Peter Lopez Jr.'s Blog: Xulon Press Blog , page 13

Giveaway Ideas For Indie Authors

Giving away a copy of your own book is a classic giveaway for authors. But what else can you offer to make your giveaway more interesting or fresh?

Giveaways are a great tactic for authors to use to promote their books. Because it’s an exchange for taking an action you specify — for example, to enter you must be following the author on social media, tag two friends in the comments, and share the post — both the reader and the author get something out of it.

Here are some giveaway ideas to help inspire you.Book Bundle With Multiple Authors.

When multiple authors join forces for a giveaway, the prize tends to be more interesting. Multiple free books are better than one; not to mention the variety in stories or genres they’ll receive from bundling different authors. This is an opportunity to network with other indie authors alike on social media and cross-promote your work on each other’s platforms. Each author promotes the giveaway to their fans with pre-discussed tactics, and each author gives away a bundle to their audience — it’s a win-win!

Advanced Copy of  Your Next Book.

This is a great way to create hype around your latest book release. You could even ask the winner to share their thoughts on the book with a video clip or social media post afterward to keep the buzz going.

Signed and Annotated Books.

Give readers a new experience while reading your book by annotating it! You could include fun facts or behind the scenes to give the readers more insight into the process of creating your book. Top it off with a special message to the winner and your autograph on the book.

You Can’t Go Wrong With Merch.

Bookmarks, mugs, shirts, stickers, signed posters–you name it. It’s always a good idea to give away your book merch to readers. It makes readers excited, plus its free advertising when they’re walking around with your book cover on their shirt.

 

Have any other giveaway ideas? Comment them below!

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What’s an Epilogue and Do I Need One?

If you read a lot of novels, you’ve seen that some authors will use an epilogue at the end of their books. Not to be confused with an afterword, an epilogue is meant for fiction stories and is used to show what became of your characters at a future time. The sole purpose is to tie up loose ends from your story — or potentially set the readers up to expect a sequel.

An epilogue has to be strong if it’s going to make it through a round of professional editing. If it’s not, you may get a note back from your editor that it needs to be incorporated into the actual ending of your novel.

That’s the tricky part about epilogues — it can’t be used to hide the fact that your book’s ending is somewhat lackluster. So, how do you know if you need to include one at the end of your novel? Here are three questions to help you decide.

Do You Need an Epilogue? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself1. Are there any lingering questions readers may have about your protagonist that need to be answered after the ending?

If you need to show readers what happens to your protagonist a year or more into the future after the ending, then you should include the epilogue. This can be a useful way to answer any last questions. Did the protagonist actually get married after her boyfriend proposed? If so, maybe you flash forward to the wedding day. Did your protagonist go on to win a Medal of Honor after distinguishing himself by an act of valor at the end of your historical fiction novel? Definitely use an epilogue to share the awards ceremony.

2. Are you trying to overcompensate for a weak ending?

Making it to the end of your story is an arduous writing skill, so it’s best to focus and make your ending as strong as you possibly can. Don’t skirt by the ending just to add an epilogue on top of it. If your ending is strong enough, you’ll rarely need one.

3. Are you trying to set up for a sequel?

If your goal of the epilogue is to create a space to imply a sequel is coming, then definitely include the epilogue. Avoid using any cliffhangers in your epilogue though. Use the epilogue to develop a lead-in story arc for a new character in your next book. This will hint to readers that your next book will follow someone else.

Does your ending need a stronger finish? Try finishing your novel with tips from our editorial team.

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10 Tips for a Better Book Opening

The opening of your book is the place where readers will decide to keep reading or set aside your book — no pressure. So, your opening pages need to jump straight into your story without dawdling on about the protagonist’s history or how he/she ended up in the current predicament. The back story is 100% necessary for you, as the writer to know ahead of time. You’ll need to develop all that information before you begin to type the first page of your book. That background work, however, will only slow your readers down and bore them if you drop it all in the first chapter.

To avoid a slow burn at the onset of your book, focus on our ten guiding tips below to help you write a better opening for your book.

10 Better Book Openings1. Don’t start too early.

Avoid starting your story before the action or conflict begins. This is often part of your back story and should be left out of your opening.

2. Don’t get ahead either.

Start your readers in the sweet spot between too much information and not enough. You want to make sure you bait your readers with just enough information to keep them going and if you jump ahead too far, you’ll skip over your hook.

