to this course simple go to http://www.rfriddle.com/TRAcademy/?page_id=894.
Filed under: Authors, Marketing, Publishing, Writing, writing academy Tagged: Authors Resources, basics on writing, blog, marketing, publishing, R. Frederick Riddle, writer's course, Writing, Writing tools
January 14, 2016
Authors Academy
You may remember that in the past I have discussed the idea of opening an academy where both beginner and established writers can learn the craft of being an author. Well, that day has arrived.
Beginning Sunday morning the Authors Academy will be open for business. And would-be students don’t have to break the bank to take advantage of this offer. Designed with a self-teaching format the course doesn’t require the hiring of teachers or other professionals. Instead, I serve as the writer of the course to which students can contact if they run into problems.
It took a lot of time, research, and effort to build the site, but it was worth it. I only wish someone would have done this when I first started writing. Instead of trial and error, I would have learned the basics of writing, plus the basics of publishing and marketing.
When we first approached this idea I wanted the price to be kept low. Although we could charge $150 or more, we at first thought about offering it for a one-time fee of $49. But that could still be a little high for some people.
So instead of a one-time fee we moved to a subscription fee. This allows the students to try out the course and stay as long or as short as they desire. And instead of $49, we opted for $7 per month.
The beauty of this is not only is it inexpensive but a writer can keep the subscription going for as long as they want – even after completion of the course. And there will be reasons for staying. For example, as time goes forward we will undoubtedly update and expand the material, including adding new material. Furthermore, the student will have access to any new tools that are provided free of charge.
If that is not enough, we also provide a free subscription to Writers World newsletter, which at the moment is free to anyone. But even if the newsletter someday has a price associated with it, it will always be free to active subscribers.
We have not started the actual advertising campaign yet, but anyone reading this blog, our website, Facebook page, or newsletter can subscribe now by going to the following to this site: Why Authors Academy? Once there you will learn more about the academy and how to sign up.
What do you think?
Filed under: Authors, Marketing, Publishing, Writing, writing academy Tagged: Authors Resources, basics on writing, writer's course, Writing, Writing tools
December 29, 2015
A New Year Awaits!
Did you have a good Christmas? Did you pause to think about Who Christ is?
Well, in a couple of days you get another chance. It won’t be about His birth or death, but about 
how He has blessed you throughout the year. And how he will lead you in the future.
New Year’s brings a lot of things to mind, such as football, parties, and new promises you probably won’t keep. But how many of us pause to consider what God has planned for us?
If you’re a Christian, He has promised to instruct, teach, and guide you (Psalm 32:8). He has a plan for each of us, but it is up to us to seek His face, listen to His voice, and obey. It is not likely to be an audible voice, but more like a still soft voice in the back of your mind. You will need to mute all the sounds around you to be able to hear Him.
Take time to listen to Him and then obey Him. I have found over the years that when I listen and obey things generally work out better for me. But when I insist on doing it my way – well, there are consequences!
The New Year holds many promises for us. Teresa and I are excited about new opportunities, such as her first novel which is almost completed, TR Academy which will soon be launched, and brand new challenges and opportunities (unknown to us) which await us in the new year.
What about you?
Filed under: Authors, Marketing, Publishing, Uncategorized, Writing
