Latest Writing Articles http://www.articlecabi.net/ Articles at Article Cabinet en-us Brainstorming Ideas to Create Your Information Product Empire http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/brainstorming-ideas-to-create-your-information-product-empire.html http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/brainstorming-ideas-to-create-your-information-product-empire.html Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:35:44 -0400 When you make the decision to market information products on the 'net, your first step is in conducting some niche research to see which target audience could provide you with a virtual goldmine of profits.

 

You can't just come up with a single idea for a narrow niche audience and expect that to be enough to deliver financial security for the long-term. Instead, you want to tap into a niche with endless possibilities, or at least enough to make your product development worthwhile.

 

Let's say you decided to create a wedding planning guide in eBook form as your first information product. If you're new to the business, then you might instantly think of creating a massive info product that covers everything in detail, from A to Z.

But let's look at it from a marketer's business point of view. You are going to put the effort into driving traffic to your site and will hopefully have at least a 2% conversion rate for your information products. Why waste that effort of time and advertising money on a single sale of $47 when you could easily turn that customer into a lifetime profit stream?

 

How can you do this? Information products serve the needs of your audience. A bride and groom have many issues they want to consider, and you can create dozens of guides that focus on things they need to know, such as How to Have a Destination Wedding at Home where you discuss how to hold a theme wedding in your backyard. Or, A Guide to Seasonal Flowers for Brides.

 

Sometimes, a single comprehensive information product is the way to go. But you also want to cater to the needs of your niche who don't need all of the other stuff, just what they, in particular, are seeking - like information on wedding cake flavors or homemade wedding favors for brides on a budget.

 

Once you deliver one outstanding information product to your customers, you'll have them on your list where you can then market your backend (follow up) products to them. This is where the true money in Internet marketing lies because you don't have to spend money to attract that customer - they're already in your database.

 

Make sure that before you implement your information product ideas, you check to see if the niche provides you with the opportunity to branch out and develop an entire line of products dedicated to helping them lead a better life.

 

The Rich Craft is a specially designed ebook that acts as a manual, course,

guide, and much more, filled with tools that help take the novice Internet User to having a product ready to be launched on the Net.

 

Plus, Included with The Rich Craft is Lifetime Access To The Members Area where any future updates/bonuses will be at Your Reach!!


Take Care. Best of success to your ventures from http://www.therichcraft.com

]]> This Year's Hot Topics in Book Writing http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/this-years-hot-topics-in-book-writing.html http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/this-years-hot-topics-in-book-writing.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:35:03 -0400
Hot Topic # 1: Using the latest electronics.

We are a society obsessed with having the latest and greatest technology. Do a book on iPods, email/camera cell phones, wireless Internet, digital TV, or any combination of these items.

Hot Topic # 2: Home improvement.

There's so much craze in this area that do-it-yourself (DIY) stores are on every corner of major cities. If you haven't been to a Home Depot or Lowes lately, then you are one of the few. Sure, apartment dwellers and young students have no interest in this market, but people with homes and money to afford them are in this market. In fact, some cable TV services offer entire channels dedicated to home improvement.

Especially of current interest are in-home automation systems. DIY home improvers are eager to learn about and buy things that will make their home lives more relaxing, high-tech, or fun. Create a book to teach them how to make their lights come on before they get home from their jobs, or how to press a button to adjust window blinds, music, or temperature. Or how Bill Gates' house works. Or how to add automation to an existing home, or how to build-in automation when a house is constructed.

Hot Topic # 3: Identity theft prevention.

This is a great topic for books marketed on the Internet. People who purchase over the Internet want to protect their credit card information. Even away from the computer, consumers are on-edge about identity theft. Today, people shred their receipts, remove their personal information from the face of their checks, and cautiously cover themselves when they type in passwords at public terminals or ATMs. ID cards now have microchipes. People are worried. Tap into this market with a book!

Hot Topic # 4: Safety.

