AuthorHi, I'm Ray Evans. I'm a certified copyeditor and proofreader. Archives
September 2023
Categories |
Back to Blog
Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to talk about Instagram! Now, I know some of you may be thinking, "Oh no, not another social media platform to keep up with!" But trust me, Instagram should be every author's secret weapon for book promotion. Here's why: Hashtags, Baby!Hashtags are the key to getting your posts in front of the right people. Make sure to research and use relevant hashtags for your genre and target audience. And don't be afraid to create your own unique hashtag to brand your content. Prince made up his own symbol, so why can't you? You can find a list of free tools to help you find relevant hashtags here. Visuals Matter Folks.Instagram, or the Gram as the kids call it, is a visual platform, so make sure your posts are eye-catching and on brand. Consider investing in a professional photographer or graphic designer, or if you want go DIY, a high-megapixel cellphone and a ringlight, to help you create stunning visuals that will grab readers' attention. Influencer MarketingInfluencer marketing is all the rage these days. Partnering with influencers in your niche can help you reach a wider audience and build credibility. Reach out to book bloggers, bookstagrammers, or other authors in your genre to collaborate on content or book giveaways. You can find influencers by:
Instagram Has Some Cool Features Y'all.Take advantage of Instagram's Stories and Reels features to showcase your personality and connect with your audience in a more personal way.
Use Stories to share behind-the-scenes glimpses into your writing process, or create Reels to showcase book trailers or fun book-related content. So, there you have it, folks. Instagram is a powerful tool for authors looking to promote their work and connect with readers. Don't miss out on this opportunity to build your brand and sell more books!
0 Comments
Read More
Back to Blog
Welcome, my fellow literary misfits! Today, we’re diving into a debate as old as time (well, as old as the publishing industry, at least): should you write a series or a standalone novel? Both options have their pros and cons, and the decision ultimately comes down to what kind of writer you are and what kind of story you want to tell. So, let’s get started and figure out which path is right for you! Standalone Novels: The One and Done Approach If you’re the kind of writer who likes to dive into a story, wrap it up with a neat little bow, and then move onto the next adventure, standalone novels might be your jam. Here are some benefits of taking this approach: Pros:
Cons:
Series Novels: Keep the Story GoingIf you’re the kind of writer who loves to dive deep into a world, explore every nook and cranny, and keep the story going, ala Tolkien, series novels might be your cup of tea. Here are some benefits of writing a series: Pros:
Cons:
So, Which Should You Choose??🤔 So, which should you choose?
The truth is, there's no right or wrong answer: tt all depends on your goals as a writer, the story you want to tell, and your personal preferences. Writing a series vs. standalone novels is a hotly debated topic in the literary world, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some writers thrive on the flexibility of standalone novels, while others relish the chance to dive deep into a world. You should choose the path that feels most authentic to you and your writing style.
Back to Blog
Hello there, fellow scribblers! Today, we're going to talk about something that might make you feel a bit queasy. We're going to talk about Amazon's publishing empire and why you should be cautious before you jump on board. Buckle up, buttercups, because it's about to get bumpy. Amazon's Got the Big StickLet's face it, Amazon is a behemoth in the publishing world. They've got the power, the money, and the audience. It's easy to get lured in by their promises of fame and fortune, but remember, they've got the big stick. If you cross them, they can make your life miserable. Amazon is NOT Your FriendDon't be fooled by Amazon's friendly, smiling logo. They're a corporation, and their primary goal is to make money. They're not in this business to make you famous or to give you warm, fuzzy feelings. They want to make a profit, and they'll do whatever it takes to get there. Amazon Reviews Can Be BoughtAmazon's review system is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it can help your book get noticed. On the other hand, it can be manipulated. There are people out there who will sell you fake reviews, and Amazon doesn't always catch them. That means your book might be competing with books that have a fake reputation. Amazon Algorithms Are Not You FriendAmazon's algorithms are the secret sauce that makes their publishing empire so successful. They know what sells, and they use that knowledge to their advantage. That means your book might get lost in the shuffle if it doesn't fit their formula. It's like trying to swim upstream in a river of molasses. Amazon Exclusivity Can Be TrapWhen you sign up for Amazon's exclusive publishing program, you agree to only sell your book on Amazon. That might seem like a good idea at first, but what happens if you want to expand your audience? What happens if Amazon changes its terms, and you don't like the new rules? You're stuck. Amazon Royalties are Not What they SeemAmazon's royalty system is a bit of a mystery. They take a cut of your sales, but how much of a cut? It's hard to say. They also have a complex system of fees that can eat into your profits. Make sure you understand the fine print before you sign up. So There You Have It, Folks!The dark side of Amazon's publishing empire.
