The sister site of author sandra peoples

By Anthony Obey

A considerable number of people all around the world are either writing a manuscript, planning to write one, or holding on to that finished piece without knowing how to get a respectable audience to read it. There can be many publishing portals for fiction,biographies, music, cooking, and all other subject matter. However, Christian literature is a completely separate and unique genre that must be given just the right amount of effort and attention to be noticed and have a voice to tower all others blaring and screaming in today's modern world.

After a manuscript is completed, the next big step would be to get the book "out there". After all, books are meant to be read and not kept in dusty attics or hidden into oblivion. Alot of writers prefer to enter into contracts with commercial publishers who do the work for them in exchange for the purchase of all rights from the author. Another alternative, however, would be to consider self-publishing where one retains full control over everything that goes into the published work -- from cover to cover.

Christian self publishing can be a rather tricky art, but if given significant attention by the author and most importantly the readers, should guarantee a very rewarding experience indeed. Basic background, inside secrets, and robust determination can pretty much bring that book to the spotlight:

An Exceptional Manuscript

With the millions of books sold worldwide, including those available in online bookstores, the mixed-and-matched ideas, the "unique approaches" duplicated generation after generation, nothing is hardly original these days. What makes the manuscript different from everything else already in print -- paper, or electronic -- is perhaps the most important factor that will drive readers topick that one instead of all the rest. Christian books come in the form of novels, self-help, devotionals, Bible study guides, comics, illustrated versions, and the like. These can be mixed and matched to achieve a very unique and enticing new piece of literature that will intrigue readers from around the globe.

A Specific Audience

Although it may appear otherwise, it helps if a book addresses a narrowed readership rather than just the general public. That way, it has more direction and more heart. Authors cannot enter into a deeper level with their readers if their readers are like a salad bowl of different ages, cultures, professions, and personalities. In order for a book to stir the heart of an audience it has to relate to that audience in a different level, one that only the two of them can fully understand. Self-help books for teens, devotionals for women and real-life Bible experiences for pastors are more likely to appeal to these people as something of substance rather than one elaborating on how to "Learn More About Life."

 Designs that Speak

Since the author is the one responsible for designing his entire book from the cover art to page illustrations to font styles and text arrangements, he has to have a feel of what the entire work is trying to bring to its readers and allow that atmosphere to come out in the pages' colors, lines, curves, shapes -- the overall design. A self-help book that attempts to guide people through relaxation and meditation would do well to be dressed in cool colors like different shades of blue and green woven in a unique symphony across a white background.

Patient Funds

Like any other independent undertaking, Christian self publishing requires a sizeable amount of funds as wellas an author who is willing to wait -- and work while waiting. Promotional activities, marketing, distribution, and advertising are only some of the tasks a self-published author has to accomplish on his own once the book is in print .Also, this is the part where marketing strategies would definitely come inhandy.

Self-publishing can be rather costly, but the experience is like no other. Instead of selling a manuscript to a publishing company -- and all the rights along with it -- writers can choose to have full control over what goes in and out of their work, how their material will appear, and finally have full confidence to look at it and say,"This is my book."

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Truth be told, when you walk into a bookstore with the intention of purchasing a good book, the cover is what sells you on the potential purchase. It's not always the name of the author that matters the most. If you skimp on your cover , you could also be skimping on securing book sales. So how do you create a compelling cover that captures the eye and persuades the reader into believeing that your book is a must have? Consider these four keys for winning cover design.

• Research and study the book covers of bestselling authors. What is it about their covers that entice you to even pick up the book to take a closer look. Having a good cover is key to attracting a reader's attention and converting them into a potential customer.

• Back cover is important as well. Use this section to add a short attention grabbing excerpt from the book. Or use it to show comments from celebrities or other people that have read and endorse the book. A lot of times a reader will fall in love with the front cover of your book, but won't buy it because something on the back cover was a major turnoff.

• Add graphics that lure the reader in, but accent the title of your book. People like to see realistic graphics. For example, if your book is about a cheating spouse, use graphics that convey that, such as a woman all hugged up with a man while standing behind another man's back. Your title may be something like, 'Claudia's Decision', but your graphics will clue us in to that what the book is about.

• Fonts are important as well because if the reader cannot understand the title of the book, or the name of the author, it could prove to be a deterent against purchasing the book.