Along the same lines as worrying about identity theft, people are worried about their safety from other things like crime, chemical warfare attack, and natural disasters. Watch the evening news tonight, and you can list at least twenty things that people are afraid of. When you talk about safety, you are speaking their language. Titles along the lines of "Prepare Yourself for Any Natural Disaster" would go over well, as would those like "Never Be a Crime Victim Again," "How to Defend Yourself in a Parking Lot," or "How to Prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)."

Hot Topic # 5: How-to manuals for any new product recently on the market.

This harks back to the Dummies series, but takes it one step further. Target your book to people who want to buy the most current product in the marketplace. How to use the new model John Deere tractor. You will be sure no one else has a book like yours, and you can say so in your pitch.

Hot Topic # 6: Anything to do with pets.

People pamper their pets more than ever before. Some pets are treated better than people. People who spend small fortunes on their pets will also pay good money for a book that gives them ideas on how to treat their animals more royally than they already do.

Write books on how to pamper your parakeet, homemade meals for picky dogs, where the pet spas are, how to train your kids to be cat-friendly, million dollar homes for mutts, which animals make the best pets, or pet psychology.

Hot Topic # 7: Traveling mixed with the subjects above.

Not only are people traveling more, but they also want to customize their itineraries and their methods of travel with their hobbies and lifestyles. Try a few of these on for size:

1) Where to dine around the globe and still stay on a low-carb diet plan.
2) Hotels with the best exercise facilities,
3) How to travel exquisitely with large dogs,
4) Crime-proof your campsite.

Be creative. There's a market here.
]]> Book Writing: How to Find a Hot Book Topic for Your How-To Hobby Book http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/book-writing-how-to-find-a-hot-book-topic-for-your-how-to-hobby-book.html http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/book-writing-how-to-find-a-hot-book-topic-for-your-how-to-hobby-book.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:20:02 -0400
What avid hobbyists want and desire will always make great book material. Note: I did not say what hobbyists need. You may have certain opinions on what certain people should need or should read. But those are not necessarily good topics for immediate book profits. Those topics may be areas for you to dabble in at your leisure. However, if you want to make money at this, find what niche groups want, and hit those groups with your book.

Find hobbyists and niche groups by searching the web for "popular hobbies," "enthusiasts," or "what America is buying." Or, you can search for forums and discussion groups for hobbyists. In the forums, people talk with each other to share ideas. They exchange testimonials for equipment, upcoming events, and books.

One popular site where hobbyists hangout online is Yahoo!. Check it out. Go to Yahoo.com. Click "groups." On the group's page, you'll see a list of categories such as Business & Finance, Religion, etc. Click on "Games."

On the Games screen, Yahoo! lists game subcategories followed by numbers. The numbers indicate how many discussion forums are available for that subcategory. These numbers reveal a lot. Notice how "role playing games," and "video & computer games" have factors of ten, or in some cases, factors of 100 more forums than other subcategories. "Wargaming" and "paintball" don't even come close, although those categories are much more discussion-laden than "horseshoe pitching."

For fun, one day I continued selecting subcategories until I arrived at a list of over a thousand (yes a thousand) discussion groups on Yahoo! having to do with vampire role-playing.

Here's how I got there: Games -- Role Playing Game's -- Live Action -- World of Darkness -- Vampire: The Masquerade.

Some forums are open to new members, and you can join to read what everyone's discussing. Once in the forum, you can review discussion threads from today, yesterday, or a year ago. Don't go back too far if you want to find the hottest possible book topics. You can participate in discussions if you like. FYI, do not drop into a discussion group just to market a book; hobbyists consider this spam and will drop you from the group.

When you read and/or participate, you'll find what this group is buying. Skim the discussions to find what questions they are asking each other about products or traveling or information. What they are interested in buying is vital because passionate consumers love to research before they buy. This is an immediate book market. Create a book on how to select the best this or that on the market, related to the current wants of the enthusiasts.

Enthusiasts come in all shapes and sizes. Think brides-to-be, golfers, whitewater rafters, people who collect vintage baseball cards, wine connoisseurs, gardeners, frequent vacationers, video gamers, and parents who put their children into private tutoring, ballet, and violin lessons before age 3.