It's not all sunshine and rainbows. But don't let that scare you off. Amazon can be a valuable tool for independent authors. You just need to be aware of the risks. Remember, knowledge is power. The more you know about Amazon's publishing empire, the better equipped you'll be to navigate its murky waters. Keep writing, keep creating, and keep learning. You've got this!
Back to Blog
Welcome, dear independent fiction authors, to a guide on how to make your readers suffer! 👿 If you are looking to push your audience away, then you've come to the right place. Here are the seven deadly sins of fiction writing, guaranteed to drive your readers crazy Number 1: Clichés, clichés, clichésNothing says "I'm a lazy writer" like filling your pages with clichés. You know, those overused phrases that make readers roll their eyes and lose interest in your story. Why come up with your own original ideas when you can just recycle tired old expressions like "time heals all wounds" or "love conquers all"? Keep doing that, and your readers will start to wonder if you've ever had an original thought in your life. Number 2: Info-dumpingWho needs to show rather than tell when you can just dump all your information on your readers in one big, boring block of text? Forget about creating a compelling narrative that gradually reveals important details. Just tell your readers everything they need to know right away, in excruciating detail. Your readers will love wading through pages and pages of exposition, won't they? Number 3: One-dimensional charactersWhy bother creating complex, multi-faceted characters when you can just stick with bland, one-dimensional stereotypes? Your readers will never get bored with yet another stock character like the "tough but tender" detective, the "quirky but lovable" best friend, or the "evil for the sake of being evil" villain. Who needs character development when you can just use a cookie-cutter approach? Number 4: Purple ProseWhy use simple, clear language when you can instead indulge in a whole bunch of flowery, overwritten language that no one will understand? Just keep stringing together endless metaphors, similes, and adjectives until your prose becomes a dense, impenetrable mess. Your readers will love struggling to understand what you're trying to say! Number 5: Plot HolesWho needs a coherent plot when you can just toss in a bunch of random events that don't make sense? Forget about establishing cause and effect, or creating a story that logically follows from beginning to end. Just throw in a bunch of plot twists that come out of nowhere, and watch as your readers scratch their heads and wonder what the hell is going on. Number 6: InconsistencyWhy bother with consistency when you can just change your story whenever you feel like it? Forget about sticking to the rules you've established, or making sure your characters act in ways that are consistent with their personalities. Just change the rules whenever it's convenient, and watch as your readers get more and more frustrated with your lack of attention to detail. Number 7 : Rush the EndingWho needs a satisfying conclusion when you can just wrap up your story in the most haphazard, unsatisfying way possible? Forget about tying up loose ends, or giving your readers a sense of closure. Just rush through the ending as quickly as possible, leaving your readers feeling cheated and unsatisfied. In Conclusion...Well, there you have it, folks: the seven deadly sins of fiction writing.
If you want to make your readers suffer, just follow these simple guidelines, and watch as your audience dwindles to nothing. Or, you could do the exact opposite, and strive to create stories that are engaging, well-written, and memorable. The choice is yours!
