Fida Islaih's Blog, page 2
November 12, 2020
Release Day: Jamal-e-Fatima
Hello Poetteers,
I had the honor of editing this poetry collection.
it's past midnigth somewhere by Jamal-e-FatimaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love the imagery of nature and love. There is a beautiful awareness of cultural identity and faith. It resonated with me. I can feel the pain and pride behind the poems. There are pieces included that empower the reader.
Purchase the book!Fida Islaih
November 5, 2020
How to Price and Distribute Your Book
Hello Poetteers,
Is Amazon publishing worth it? Amazon KDP is the most well know book distributor among indie authors. It’s easy and free. The pro is that it’s a site with lots of traffic. It has a rating system to get your book on their own bestselling lists.
Amazon’s sole focus isn’t book distribution. They sell everything. You want to find a company who prioritizes their authors. Places like BookBaby, IngramSpark and Smashwords. It’s important to diversify your marketing.
Your book should still be sold on Amazon and also use other distributors to reach retailers like Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, etc. All your eggs shouldn’t be in one basket. You want to expand your reach. When getting ready to publish and promote your book, one important thing is cost. What are the expenses on your book? What is your income goal?
As a self published poet I’m competing with traditionally published authors. Traditionally published poetry books (paperbacks) are priced at $8 to $16. Ebooks are priced $4 to $8. Is your book priced too low or too high?
Part of the publishing process is picking a price that works for your book. Research is an important part of it. Find books that are in the same genre with a similar length and have similar topics. Take the average price and use that sweet spot. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your book’s price. Change it if it’s not working with you and not comparable to your market.
Analyze the royalty rate and pay time of different book distributors. Pick your choice based on those results. Also, have the royalty rate in mind when pricing your book.
Royalties have to play a part in it. For paperbacks Amazon charges you a printing cost (based on book size, etc) and their royalty rate is 40% to 60%. For ebooks the royalty rate is 30% to 70%. They pay you approximately 60 days following the end of the calendar month.
On Smashwords (ebook distribution site) the royalty rate is 60% to 80%. Smashwords pays monthly, 30–40 days after the conclusion of each month.
The best thing to do is to add signed paperbacks to your book marketing plan. It’s cost effective because readers buy directly from you. (Yes you will have to pay to print bulk but you can make up to 5x more than you spend). It’s the quickest and best way to make up what you spent on making the book.Fida Islaih
Is Amazon publishing worth it? Amazon KDP is the most well know book distributor among indie authors. It’s easy and free. The pro is that it’s a site with lots of traffic. It has a rating system to get your book on their own bestselling lists.
Amazon’s sole focus isn’t book distribution. They sell everything. You want to find a company who prioritizes their authors. Places like BookBaby, IngramSpark and Smashwords. It’s important to diversify your marketing.
Your book should still be sold on Amazon and also use other distributors to reach retailers like Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, etc. All your eggs shouldn’t be in one basket. You want to expand your reach. When getting ready to publish and promote your book, one important thing is cost. What are the expenses on your book? What is your income goal?
As a self published poet I’m competing with traditionally published authors. Traditionally published poetry books (paperbacks) are priced at $8 to $16. Ebooks are priced $4 to $8. Is your book priced too low or too high?
Part of the publishing process is picking a price that works for your book. Research is an important part of it. Find books that are in the same genre with a similar length and have similar topics. Take the average price and use that sweet spot. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your book’s price. Change it if it’s not working with you and not comparable to your market.
Analyze the royalty rate and pay time of different book distributors. Pick your choice based on those results. Also, have the royalty rate in mind when pricing your book.
Royalties have to play a part in it. For paperbacks Amazon charges you a printing cost (based on book size, etc) and their royalty rate is 40% to 60%. For ebooks the royalty rate is 30% to 70%. They pay you approximately 60 days following the end of the calendar month.
On Smashwords (ebook distribution site) the royalty rate is 60% to 80%. Smashwords pays monthly, 30–40 days after the conclusion of each month.