Some hobbies continually attract enthusiasts, like playing golf, watching football, restoring old cars, and listening to music. These are classics. Some hobbies seem to come and go in waves, such as Red Hat Societies participation, snow boarding, or line dancing. Pick either a classic hobby or a fluctuating hobby in its peak season for your best odds.

A big market on the Internet is the 20-30 set. Here's what they are doing right now, according to one survey. They're snowboarding, wakeboarding, traveling, camping, listening to music, taking photographs. They're drinking gourmet coffee, rock climbing, playing guitar, camping, dancing, looking for online love, shopping for computers and other electronics, attending sports events, studying the Bible, exercising, trying to find jobs, and watching movies. Any one of these subjects make a great book with a buying market.
]]> Writing Fiction Versus Writing Non-Fiction http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/writing-fiction-versus-writing-non-fiction.html http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/writing-fiction-versus-writing-non-fiction.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:03:14 -0400
How Does One Write About Fiction?

Fiction writing tries to reach an audience that has a knack for seeking entertainment. These readers want to feed their imagination. They want the story to transport their imaginations to different places and periods. A fiction writer should have a very big imagination and be very creative.

A fiction writer should have some basic requirements to write a good story; these basics include developing: 1) a solid and interesting plot; 2) strong, relatable characters; and 3) a great writing style with a flair of creativity. Develop these elements fully. Concentrate on answering the "whys" behind the events in your story.

Most readers of fiction stories want to escape their realities and challenge their brains. This is why including mysteries, conflicts and suspense in your fiction is vital to entertain your readers. These elements keep your readers enticed and glued to your story's plot.

Most writers love writing fiction because the genre does not have strict boundaries; fiction writers have more freedom and control over what they create, without readers arguing what is factual or not. Typically, research does not play an important role in developing fiction books; what matters most is using your imagination and creativity.

How Does One Write About Non-Fiction?

Writing about non-fiction may not be as easy as fiction writing. After all, non-fiction writers -- unlike their counterparts -- thrive off what is real instead of finding entertainment through the imagination.

Non-fiction writers concentrate more on things that we can see and touch. Actual experiences play a major role on the story's quality. Readers look for vivid descriptions about events and historical references to interest them.

Non-fiction writing requires extensive research. You can't fake research in non-fiction writing. Filling in spaces with fictional events is rarely tolerated. In fact, many controversies in the publishing world have sprung up about false research or fabricated stories, especially in memoirs and journalistic pieces. As the author, you must include exact historical and factual information.

Which Style Is Better To Use?

Fiction writing and non-fiction writing have many differences and require different specialties and talents. Many writers may feel confused on which writing style they want to adopt as their own.

Most writers say that sticking with one form of writing is inadequate to earn a living as a freelance author. If you want to become known and successful as a writer, then embrace both writing styles because many different demands may come your way.

Each style has its pros and cons that may render them equal to each other. Although writing about fiction usually does not require a lot of research, not every writer can transform his imagination and make-believe-world to paper. Writers will still face obstacles in non-fiction writing during the creative process. On the other hand, doing research for fiction can be quite draining, but at least you have freedom to create a storyline instead of having real events dictate the storyline for you.

These two writing styles may look different, and they have their own advantages and disadvantages. Versatility in both styles can do a lot to establish your credibility and creativity as an author.

Neither style is superior or inferior from the other. Both genres capture the intelligence and interest of many writers. You can't go wrong with either writing style.
]]> The Basic Grammar Rules of Writing a Non-Fiction Book http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/the-basic-grammar-rules-of-writing-a-non-fiction-book.html http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/the-basic-grammar-rules-of-writing-a-non-fiction-book.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:39:05 -0400
You need to follow many style rules to write your book. Some rules may apply to every word, while other rules may apply to its general composition. Either way, you should follow these rules as you work on your book. Your goal is to capture your audience's attention and strengthen the message you want to get across to your readers. Here are a few examples of these basic writing rules.

Tip 1: Use An Active Voice

When writing -- especially non-ficiton -- make sure you use active voice as often as possible. Writing in active voice simply means the subject is performing the verb. This is much more preferable for most instances as compared to a passive voice. A passive voice makes readers think backwards and could leave them wondering who exactly is the doer of the action.