Back to Blog
Are you an independent fiction author? Well, my dear friend, In this blog post, I will explain why grammar matters and why your readers will thank you for caring about it. 1. Clarity: The first reason why grammar matters is that it provides clarity to your writing. If your writing is full of grammatical errors, your readers will have a hard time understanding what you are trying to say. It's like trying to have a conversation with someone who speaks in a language that you don't understand. So, if you want your readers to understand your story, make sure your grammar is on point. 2. Professionalism: Grammar also adds a level of professionalism to your writing. If you want to be taken seriously as a writer, you need to present yourself in a professional manner. Nothing says "amateur" like a manuscript full of grammar mistakes. 3. Attention to Detail: By taking care of your grammar, you show your readers that you care about the details. When you put effort into your writing, it shows. Your readers will appreciate the extra effort you put in to make your manuscript the best it can be. 4. You Build Trust: When your readers see that you have taken care to ensure your manuscript is error-free, they will trust you as a writer. Trust is essential in the writing industry. If your readers don't trust you, they won't read your next book. 5. Keeps Your Readers Engaged: If your readers are continually being distracted by grammatical errors, they won't be fully engaged in your story. You want your readers to be fully immersed in your writing. So, take the time to make sure your grammar is correct. 6. It Shows You Respect Your Readers: Your readers are taking the time to read your story. Respect their time and effort by presenting them with a well-written manuscript. Your readers will thank you for it. In Conclusion...In conclusion, grammar matters, and your readers will thank you for caring about it.
By ensuring your manuscript is error-free, you provide clarity, professionalism, attention to detail, build trust, and keep your readers engaged. So, take the time to self-edit your work. I know that you're a spectacular wordsmith, but there's no shame in admitting that you're not an expert in grammar. Many independent fiction authors hire proofreaders and copyeditors to ensure their manuscript is error-free. Happy writing!
Back to Blog
You've finished writing your book. Congratulations! 🎊 You've written it, changed it, edited it yourself, and re-read it. If you want to get your book published, the work doesn't end there, especially if you plan to self-publish. After all your hard work, it's time to have it edited by a pro. Editors don't just use a digital red pen to mark up your manuscript. We are a neutral third party, a new set of eyes that can help you polish your manuscript. But where do you begin? What kind of editing do you know you need? Cliffnotes of the Editing ProcessEditing usually goes like this: 1) Your editor will do story-level edits. 2) Once you get the manuscript, you will make changes to the story. 3) Your editor will do language-level editing. 4) Once you get the manuscript back again, you will make changes to the language. 5) Your proofreader will do the proofreading for you. 6) Your proofreader will do the proofreading for you. 7) Starting with the big structural changes—the ones that affect the story as a whole—is about being efficient. It might not seem like the best way to edit a manuscript to separate each step, but it's the best way to do it. When you edit at the story level, you'll make big changes even if you're not rewriting the whole thing. When you rewrite chapters and make changes, you add new words that need to be checked for spelling and grammar. When editing at the story level, that doesn't mean you can't fix typos and change words and sentences as you go. When your story's being edited at the story level, typos will definitely be fixed. But a full copyedit shouldn't be done until the story is pretty much done. In the long run, it will save you time and money to separate these steps. So let's break down what each of these steps are in detail Developmental or Story-Level EditsDevelopmental editing is a deep look at your story's plot, characters, pacing, worldbuilding and setting, themes, and overall manuscript development. This kind of editing usually includes comments and suggestions in your manuscript file as well as an editorial write-up. Language EditsThis type of editing is subdivided into to distinct types: line editing and copyediting. In general, copyediting is the process of checking things like grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The goal is to fix mistakes and make the text easier to read. Line editing is a deeper dive. It's more about style and flow, so it's more subjective(which is why you should always request a sample from an editor to determine fit before committing to a doing a full story with him or her). Line editing looks at the tone of different parts, how one sentence flows into the next, how sentences are put together, and so on. Language edits are never about changing your author's voice. Instead, they should try to improve your writing, push you to improve your style, and make it easy for your readers to read your story. ProofreadingThe last step in the editing process. The last step in the editing process. This means looking for mistakes, making sure everything is clear, and going over basic grammar. Proofreading is a light edit that is meant to be the last step before putting something out in the world. Proofreading is always helpful and important, and having good proofreaders on your publishing team is a great idea. A thorough proofread will help you find as many last mistakes as you can before you send your work to be published. And fewer mistakes means better reviews, more readers, and more sales! And those are all the step you need to follow to ensure your book it ready to publish. Next up we'll talk about how to find the best editor, or proofreader, for your story.
