Latest Project
Over a decade ago, print-on-demand technology was still new to the publishing world. Ebooks were available but without e-readers, no one really cared. Back then, books that “just weren’t right” for traditional publishers often ended up in a drawer somewhere. Now, low-cost opportunities for self-publishers are everywhere!
And yet, most self-published books average about 100-200 copies sold.
My colleague Angela Render and I want to help people learn to self-publish their books right. While there’s no one set-in-stone, step-by-step plan that everyone must follow, there is a mentality, a set of tools and skills, and an understanding of the industry necessary to get beyond those 100-200 friends-and-family sales.
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News
Bay to Ocean Writing Conference, February 25, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
For the third year in a row, I was invited to speak at the Bay to Ocean Writers Conference. I gave my popular talk, “Polishing Your Work for Publication,” which teaches you some of the most common problems plaguing creative works and offers tips on how to resolve them and strengthen your writing in the process. Here’s the talk description:
Approximately 3 million new titles were published by traditional houses and self-publishers in 2010. Every writer knows—or soon learns—that it takes multiple revisions to create a piece ready to compete for book buyers’ attention. But where do you start? This talk will introduce you to the most common problems that plague written works and offer simple ways to identify and resolve them in your own novel, short story, or memoir.
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Posted by: Ally
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Filed Under: News, Speaking/Teaching
Tags: Bay to Ocean, presentations, publishing advice, revising, revisions, self-publishing, submitting, writers conference
To Blog or Not to Blog: How Blogging Can Harm Your Writing Career
Friday, March 9, 2012
With the emphasis placed on building an audience pre-publication, many writers wonder how blogging can help or hurt their careers. What’s okay to publish on a blog, and what will create obstacles to selling your work? There are few clear rules, as it all depends on how much material you are making available to the public and how different it is from the finished version.
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Posted by: admin
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Filed Under: Book Marketing, Getting Published
Tags: blog, blog marketing, blogging, freelancing, marketing, marketing platform, publishing advice, self-publishing, submitting, writing business
Q: Do the pros ever get it wrong?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
My client Patty recently sent me the following note: “You know I get what agents and editors have to say. They want to make sure any book they take on has a fighting chance, an audience, and is going to make them money. But do you ever think they get it wrong? I hope so. I think what counts are your readers and from what I’ve received so far they love the book.”
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Posted by: admin
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Filed Under: Getting Published, Q&A
Tags: literary agents, publishing advice, Q&A, revising, self-editing, self-publishing, submitting, writing
MWA Carroll County Chapter Meeting–February 11, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
As an active member of the Maryland Writers’ Association, I’m always excited when I get the opportunity to speak to a new chapter. So it was with great pleasure that I drove out to Sykesville on a Saturday afternoon to speak at the Carroll County chapter of the MWA. I did a presentation called “Pitching, Querying, Proposing: How an Author Goes from Shy to Sold.” Here’s the description that was publicized:
You’ve experienced the satisfaction of working hard to learn a craft and producing a quality piece of writing—but now what? If you ever want anyone to read your work outside of your immediate circle of family and friends, you’ll need to get published. Though self-publishing is always an option, this talk focuses on how writers generally approach the submission process. Find out who really decides what gets published, how to approach them without getting the proverbial door slammed in your face, and what these gatekeepers expect from you besides your very best work. You’ll also get tips that will make your pitches, queries, and proposals more effective for best results.
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Posted by: admin
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Filed Under: News, Speaking/Teaching
Tags: Maryland Writers Association, presentations, publishing, publishing advice, writing business, writing groups, writing workshops
My article “Choosing the Right Editor for You” featured on Indies Unlimited
Friday, January 27, 2012
I am excited to contribute a guest post to Indiesunlimited.com, a blog that celebrates independent authors. In my post, “Choosing the Right Editor for You,” I highlight the differences in services offered by book doctors, developmental editors, copyeditors, and proofreaders and offer some tips on how to find someone who matches your needs and your budget. You’ll also find a few resources that I recommend you check out as you begin your search.
Posted by: admin
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Filed Under: Ally's Writing, News
Tags: editing, finish your manuscript, freelance editors, publishing advice, revising, self-editing, self-publishing, writing business