Writing in active voice shortens your sentences and makes your writing sound more direct and formal.

Examples:

PASSIVE: The recipe book is read by her.
ACTIVE: She reads the recipe book.

PASSIVE: The radio announcement should be listened to by everyone.
ACTIVE: Everyone should listen to the radio announcement.

PASSIVE: The photo is being taken by the photographer.
ACTIVE: The photographer is taking the photo.

By using an active voice for most parts of your book, you can avoid dragging the story, which could bore your readers. For example, instead of saying, "The ball was hit by Roy," it would be better to write, "Roy hit the ball."

Tip 2: Use Concrete Words Instead of Vague Language

Always use specific and concrete words rather than vague and general words. Instead of saying "apparent considerable monetary gains," you can easily say "a lot of money" or "one million dollars." Not only are you saving yourself effort by writing this way, but you are also making it easier for your readers to understand your point immediately. Using vague descriptions can lose your readers' interests.

Tip 3: Always Properly Cite Your Sources

When using passages from the works of other authors, please remember to properly cite them in your book. Try to paraphrase, instead of directly quoting from your original sources. Paraphrasing in your own words makes you more ethical by not plagiarizing, but also proves to your readers that you've done your research, thus making you sound more convincing and credible as an author.

Tip 4: Remember Your Subject-Verb Agreement

Always remember to make your subject and verb agree with each other, and not with a word that comes in between them. If your subject is singular, then make sure the verb in your sentence is also singular. For example, it is correct to say, "Janice, like her brothers, has been going to school there," instead of "Janice, like her brothers, have been going to school there."

Tip 5: Omit Unnecessary Words

In this example: "I would like to exclaim that I truly consider her as quite an incomprehensible idiot," we can see I've include too many unnecessary words. Unnecessary words tire the reader and makes the sentence more difficult to comprehend. By saying, "I think she is an idiot," you make your readers understand what your mean instead of making things complicated.

Tip 6: Properly Arrange Where You Place Pronouns or Appositives

Arrange the pronoun or appositives properly in your sentences and make sure they refer to the right subject. For example, instead of saying, "Its mouth filled with dog food, Lorena picked up the puppy from the basket," you should say, "Lorena picked up the puppy, its mouth filled with dog food, from the basket." You will not confuse your readers about who your subject is with the descriptions.

These rules are just some of the most basic. Many writers still forget these rules. Since your goal is to write a book your readers can understand and comprehend, stick to these basic rules to write correctly.
]]> How to Write Your Non-Fiction Book Through Research http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/how-to-write-your-non-fiction-book-through-research.html http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/how-to-write-your-non-fiction-book-through-research.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:21:07 -0400
Tip 1: Identify Your Topic And Develop It

The first step is to identify your topic. Decide what goals you want to derive from writing about it. Develop your topic by stating it as a question. For example, if your book topic is about love, then identify questions on what particular aspects about love you want to cover. This way, you begin to develop an outline about what you want to cover as well as a clear flow on how you want your story to go. This is a very good step to help you organize your thoughts.

Tip 2: Find Basic Background Information

Establish basic information about your topic. Search for keywords and do preliminary readings in encyclopedias and dictionaries that help you know what your topic is about. Concentrate on general information as the very basics, so that later on, you can search for other related information to flesh out your book topic.

Tip 3: Conduct Research on Current Studies

After you have educated yourself about your book's topic, you can expand to specific details about your book's theme. This may include exhausting many types of sources including informative published articles and even current or up to date studies that may present you with statistics and the latest findings.

Make sure you exhaust all your sources to know as much as you can about your topic. Use the Internet or popular magazines to know more about how your book's topic affects popular culture. This may even include asking people for their opinions on the issues that you are trying to cover in your book. Outside opinions can give you many ideas and insights that may prove useful to your work.

Conduct extensive research according to questions you had developed in the preliminary stages of your research. Always go back to the root issue, and do not deviate too much from the topic.