Back to Blog
.As a kid, one of my favorite movies was The Terminator. The concept about robots taking over the future was a such cool and excited concept to me(even though I had no business watching such movies when I was six years old) And now in 2022 we almost there... Not killer robots, but Artificial Intelligence, AI, is here and can help authors like you to proofread your books so you can publish faster If you've been on YouTube any point in the last 5 years you've seen an ad for Grammarly. It's touted as an AI assistant that can find and fix the spelling and grammar errors in any written work. Can it really make your writing better? As a copyedit and proofreaders I'm actually NOT against you using a service like Grammarly at all. Today we're going to take an unbiased look at the pros and cons of using Grammarly to help you with your next project. Pros1) Speed: Grammarly can quickly and efficiently check large amounts of text for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and other issues. This can be especially useful when working on tight deadlines or when you have a lot of writing to do. 2) Convenience: Grammarly is available as a browser extension, a desktop application, and a mobile app, making it easy to use no matter where you are or what device you are using. 3) Customization: Grammarly allows you to customize the types of errors and suggestions it displays, so you can focus on the issues that are most important to you. Cons or Limitations to Using Grammarly1) Limited Accuracy: While Grammarly is good at catching basic grammar and spelling mistakes, it may not always catch more complex errors or nuances in language. A human proofreader is more likely to catch these types of errors. 2) Limited Context: Grammarly does not have the ability to understand the context or purpose of your writing, so it may make suggestions that are not appropriate for your specific document. A human proofreader, on the other hand, can consider the purpose and audience of your writing and make more informed suggestions. 3) Dependence: Relying too heavily on Grammarly can lead to a lack of attention to detail and a decreased ability to catch errors on your own. It is important to not become overly reliant on any automated tool and to continue to practice and improve your own proofreading skills. So is Grammarly bad for authors to use? No.
It can be a useful tool for quickly and efficiently checking written work, it is important to consider its limitations and to supplement its use with human proofreading when necessary.
Back to Blog
Free Tools Every Author Should Be Using12/29/2022 Writers have to do besides just writing these days, like make great graphics for social media, have an email newsletter, make ebooks, and post professional images on their websites. But where to start? How can all of this be done without spending a lot of money? Today, I'm going to show you some of my favorite free business tools. ImagesIt should not be hard or expensive to make images for social media and your website. You can use two of my favorite tools for making images for social media for free. Canva: It gives you access to thousands of templates. Canva probably has everything you need, whether it's graphics for Pinterest or Instagram, a new cover for your Facebook page, or anything else you can think of. Even if you aren't a designer, you can still give the pre-designed templates a professional look by making changes to them. Adobe Spark: Adobe Spark is kind of like Canva in that you can use templates to make images for social media. I also really like that you can make and edit videos with Adobe Spark. I've begun experiment with short videos in Spark myself. FYI: t The free version of the software does add watermarks to the videos, FYI (which is not a dealbreaker for me) Free Stock PhotosIt's important that you don't break any copyright laws when you start making graphics for social media and adding photos to your blog posts (unless you book is making enough revenue to post bail). It's actually not okay to take a picture from a Google search, but don't worry—there are lots of great free stock photos you can use. Unsplash, Pixabay, and KaboomPics are three of my favorite sites for free images. Each have millions of photos for just about anything you can think of. just type in a word or two and see what comes up. ust type in a word or two and see what comes up. You can even make an account and put together groups of images that you can easily find when you need them. KaboomPics also let you search by color and by photoshoots. Many of the images are from photoshoots, so you can choose from a range of sizes, orientations, and levels of detail. E-Mail NewsletterKeeping in touch with your audience is easier if you have an email newsletter. MailChimp is a good place to start if you want something easy. I also recommend trying out Aweber for your email list because it has all of the features you would need. It's a good option if you have, or plan on growing, a big list and you need to make sequences, segmentation, and other things. Social Media PostingScheduling posts on social media is a simple way to keep up with your marketing and brand. I post across my social with Later, but they only provide a 14-day free trial, but a better, forever-free option would be Buffer. They allow you to schedule 10 posts in advance on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. It's incredibly easy to set up too! This way you can just take one day a week and set-up all your posts in advance and save time for writing or anything else you may want to do! Anything Else?Which tools do you like to use the most?