The best thing to do is to add signed paperbacks to your book marketing plan. It’s cost effective because readers buy directly from you. (Yes you will have to pay to print bulk but you can make up to 5x more than you spend). It’s the quickest and best way to make up what you spent on making the book.Fida Islaih
October 1, 2020
Book Release - Katie Wismer
Hello Poetteers,
I recently read The Sweetest Kind of Poison by Katie Wismer and enjoyed it. She released a new poetry book today!
Blurb:
If you are underwhelmed by me,
please just let me go...
Poems for the End of the World is a coming of age collection and exploration of the confusing and disillusioning trek through young adulthood in a broken world. Divided into four chapters—waking up, growing pains, crushing realities, and disappointing beginnings—this collection covers everything from self-discovery and heartbreak to chronic illness and fresh starts.
Author Bio:
Katie Wismer is a die-hard pig lover, semi-obsessive gym rat, and longtime sucker for a well-written book. She studied creative writing and sociology at Roanoke College and now works as a freelance editor in Colorado with her cats Max and Dean. Her first poetry collection The Sweetest Kind of Poison and her debut novel The Anti-Virginity Pact are available anywhere books are sold. When she's not writing, reading, or wrangling the cats, you can find her on her YouTube channel. You can also find her on Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads or at katiewismer.com.
Stay inspired,FidaFida Islaih
I recently read The Sweetest Kind of Poison by Katie Wismer and enjoyed it. She released a new poetry book today!
Blurb:
If you are underwhelmed by me,
please just let me go...
Poems for the End of the World is a coming of age collection and exploration of the confusing and disillusioning trek through young adulthood in a broken world. Divided into four chapters—waking up, growing pains, crushing realities, and disappointing beginnings—this collection covers everything from self-discovery and heartbreak to chronic illness and fresh starts.
Author Bio:
Katie Wismer is a die-hard pig lover, semi-obsessive gym rat, and longtime sucker for a well-written book. She studied creative writing and sociology at Roanoke College and now works as a freelance editor in Colorado with her cats Max and Dean. Her first poetry collection The Sweetest Kind of Poison and her debut novel The Anti-Virginity Pact are available anywhere books are sold. When she's not writing, reading, or wrangling the cats, you can find her on her YouTube channel. You can also find her on Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads or at katiewismer.com.
Stay inspired,FidaFida Islaih
September 25, 2020
Behind the Poem: Hold Space
Hello Poetteers,
Original Poem
Always when I talk with you,I'm afraid to say everythingbecause I think you might notunderstand it allbecause of the somewhatdifferent beliefs we have.Yet you ask questions to help me.And I'm glad you do.We are, together breaking downanother wall of isolation.
Response Poem
I hold backafraid to say anythingworried you might not understandbecause of the different beliefs we have; you say somethingthat contradicts my beliefsand I shrink backwishing someone else was in placewhere I didn’t have to explain the cultural expectationsbefore expressing how I feelYou are willing to ask questions and learnit feels tiringlike there’s no space for me.
Behind the Poem
I enjoy sharing my beliefs and values. Sometimes I get tired of having to explain my religious beliefs and cultural values, especially before pouring out my emotions. I wish people were more aware and understanding of different cultures and religions. That right there is why I write poetry: to express my emotions and experiences while spreading cultural awareness. Why do you write?
A to Z Poetry is available for purchase on Smashwords.
stay inspired,
FidaFida Islaih
Original Poem
Always when I talk with you,I'm afraid to say everythingbecause I think you might notunderstand it allbecause of the somewhatdifferent beliefs we have.Yet you ask questions to help me.And I'm glad you do.We are, together breaking downanother wall of isolation.
Response Poem
I hold backafraid to say anythingworried you might not understandbecause of the different beliefs we have; you say somethingthat contradicts my beliefsand I shrink backwishing someone else was in placewhere I didn’t have to explain the cultural expectationsbefore expressing how I feelYou are willing to ask questions and learnit feels tiringlike there’s no space for me.
Behind the Poem
I enjoy sharing my beliefs and values. Sometimes I get tired of having to explain my religious beliefs and cultural values, especially before pouring out my emotions. I wish people were more aware and understanding of different cultures and religions. That right there is why I write poetry: to express my emotions and experiences while spreading cultural awareness. Why do you write?