3. Avoid heavy dialogue.

The last thing a reader wants is to jump straight into a long string of dialogue among characters they know nothing about. Save the dialogue for a page or two in when you’ve already made some introductions.

4. Be sure to introduce your protagonist.

One of the most important aspects of any book opening is to ensure your readers know who the protagonist is as soon as possible. Don’t leave readers wondering who they are supposed to be following throughout the book.

5. Skip the cliches.

If an alarm clock or the start of the day has no thematic qualities in your book, avoid these overdone cliches to start your book. Readers may see it as a lazy way to begin telling your story.

6. Introduce the conflict present in the book.

The sooner you can get to your protagonist’s main conflict the better. The “will she or won’t she” is one of those hooks that will keep your reader interested. If you gloss over or avoid mentioning the conflict in your opening, readers won’t truly know what’s at stake for the protagonist.

7. Make readers aware of the setting.

If your book is set in Savannah, Georgia, don’t leave your readers wondering until chapter two. Introducing the setting and season is almost as important as making sure you introduce your protagonist in the beginning pages.

8. Use a bit of mystery.

Leave breadcrumbs in the opening pages of your book that may not fully make sense to readers until the ending. A little bit of mystery will keep your readers engaged with your story and want to read more.

9. Study short story openings if you’re struggling.

Look to the masters — short story authors – to study how they masterfully craft their openings. With a super-condensed allotted word count for short stories, writers have to get to the point quickly but also hook readers. Apply what you learn to your own opening scenes.

10. Always go back to the beginning after you finish writing the end.

No matter how hard you try to start your book off on the right foot, you should absolutely go back and rework your opening pages once you’ve finished writing your book. You may notice some pretty significant changes you’ll need to make.

 

Do you enjoy writing the opening pages of a book? If not, here are more helpful tips to start your book off strong. If the middle has you stuck, we recommend Pushing Through the Middle: Reviving Your Fiction Story.

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Beach Read Writing: Here’s What You Need to Know

A “beach read” is a book typically set at or near the beach, published in late spring to early summer. The intent for this popular sub-genre is to have these be the books people take to their summer vacations. The cover designs are typically colorful, with beachy aspects incorporated.

Beach reads have been around for decades but didn’t become a popular sub-genre until a few years ago. This is mostly thanks to the authors who put out a summer-themed book every year at the start of summer vacation travel. Some of the big hitters in the beach read genre include Elin Hilderbrand, Mary Alice Monroe, and Mary Kay Andrews.

So, should your novel be classified as a beach read? Here’s a list of ingredients your fiction book will need in order to fit in the beach read sub-genre.

6 Important Pieces You Need to Include to Make Your Book a Beach Read1. Location is paramount.

When writing a beach read, your setting should actually be written as if it’s one of the characters in your book. The location, climate, and more should all have prominence in your story. As for your setting, the beach is 100% the right location for a beach read.

2. Has characters readers want to root for.

For your book to be a thoroughly enjoyable beach read, your protagonist needs to be someone your readers want to root for. You need your characters to be flawed, so they come across as real, but you don’t want them to be too flawed that the story takes a dark turn.

3. You can deliver a happy ending for your characters.

The happy ending for your story is something you must be able to deliver in your beach read. Your readers are counting on everything working out by the last page with all the characters in their happy places.

4. Romance is necessary.

The romance element is another ingredient of a beach read that you can’t deviate from. Readers who have come to love the sub-genre are expecting a romantic relationship to brewing between the protagonist and another character, and they want those characters to get their happily ever after.

5. Can be read fast.

You have to be able to keep up the pace of your writing if you are going to classify your book as a beach read. You’re aiming for a page-turner that your readers don’t want to put down because they need to find out what happens next. The reason you need this type of pace is that you’re writing a book for people who want to start and finish your book during a week-long summer vacation.

6. Should be a shareable book among friends.

Beach reads are often printed in paperback and are meant to be passed around among friends, left in little free libraries, and on bookshelves in beach houses. This way, more people can enjoy the book.

Are you writing a beach read? Search “writing tips” on the Xulon Press blog to find more writing inspiration.

