Allyson E. Machate's Blog, page 9

How to Outline Your Way to a Better, Stronger Book

This month we're pleased to welcome editor and author Geoff Hart as a guest blogger to The Writer's Ally blog, sharing some wisdom on how to outline your fiction or nonfiction book before you begin writing (or after) to create a better reading experience for your audience, and a better writing experience for you!

Pay attention to the best stories, and you’ll notice how (unlike life) they flow smoothly from start to finish, with the only interruptions provided (intentionally) to challenge the...

Ally Lays Out the Book Biz on “Elaine’s Kitchen Table”

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Have ever thought about writing a book but don't know where to start? Have you written a book but find you need help getting it into the hands of readers? Then pull up a chair and join us at Elaine's Kitchen Table, a podcast devoted to the "Business of Real Life."

I was very excited when Elaine Tan Comeau invited me to join her in her podcast, where she likes to talk informally with people who are making things happen and dive deeper into the details of their journey. Since I'm...

3 Secrets Shrewd Writers Know About Publishing Too Soon

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So often would-be authors are consumed by the task of deciding what their book should be about, how they're going to publish it, and other similar questions. But one of the quickest ways to kill a book project of any type right out of the gate is to write and publish too soon. Yes, that's right. There is such a thing as publishing too soon. You can avoid the agony of getting caught in this situation by embracing these "insider" secrets.

Your Ideas Can Get Ahead of Your Writing

O...

Ally Talking Biz and Books on “Play Your Position” Podcast – Nov 2016

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I'm not much of a sports fan, I'll admit. I played basketball one year for my high school team, and I've always loved playing sports with friends. But it isn't something I watch on television. I don't have a favorite team. I don't keep up with coaches or owners or stats. And yet, when Mary Lou Kayser invited me to join her on the "Play Your Position" podcast, I knew it would be a great fit.

Why? Because Mary Lou wisely uses a sports analogy for business and life success, and in...

Podcast Recording: Bidsy Small Business Society September 2016

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I recently joined Rob Barisoff for the Bidsy Small Business Society Podcast.We had a blast talking about how listeners can best navigate the complex world of book publishing.Bidsy Small Business Society features today's most dynamic small business owners and entrepreneurs talking about what makes their business successful--five days a week! John Lee Dumas, Nathan Latka, Aunia Kahn, Mike Dolce, Peter Shankman, Holly Barker, and Chandler Bolt are only a few of the featured guests...

Ally Returns to the Communication Central Conference – October 2016

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I am very happy to announce that I will return to speak for the 11th annual Communication Central Conference in October. This year's theme is “Be a Better Freelancer – Profiting in Publishing.”

Topics at this key editorial professionals' event range from new approaches to social media to using Word to freelancing in the crafts world to editing fiction, and much more! I will be speaking about "How to Write (or Edit) a Winning Book Proposal" and am looking forward to connecting wi...

Book Marketing with Ally on “Writestream Tuesday”–April 2016

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I was thrilled to begin my new recurring guest expert spot with a discussion about book marketing on the "Writestream Tuesday" podcast April 12, 2016.

Writestream co-founder and Tuesday host Daria Anne DiGiovanni first interviewed me on January 12. Since then, I've agreed to return to the show on a quarterly basis to talk shop and offer excellent advice to authors. For this episode, which went live April 12, 2016 at 1pm Eastern, the topic centered around book marketing and strat...

Ally to Teach and Guide Networking for Authors at BTO in March

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I hate being cold, but every winter I drag myself out of the house and down to the Eastern shore of Maryland. Why? Because I love participating in the annual Bay to Ocean Writers Conference, hosted in conjunction with the Eastern Shore Writers Association. This year I'm doing something new and exciting—the BTO coordinators are trying out sessions to facilitate networking for authors, and I'm hosting one. As with any other endeavor, publishing and promoting a book is much easier...

Writing a Book: 3 Amazing Tips to Get Started—an Interview with Ally Machate

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Writing abook to share your message, experiences, and knowledge with the world can be an amazing journey and a great asset for your business! Some studies claim it's the best way for an expert to prove her authority in a niche. But how do you find the right idea to write about? How do you turn that idea into a book people will resonate with and want to buy?

Thanks to Carrie Green of the Female Entrepreneur Association, I was able to answer this question and more. Carrie invited...

Ally Teaches Successful Self-Publishing from Both Sides 2/25!

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With so many options available, it can be difficult to navigate your way to successful self-publishing. But if you want great results, you need to get real. You cannot just copy what the bestsellers are doing or upload your files and hope for the best—if you want to sell more than the 100-200 copy average where most indie books cap out, you need a plan designed for your type of book and your particular situation. You need to know about the unique opportunities and limitations of...