A to Z Poetry is available for purchase on Smashwords.
stay inspired,
FidaFida Islaih
September 15, 2020
On Writing Perspectives
Hello Poetteers,
In part one I talked about controlling the narrative. Writing from a human’s perspective you didn’t experience can be problematic. There are other ways you can write from other perspectives that aren’t your own. Explore and personify emotions, colors, nature, and other inanimate objects like furniture, etc.
Writing is exploratory. Within ourselves we have different perspectives on our own experiences. Write what happened but also explore what you wish happened. After you write about a negative moment explore the positives. Write to the child in you then write to the adult in you. After pointing out your weaknesses look for your strengths.
Analyze your old poetry and look for a new angle you can use. You may just surprise yourself.
stay inspired,
Fida Fida Islaih
In part one I talked about controlling the narrative. Writing from a human’s perspective you didn’t experience can be problematic. There are other ways you can write from other perspectives that aren’t your own. Explore and personify emotions, colors, nature, and other inanimate objects like furniture, etc.
Writing is exploratory. Within ourselves we have different perspectives on our own experiences. Write what happened but also explore what you wish happened. After you write about a negative moment explore the positives. Write to the child in you then write to the adult in you. After pointing out your weaknesses look for your strengths.
Analyze your old poetry and look for a new angle you can use. You may just surprise yourself.
stay inspired,
Fida Fida Islaih
September 11, 2020
Response to 'A to Z Poetry'
Hello Poetteers,
Like any other writer my work has evolved through the years. A to Z Poetry is my first book. Reading from it makes me cringe. There are still some gems in it. I don’t want to unpublish it. I want myself and my readers to see the evolution. For its 7th anniversary I decided to write a few response poems to the book.
Original Poem
Everyone has their own guardian angel guiding us always they are here to protect us from everything guardian angels are always there every step of the way.
Response Poem
My heart should have been hurtbut I walked away without a scratchI feel a sense of peace wash over meas I know an angel was watching over meprotecting my heart.
A to Z Poetry is available for purchase on Smashwords.
stay inspired,FidaFida Islaih
Like any other writer my work has evolved through the years. A to Z Poetry is my first book. Reading from it makes me cringe. There are still some gems in it. I don’t want to unpublish it. I want myself and my readers to see the evolution. For its 7th anniversary I decided to write a few response poems to the book.
Original Poem
Everyone has their own guardian angel guiding us always they are here to protect us from everything guardian angels are always there every step of the way.
Response Poem
My heart should have been hurtbut I walked away without a scratchI feel a sense of peace wash over meas I know an angel was watching over meprotecting my heart.
A to Z Poetry is available for purchase on Smashwords.
stay inspired,FidaFida Islaih
August 19, 2020
Behind the Poem - The Garden
The Garden
Through the windowI see the morning dew
I feel your sunlight the wind chimes and birds chirp buds fill the branches
The morning spring light nourishes the blossoming - flowers and my soul
The breeze brings the first fragrance of freshly bloomed flowers bringing vibrant colors to the earth
watching clouds float and shape-shift perfect for bare feet and day dreams
I sit in silence, unmoved two little birds were chirping loudly playing in our garden chirping to their friends I hear their wings flutterand dance in the bird bath
the flowers you water pray for you the birds you feed pray for you.
Behind the Poem
The poem wasn’t written in one sitting. It started as three haikus in response to some April prompts. In June I wrote a garden poem. I noticed one stanza had the same line as one of the haikus:
"Enjoy the little joys the breeze brings wind chimes and birdsong watching clouds float and shapeshiftperfect for bare feet and day dreams."
I edited out the above lines to remove redundancy. All the pieces had similar themes of spring and the garden that I combined it together for one longer piece.
stay inspired,Fida
Through the windowI see the morning dew
I feel your sunlight the wind chimes and birds chirp buds fill the branches
The morning spring light nourishes the blossoming - flowers and my soul
The breeze brings the first fragrance of freshly bloomed flowers bringing vibrant colors to the earth
watching clouds float and shape-shift perfect for bare feet and day dreams
I sit in silence, unmoved two little birds were chirping loudly playing in our garden chirping to their friends I hear their wings flutterand dance in the bird bath
the flowers you water pray for you the birds you feed pray for you.