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Set and Meet Summer Writing Goals

A common challenge a writer can face is that there’s no one to tell them what to do, when to do it, how to do it, or even if they’ve done it well. That’s why setting writing goals to keep yourself accountable is so important. And with summer officially beginning this weekend, now’s the perfect time to set them.

Before we get started on tips for setting goals, it’s important to understand goals first. For example, while some may yearn to become a millionaire novelist, that’s not a goal — it’s a dream. And the only way you’ll achieve dreams is by setting goals followed by action plans to take you there.

Understanding Goals

To be effective, goals should be S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely).  Meaning if you want to be a successful writer, you must define what it means to be successful in a S.M.A.R.T. way and create a realistic action plan to take you there.

To set attainable goals you must be honest with yourself about what you’re able to achieve at this stage in your writing career. For example, if you’ve never earned income from writing, it would be unrealistic to set a goal of becoming a self-supporting writer in a year. Similarly, if you’ve never been much of a writer before, it might be unrealistic to expect yourself to complete a 500-page novel in a matter of months.

Setting (and Meeting) GoalsSetting Goals

Unrealistic goals can be unachievable and overwhelming. Consider setting writing goals that you can accomplish one step at a time. Rather than burn yourself out early with overambitious expectations, the best thing you can do is create daily habits that will help you reach your goals. Here are some examples of smart writing goals:

Write 1,000 words on your scheduled writing days.Spend two hours writing every day (or on your scheduled writing days) at a scheduled time.Write one chapter every week.Practice journaling; Whether it’s in the morning, on lunch breaks, or at night — finding the time that best works for you is key.Tracking Goals

Writing goals will be easier to track if they have numeric values or deadlines associated with them. The easiest way to track your goals is to use a calendar. It’s essential to keep track of your progress. You may find that your goals were too ambitious, or maybe not ambitious enough–and it’s okay to adjust them!

Meeting Goals

Keep yourself motivated. Whether that’s through podcasts, finding inspiration in other books, or creating some sort of reward system for yourself. It’s important to remind yourself why you’re on this writing journey and find ways to ignite that initial excitement you had when you started.

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10 Ways to Become a Better Reader

Now that summer is upon us, it’s the perfect time of year to spend more time reading, and becoming a better reader isn’t just about reading more books. Focusing on bettering your reading skill is about identifying the types of books you do and don’t like to read, learning not to force yourself to read books you know you won’t like, and finding ways to socialize in a way that involves books, such as book clubs and #bookstagram on social media.

Here are 10 ways you can become a better reader:

 

1. Set aside a designated time to read something you want to read.

From work emails to news articles, we practically spend all our time reading these days, but it’s never anything we truly want to read. So, be sure to leave time in your schedule to read what you like.

2. Decide which genre you most enjoy reading.

When you find a genre you enjoy reading most, you’ll naturally find yourself wanting to read more. Be sure to mix up your genre every now and then though, so you can expand your knowledge.

3. Don’t force yourself to finish.

If you aren’t enjoying a book, it can feel like punishment to finish it. Don’t force yourself to read books you don’t like for the sake of saying you read it.

4. Keep a reading list handy.

To keep up your reading pace, make sure you have a book waiting for you as soon as you finish a book. This will keep you in the habit of reading. You could start to form a “To Be Read” pile or you could keep a running list of books you want to read, so next time you go to the bookstore or library, you can choose another book from your list.

5. Use a highlighter or add comments to the margins.

This tip is most helpful for nonfiction books. To help you process and retain information better, leave yourself notes on the pages of your book or highlight specific passages that have meaning for you.

6. Keep a reading journal.

When you finish a book, add it to a reading journal. You can note the title, author name, your personal rating of the book, and your overall opinion or summary. You’ll have a good idea of just how many books you read in a given time. Plus, if a friend asks for a book recommendation, you can turn to your reading journal to find something that may interest them.

7. Try audiobooks.

Reading a book has to be a solitary hobby, meaning it’s not one you can multi-task. That’s where audiobooks come in handy. Maybe your only time to read a book is also the only time you have to fold a load of laundry. Listening to an audiobook allows you to do both.

8. Join a book club.

A book club is a great opportunity to make reading books more social. And those group discussions will help you retain information from books better, but they will also open you up to differing opinions your fellow readers may have.