Did I forget something great and free? I'm always looking for great new tools and resources for myself and for other authors. Tell me in the comments section below!
Back to Blog
As an author, having your work edited is an essential step in the publishing process. A copyeditor's job is to review your work for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, as well as to ensure that your writing is clear and consistent. While you may be confident in your own editing skills, it's always a good idea to have a professional copyeditor review your work to ensure that it is of the highest quality. Always request samples before agreeing to a projectOne, and the best, way to ensure that you are getting the best editing services possible is to request samples from potential copyeditors. This will allow you to see the kind of work that he or she is capable of, and will help you to make an informed decision about which editor is the best fit for your project. The Top 4 Reason to Request a Sample Edit1) Quality assurance: By reviewing a copyeditor's previous work, you can get a sense of their level of skill level and attention to detail. This will give you confidence that your work will be edited to your expectations. 2) Style Preference: Different copyeditors have different styles when it comes to editing. Some may be more hands-on and make a lot of changes to your work, while others may take a more minimal approach. By reviewing a sample edit, you can get a sense of which style the editor uses and determine if it's a good fit for your story. 3) Communication: Good communication is key to a successful working relationship; requesting samples is also a great way to gauge the communication skills of a potential copyeditor. Are they able to explain their edits clearly and provide helpful feedback? 4) Helps you see the value of their work: Finally, requesting samples can help you to determine whether a particular copyeditor is offering good value for money: By reviewing the sample edit, and any previous work, you can get a sense of the level of service they provide and whether their rates are in line with the quality of their work you're expecting requesting samples from copyeditors is an essential step in the editing process. It allows you to assess the quality of their work, determine their style preference, gauge their communication skills, and ultimately figure out ensure that you are getting good value for money.
If your toilet is clogged, you can hire an plumber in town to fix it but your book is far more important (unless you had tacos for dinner). Fit is important when looking for an editor or proofreader. Don't be afraid to ask for samples – it will ultimately lead to a better edited book for you.
Back to Blog
As an avid reader, I have come across numerous books where the grammar was less than stellar. While a few errors here and there are to be expected, we're all human (until AI replaces us 🤖), some mistakes are so common that they stand out and distract from the story. Here are the three most common grammar mistakes that I have noticed in books: Homophones: Words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Some common examples of homophones include "their" and "there," "your" and "you're," and "its" and "it's." Authors often mix these up, leading to confusing or outright incorrect sentences. For example, writing "your going to love this book" instead of "you're going to love this book" changes the meaning of the sentence completely. Punctuation Usage: Authors struggle with using punctuation correctly, leading to unclear or confusing sentences. For example, using a comma instead of a semicolon to separate clauses can change the meaning of a sentence. Similarly, using an exclamation mark instead of a question mark can alter the tone of the sentence. As a reference, I recommend The Best Punctuation Book, Period by June Casagrande. You can find it here Verb tense: Many authors struggle with maintaining consistent verb tense throughout their writing. For example, switching between past and present tense within the same paragraph can be confusing for the reader. It is important to choose a verb tense and stick with it to avoid confusing the reader. While these are some of the most common grammar mistakes that I have noticed in books, they are by no means the only ones. Other common errors include incorrect use of articles, misplacing modifiers, and subject-verb agreement errors.
As an author, it is important to re-read your work carefully and have it professionally edited and proofread to catch these mistakes and improve the overall quality of your writing. |