Common Publishing Issues & solutions

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

New Authors please feel free to discuss your publishing woes in this platform. We will try to address it or guide you to the appropriate site.

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Publication Opportunities

The Flexible Persona, a literary magazine based in Troy, NY, seeks fiction, flash fiction, and poetry for its Spring 2019 print issue (Vol. 04 No. 01) and online. They pay for both print and online publication, and they publish writers from around the English-speaking world. Please visit their website to learn more. They accept submissions throughout the year. https://flexiblepersona.com/submissions/

Junto Magazine is looking for prose, poetry, and art. Everyone who submits gets an editorial evaluation of their piece which includes personalized feedback, suggestions, and insight into the publishing potential of their individual work. There's a small feel to cover the editors' costs. For more, see http://juntomagazine.com.

Calyx offers the Margarita Donnelly Prize for Prose Writing of $500 cash. Winner will be published in CALYX Journal Vol. 31:2, Summer/Fall 2019. Winner and two finalists will receive a one-volume subscription to CALYX Journal and publication on CALYX’s website. Deadline is September 30. Please submit up to 10,000 words of unpublished fiction or creative nonfiction. One piece of prose per submission. Don't put your name anywhere on the manuscript, including in the header. Simultaneous submissions are discouraged. The CALYX editorial collective reads all manuscripts first, then selects 5-10 finalists to send to the final judge. Entry fee is $20.

The Masters Review Flash Fiction Contest The winning writer will be awarded $3,000 and publication on The Masters Review site. Second and third place will be awarded $300 and $200, respectively, as well as publication in The Masters Review. Deadline September 30. http://mastersreview.com/flash-fictio...

American Literary Review's annual contest for fiction, poetry and nonfiction is taking submissions until. October 1st. $1000 and publication for the winner in each genre. For more go to http://www.americanliteraryreview.com...

Into the Void Fiction Prize Win $1000 for your best short story of up to 5,000 words. There are also prizes for 2nd and 3rd places. Prizes include publication in Into the Void. Deadline October 31st. Visit www.intothevoidmagazine.com for more details and the link to submit your story.

Flock is looking for submissions for a non-themed spring issue. Winner of a 2018 CLMP Firecracker Award, the journal opens space for boundary-pushing literature by publishing emotionally resonant work that is strange yet familiar, surprising but grounded, and softly experimental in form, language, or content. http://flocklit.com Deadline November 30.

[Catherine]

Thanks Daisy. This seems very useful.

[Zuzu]

Hello :) Only woe I seem to be having is not getting reviews. Writing is the best part, I figured out the formatting and have been working on marketing some. Friends, family and word of mouth have brought in sales but for some reason the reviews won't post on Amazon. The book Winter Delight is listed under Kindle Unlimited, it seems to be a great program, but disheartened by the lack of feedback. Several people have told me they posted reviews, they are just not showing up. I was wondering if anyone else has run into this problem.

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Strangely, I have been facing the same issues too Zuzu. It says insufficient books purchased to post reviews. Although, that is the least of my problems! If anything, I suffer from excessive buying!
Will check and get back.

[Zuzu]

Haha! Ya, I finally had to stay with kindle unlimited to feed my reading frenzy. A whole lot cheeper right now. I miss the good ol' paperbacks :(

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Seriously, I miss the feel of paper too. But good libraries kind of make up for it.

[Zuzu]

Oh the local libraries love me, the whole family enjoys going and shopping for books. Amazing what you can get! Anytime there is a book sale, we go crazy. Love filling our bookshelves and it helps a wonderful cause. I know I read mostly romance and smut lol, but I made sure that my children and even my husband, enjoy reading. It makes for a peaceful, imaginative, creative atmosphere. I think we all would love that Beauty and the Beast, Belle library.

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

That is lovely Zuzu. I can picture all of you in that library with books now. Most families are glued to their TV sets!

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Fellow authors, here is a webinar on publishing and
increasing book sales:
https://chadrallen.lpages.co/publish-...

[Shanna]

Grasshopper wrote: "Fellow authors, here is a webinar on publishing and
increasing book sales:
https://chadrallen.lpages.co/publish-..."