9. It doesn’t have to be a book at all.

Reading the newspaper, a magazine, or any other form of writing will all make you a better reader. So, don’t feel pressured to just read books. But I still don’t recommend counting work emails as reading.

10. Set a daily page count you want to read.

Test your reading limits by setting a daily page count you want to read. As that goal becomes easy to achieve, set a new page count goal to keep yourself motivated.

 

Looking for new books to add to your reading list? Visit our online bookstore to find your next read!

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How to Write a Father’s Day Card

Father’s Day is around the corner, which means it’s time to remind the father figures in your life just how special they are to you!  If you’re looking for inspiration on what to write on your Father’s Day card, you’ve come to the right place.

What to Write

You want to avoid generic messages and instead, speak from the heart. Even if the message is short and sweet, it’ll still be special because it came from you. If you’re having trouble or don’t know where to get started, we have 5 easy steps to help guide you:

Begin your card by wishing him a Happy Father’s Day (easy enough, right?)Show your appreciation by thanking them for their role and influence in your life.Share specific qualities you admire about them and that you’re grateful for. The goal is to make them feel special and appreciated.Personalize your message even more by writing briefly about a special memory you have with them, whether it’s a sentimental or funny one.  You could even include a picture of that day if you have one!Finish off your card with a heartfelt closing. A simple “I love you” or “I’m grateful for you” can go a very long way.

Father’s Day is the perfect time of year to celebrate the caring men in your life. Whether it’s your dad, or grandpa, or anyone who has been a father figure in your life, you want to make sure you express your love and gratitude for them on their special day. A Father’s Day card with a personalized message can be the perfect way to do just that.

Have any tips of your own? Comment them below!

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Self-Publishing From Beginning to End

Self-publishing has come a long way in the past decade both in terms of the process, as well as the finished product. If you’re new to self-publishing, however, it may still feel a bit confusing at times. To make it as simple as possible, we break down the publishing process into three parts: pre-production, production, and postproduction. There are countless other steps to self-publishing that begin way before the pre-production process, but most of those steps, such as outlining and writing your book and securing beta readers should take place before you begin preproduction.

Let’s look at the publishing process once you finish the writing portion of your journey.

Three Parts of the Production Process1. Pre-Production

The first step in the production process includes detailed phone calls with your publishing consultant. This is to go over every aspect of the self-publishing process, including your publishing package and additional services. At this stage, you’ll also be assigned a team of designers, which is headed up by your Production Manager. You’ll also make final selections for the interior formatting of your book, which includes the trim size, font style, font size, and line spacing.

If you have editorial services, those will be completed during the pre-production stage as well. This is also a great time to begin thinking about your cover design, book summary, and author biography. Take time to look at other books published in your genre and note colors, patterns, and font types you like and dislike. This will be super helpful in helping you communicate your ideas for your cover design. Writing your book summary and author biography may feel like the most difficult step of the process. But we do offer great tips for writing your author bio and more. You’ll also want to check your work against our Manuscript Preparation Guidelines.

2. Production

Once your editing services are completed and you’ve fully reviewed your manuscript and made all your last revisions to the document, you’ll send that final manuscript file to your Production Manager to kick off the production of your book.

You will also submit your cover design ideas, author biography, book summary, and your photo for the back of your book. Once these files have been submitted, a Production team member will review your submissions. They’ll make you aware of any potential issues that may need to be corrected before your book can enter Production.

During the Production stage, your cover (front and back) is will be designed, your manuscript file will be typeset into the correct book formatting based on the print specifications you chose during the Pre-production process.

Your book will stay in the Production stage until you provide final approval for each one of your book’s files: front cover, back cover, and interior layout. Be sure to check your galley copy and your cover files against our Publishing Review Checklist before approving your files.

3. Post-Production

As soon as you provide final approval for your book’s files and it is released to the printer, your book officially enters the Post-production stage of the process. This is the time when your marketing efforts should begin to skyrocket. You’ll want to double down on your social media marketing, start sharing with friends and family that your book is coming soon, and you’ll want to set up your author page on Goodreads.

Once your book enters the printing process, you’ll no longer be able to submit changes or make any revisions. Once the printer has received your files and the number of free books they need to print, it’s only a matter of time until you’ll receive a physical copy of your book in the mail. Be sure to document the moment you open your book for the first time! It’s a rewarding moment that you’ll want to reminisce. These also make great social media posts, too! Be sure to tag us in any of your book unboxing videos.