You want to put your best foot forward when it comes to your cover. Since it can literally make or break your career as a new author, it's the piece to the publishing puzzle you don't want to skimp on.

Your assignment: Think about the type of book you want to write. Take a trip to the bookstore and study the books in your chosen genre. What is it about those bookcovers that make them enticing and irresistable to the reader. Incooperate these ideas into your own book cover design and you will be on your way to creating an eye catching and appealing book cover.

Until next time,

~Sandra~

As the website is revamped and changes are made to make this a user friendly site, this blog will be updated with videos and articles to help you on your journey to self-publication. The changes will be complete within the next few days.

Check back soon,

~Sandra~

One of the important things a writer or an author must do is to put things in order. Prioritizing is the key to success. Knowing what to give the most importance to may take some creativity, but it must be done. Here are a few steps to help you determine what is a priority and what is not.

1. Create a file. I would suggest purchasing an expandable file that has slots and tabs for you to label things. This way, you can file things in order of importance and finally get certain daunting tasks done.

2.Label your files accordingly. Make a section for each project that you are working on so that when you come across something that belongs in that section, you can file it away and know where it is at.

3. Do high priority tasks first. Let's face it, the things of most importance must be done first. High priority items may be the most tedious to perform, so the most allowable amount of time should be spent on seeing these tasks through to completion. For writers, formating your book may be the most tedious task you may ever fiind yourself doing, but because it can be done, you should do it first.

4. Label tasks of less importance in order from least to highest priority. Maybe you still need to choose between writing that first draft of your novel, or putting the finishing touches on that new article you've been working on. Whatever the case may be, you have to figure out which things MUST be done, and which ones could stand to wait a day or two. Do the things that must be done first, and the others once the high priority projects are done.

Hopefully these four keys have helped you to bring some order to your life.

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Have you been toying with the idea of writing a book but have no clue where to start? I believe the answer is right at your fingertips. Literally.

I have developed a new ecourse aimed at helping those with a desire to finally put down on paper what has been in their minds for years. It's called 'Write the Book'. And I created it just for you.

Write the Book is unique in that it is a home study course. It comes conveniently packaged for you in a binder complete with worksheets and activities to get those creative juices flowing. Check out the featured products section here on the site to learn more. Now you have no more excuses.

Write the Book!

~Sandra~

I was a faithful viewer of I Want to Work for Diddy. He is a person that is doing it big in the world. He talked about the hustle in his show. I had always viewed hustling as somethinf that was bad. I automatically thought of drug deals and people looking for ways to take your money. But Diddy said that there are people that try to hustle people out of something, but his definition of hustle was to bring people to a place to make them better. Hustle means to work hard and to find new and creative ways to sell yourself and your image. I took a long hard look at myself and I realized I was not a hustler. I was a business person that wasn't about her business. I was satisified with a few hits on myspace, or facebook. Answering a few email inquiries about my business. I realize now that if I hustle, if I work hard and conquer new territory, the sky is the limit for me.

So, are you a hustler? Are you a go getter. Well, the fact of the matter is, if you're in business, no matter what kind, you better become one.

~Sandra~

My number 1 hurdle to overcome was fear. Not just being afraid in general, but fear of rejection. Fear that people would not take me serious as a professional, and as a writer. I also found that because I was afraid of people not accepting me, I was being too nice and allowing myself to be taken advantage of.

I know that if this is my problem, it is probably yours as well. Fear can hold you back, while being too friendly and too nice can do the same.

When I started to view myself as the expert, and knowing that I was the person that people came to for help, fear started to leave. I started to realize that I could be nice without being too revealing and giving out too much information, (this can land you in the poor house) and still be professional.

It took a while, but now I am a much stronger person, and I believe it is because I started to view myself as such.

How do you view yourself? Do you see yourself as the professional, or as the person that knows something but not enough to set you apart from the rest? Are you being friendly to secure a business transaction and cheating yourself out of profits because you are giving away too much for free.

I learned the hard way that you can't get something for nothing, and that people will take whatever you are willing to give and give no credit in return.

Start to see yourself as the winner that you are. Fear is only as strong as you will let it be. Take control of your life, and stop letting life have control of you.

~Sandra~

A self published author is a business professional and should act as such. Remember that you represent your publishing company wherever you go, and you should always have something about your new book or other products on hand, such as a brochure, or business cards. You never know when an opportunity to make a sale will arise.

~Sandra~