Thank you! I signed up for it!

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Most welcome. Enjoy!

[Ruby]

Zuzu wrote: "Haha! Ya, I finally had to stay with kindle unlimited to feed my reading frenzy. A whole lot cheeper right now. I miss the good ol' paperbacks :("

I have published "24 Hours Between Dream & Reality" on kindle.

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Glad to know Ruby. I love old paperbacks, but also the convenience of carrying multiple books at once in my Kindle. Well done on your publication.
Do you want to post parts of it in the 'Work here authors' thread? We could discuss your book in detail.

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Here is a useful link for authors:
https://justpublishingadvice.com/

[Catherine]

Thanks Grasshopper

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

No worries. Enjoy.

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Interesting tips for writers @
https://www.maryleemacdonaldauthor.com/

[Jessica]

Hello, I am a new writer. My biggest problem is reviews and marketing. I have been promoting my book as well as I can, but with being new can't seem to get my name out there. Any ideas or suggestions?
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Queen-Jes...

[Catherine]

Hi Jessica, getting reviews seems to be a universal problem for all authors. You could try announcing free giveaways and hope the readers do post reviews.

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

That is good advice. I would also suggest using multiple platforms to promote ones book, like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat etc.
I have yet to navigate these treacherous waters myself.😅

[Catherine]

I am sure my fellow authors will find this information very useful.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-d...

[M.]

Very interesting Catherine.

[Cameron]

Really useful article. Thanks :-)

[Catherine]

Most welcome everyone!

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Catherine wrote: "I am sure my fellow authors will find this information very useful.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-d..."

The bestseller code cracked? Wow! Wish it works.😇

[Catherine]

Sure hope so!

[Shanna]

Grasshopper wrote: ""

I love this!!!

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

👍

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

http://writersrelief.com/2018/11/02/w...

[M.]

Grasshopper wrote: ""

Thanks for sharing.

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

No problem. 🤗

[M.]

I watched this interesting webinar from bublish "5 Ways To Immediately Connect with Readers" Dan Blank http://wegrowmedia.com/bublish/

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Thanks. Will surely look it up.

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

https://qz.com/quartzy/1438497/anxiet...

[Esther]

Hi writers!
Many of you have been complaining Amazon randomly deletes reviews. If you’re an author and you want to leave an honest review for another author, even if you have no connection, have never met elsewhere than maybe Goodreads and your review has been deleted, speak up!

I’m here to put an article together based on your experiences (if you allow me, I’ll even quote you in the article).

Another issue I’d like to discuss is how permissive Goodreads as a platform is when people in your circle of authors and friends would like to leave an honest review for your books versus Amazon.

I’m writing an article based on author experience, if you don’t feel comfy making a public post, you can also send me a message in full confidentiality.

Thank you all & happy reading/writing!

[Catherine]

Good idea Esther. All the best.

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Words that confuse:
https://justpublishingadvice.com/the-...

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Time to get back to our writing boards!

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

Use 'em all folks!

[Jerrimiah]

Is it Just Me

Or does anyone else find it impossible to read a book while working on a book?? Two of my friends have sent me their books for review and I just can't find the time to do it. :(

[Zuzu]

I'm fifty- fifty, there's days I have to focus on just writing and then the crazy days: I'll read multiple books, audible, listen to music, play a phone game and write. Just depends on how my brain is functioning and if my ears are liking noise.

[Catherine]

It's true with me too. I don't seem to read as much as I used to.

[Sandra]

In my case, I read a lot but am unable to finish my own writing work!

[Bradley]

The solution Sandra, is to read what you write :)

[Sandra]

Ha,ha. That's an excellent idea. 😅

[Beatrice]

I don't seem to have written for ages either.
I keep up with my reading though.

[Jerrimiah]

I guess it all comes down to time management like I heard on a Joanna Penn video. Only problem is with writing...I plan to write for only 4 and read for 2 hours and when I look up...8 hours has passed lol.

[Grasshopper, Administrator]

That's brilliant Jerrimiah. Wish we could all say the same about our own writing.