Behind the Poem
The poem wasn’t written in one sitting. It started as three haikus in response to some April prompts. In June I wrote a garden poem. I noticed one stanza had the same line as one of the haikus:
"Enjoy the little joys the breeze brings wind chimes and birdsong watching clouds float and shapeshiftperfect for bare feet and day dreams."
I edited out the above lines to remove redundancy. All the pieces had similar themes of spring and the garden that I combined it together for one longer piece.
stay inspired,Fida
August 18, 2020
Controlling the Narrative
Hello poets,I've noticed people reading poems from male 'she' poets. It’s frustrating. Its tiring. Men plagiarizing women’s work. Men mistranslating other poets' work. Men writing about women’s trauma. They should not be writing about women's experiences. Men should not be writing about female trauma or beautifying mental illness. They can’t tell women how they should feel and deal with their mental illnesses and trauma. You can write dark pieces and about mental illnesses without "romanticizing" it and being harmful. Leave females to write about their own traumas and their own stories.
Have you ever read a poem about their personal human experience? Do you notice who they refer to in their poems? If they never talk about their own experiences and always share someone’s else narrative it can be problematic. We shouldn’t be writing about a human perspective we haven’t experienced. We should control our own narrative and pass the mic to the other necessary voices. I don’t want a white person to be writing about a person of color’s experiences. Men shouldn’t write from a woman’s perspective.
You’re welcome to write about your experiences with them but don’t write their narrative. Pass the mic and make space for us. We should be creating a space for us to share our own stories instead of letting others control our narrative. Share your experiences. Show that you exist. There is one universal way they may see you as. There is more to us than what others know. What are you doing about it?
Other Reads:Current State of Poetry WorldReading RumiWhere Have All The Good Male Poets Gone?stay inspired,Fida
August 10, 2020
Hiring An Editor
Hello Poetteers,When hiring an editor here are a few things to keep in mind: read their service pagerequest a sample edit to see if we are a good fitdiscuss the kind of feedback you need and ask how they editfigure out and be clear about the payment plan. It varies between editors how they calculate the cost.ask how long will the editing take? (and their timeline. De clear if you have your own deadline.)Lastly, editors want to know the genre of your work and the length of your manuscript.
Stay inspired,Fida
Message me when your poetry is ready to be edited and you're interested in working with me.
August 4, 2020
Favorites from 'Folklore'
Hello Poetteers,I decided to do a different and fun post for this week. I'm sure a majority of us including me have been listening to 'Folklore'. I love a really good lyric. It's relatable and up to the reader/listener's interpretation. I want to breakdown why some of the lyrics have become my favorite.
cardigan: "I knew you'd haunt all of my what-ifs" Listening to this line I think of anxiety.
the last great american dynasty: "She had a marvelous time ruining everything." I love the change in POV. This particular line makes me think of loud woman breaking cultural and societal expectations.
exile: "you're not my homeland anymore." I love the two voices in this song. There is another lyric that I love the alliteration in but this particular line pulls at my heart because it reminds me of those in diaspora.
my tears ricochet: "I didn't have it in myself to go with grace." I think of my self doubts, overthinking, uncomfortable with emotions and being hard on myself.
seven: "Are there still beautiful things?" This song is sweet and this particular line reminds me to appreciate nature.
august: "live for the hope of it all" I love this line because it reminds me to stay positive and live in the present.
invisible string: "time cutting me open and healing me fine." This is one of my favorite songs. I picked this particular line because it's fitting for me has I'm in the middle of my own healing journey.
this is me trying:
"I've been having a hard time adjusting...
I have a lot of regrets about that...
Could've followed my fears all the way down...
I just wanted you to know that this is me trying
At least I'm trying."
This is my top favorite song from the album. I'm currently working through some past trauma and there was a specific transition that was hard on me.
epiphany: "And some things you just can't speak about." This line reminds me of myself as a reserved person, keeping my pain to myself and using poetry to express myself.
peace: "Give you the silence that only comes when two people understand each other." This line is sweet as I appreciate the presence of loved ones.
What is your favorite song and lyric?