Are you ready to start your self-publishing journey? Call 1-866-381-2665 and speak with a Xulon Press Publishing Consultant.

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The Pomodoro Technique for Writers

When it comes to writing, time is often the biggest enemy. Sometimes we all need a little competition (even if it’s with ourselves) to kick a task into high gear. We think we’re too busy to write because other tasks and responsibilities fill our time. Or we squander away the time we do have to write by allowing our minds to wander when we should be focused. This is where the Pomodoro Technique can be very helpful.

If you fall into either of these time issues, grab yourself a good old-fashioned kitchen timer, put your phone away, and close yourself off from all distractions. Start by setting the kitchen timer for five minutes, then get to writing. You just gave yourself a five-minute period of writing time with no distractions. Keep track of how many words you’re able to write in that time block. You’ll be more impressed by your word count than you thought going into your timer experiment.

Now that you’ve seen how successful you can be when writing with a timer, bump yourself up to the Pomodoro Technique. This working time block includes working on a task for a 25-minute block, followed by a short break of five minutes. After four rounds of 25-minute working blocks and short breaks, you’ll then take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. If you have time, you can jump back into another round of Pomodoros or you can step away from your writing at this time. The Pomodoro Technique can lend you up to two hours of distraction-free writing time, which is a decent amount of time.

5 Reasons Why the Pomodoro Technique Works for Writing

Using a timer while you write can do more than just create a sense of urgency for your writing. It can:

1. Establish positive writing boundaries.

You’ll know that while the timer is going your only responsibility is to write. By following through, you will establish writing boundaries that you, as well as others, will begin to respect.

2. Instill good time management.

If you aren’t great at managing your time, using a timer will help ensure you stay on task until you hear the ding. Once you get the feel for the length of time you give yourself for each session, you’ll be better equipped to manage your writing time as it falls within other tasks and responsibilities.

3. Set mini writing deadlines.

Each timed writing session is essentially a mini deadline you set for yourself. The benefit is all you have to do is write during that time. The number of words you get on paper is less important. The more mini-deadlines you set for yourself, the more consistently you’ll show up for your writing and the sooner you’ll have a completed manuscript.

4. Prove you can do anything for a set amount of time.

A stubborn mental block may be the only obstacle in the way of your writing goals, and forcing yourself to write for five to 25 minutes proves you can do nothing but write for that set amount of time. You can apply this lesson to anything: cleaning the kitchen, folding a load of laundry, etc.

5. Help you beat a case of writer’s block.

If you hit a writing wall that you can’t get yourself around, setting a timer and allowing yourself to free-write can help unclog the thoughts in your head and get you back to a place where the words flow again. If you find yourself consumed with random thoughts before you sit down to write, you may want to make a brain dump part of your writing process. That way, you can clear your head for a few minutes before you dive into your manuscript for the day.

Do you have any tricks to keep yourself motivated to write? Read more of our writing advice column s to keep your inspiration flowing.

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Summer Writing Prompts

It’s the first day of June, which means the countdown to the first day of summer has officially begun! One of the best ways to capture the experience of summer is in freewriting. To help you get your creative juices flowing, here’s a list of some creative summer writing prompts:

1. Write about one of your favorite places to visit during the summer at that place.

Whether it’s the beach, a pool, or a park, write on-site about what you’re seeing and feeling in as much detail as you can.

2. Write a dialogue scene that takes place in the summer.

Imagine a conversation taking place in a typical summer setting and write about it. This scene may just inspire you to write a story.

3. Write a sensory-detailed explanation about a summer day.

Close your eyes and create a scene. Add as much sensory detail as you can to the vision and write about it.

4. People watch and write about it.

Visit a public place and freewrite whatever comes to your mind. What do you notice happening? Y0u can even try creating backstories about the people you are observing.

5. Think about a summer activity you do not enjoy and write as if it is something you love to do.

Writing about something negative in a positive light is always a nice way to see the good in those things. You can also try this is in reverse and write about something you enjoy doing as if you hate it.

Grab a notebook or your laptop and see if any of these summer writing prompts to inspire you. When summer ends, you can read back on those summer days you wrote about.  Don’t forget to share this blog post if you enjoyed any of these summer writing prompts!

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