You probably won't use all information from your research as sources for your book; however, you can still use many types of information to give you ideas on what to write.

Tip 4: Evaluate Your Information

Before you close your research, evaluate the things you have discovered about your topic. Make sure you synthesize and separate what pieces of information is useful for your book and decide which information is too trivial.

Classify your information and where your sources came from. Although you may get ideas from magazines and newspapers, they aren't usually used for academic purposes. Use Internet information sparingly as this can make your book look superficial and research-deprived.

Identify and include facts and information that are most vivid and can help you write convincingly on your book's topic. If you need to copy an idea from another published writer, don't forget to give credit and cite sources.

These simple tips can guide you in your research. Collecting facts and bits of information is essential to write a book that speaks boldly and convincingly to your readers.
]]> How to Create a Bestselling Book Cover http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/how-to-create-a-bestselling-book-cover.html http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/how-to-create-a-bestselling-book-cover.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:56:37 -0400
Here are some noteworthy book cover creation tips you can use.

1. The Front Cover

The front book cover showcases the title, its subtitle, and the author's name. Think of the front cover as a billboard ad displayed on one of the busiest streets in the city. Its design must express a solid message without being too flashy and fussy. The graphics should be bold, unique, and distinct. Graphics should relate to the book's content and not mislead readers. Use contrasting bold typeface as the lettering. You can use your imagination for the color scheme. The font size must be readable, even from a distance.

Poorly designed book covers will result in poor sales. The best tip is to hire a professional graphic designer who is skilled in printing, photography, software, and creative skills. Now that will truly make sense.

2. The Book Spine

The book's spine must contain the author's name, the book's title, and the publishing company's logo (if applicable). The information must be legible, uncluttered, and visibly clean. Use bold and contrasting colors for the letters.

3. Tease the Back Cover

The back cover gives you a second chance at selling your book to a potential buyer who found your front cover interesting. The back cover should tease the minds of potential buyers and persuade them to buy your book. Go for a terrific headline and advertise it to your target market, provide a brief but persuasive background of the content, include your bio-data and photo, the bar code, and the 13-digit ISBN number.

Whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction, you must choose the best title for your book.

4. Keep Your Book Title Short

Favor short titles instead of long titles. Short titles make a great impact. Statistics show that more readers remember a short book title instead of a long book title. Book titles don't have to form a complete sentence. Phrases, terms, fragments, or even just one word might make the perfect book title if it can fully encompass the main idea of your work.

5. Keep It Descriptive

The title of your book must mirror the idea of your book. One simple but effective example is the first book of C.S. Lewis' popular Chronicles of Narnia Series, the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. With those words, you know immediately which important figures encompass the story.

You don't have to be literal all the time. Abstract ideas and allusions work as long as you can catch readers' attention and exhibit an underlying significance in hindsight. One good example is Tennessee Williams' play, The Glass Menagerie.

6. Speak the Language of Your Readers

Your story's success relies on how much your readers can relate to and appreciate your book. Although this doesn't mean you have to write about situations that your readers have experienced, it does mean writing in a way that helps readers grasp your meaning. Apply the same reasoning as you develop a title for your book.

Using buzzwords are okay if you believe they're appropriate. Consider the long-term consequences of your choice. A popular term today may be obsolete in the next decade.

7. Make It Unforgettable

This is where various factors like alliteration, rhyming, choice of verbs, and even choice of language all come into play. You don't need to use complicated words; one glance at "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" proves that rather well.

If you need help creating unforgettable book titles, focus on your book's content. What ideas in your book seemed preposterous at the start, but you defended and proved your point in the end? Can you sum them up in a few words?

Ponder these important book cover creation tips and be ready to hit the market with the potential of great sales.
]]> How to Generate Best-Selling Ideas for Your Book or Novel http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/how-to-generate-best-selling-ideas-for-your-book-or-novel.html http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/how-to-generate-best-selling-ideas-for-your-book-or-novel.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:48:13 -0400
1. Idea Generator One: What Are You Good At?

Make a list of 20 things you're good at. Don't think too hard about this. Maybe you're good at buying presents for people—you've got a knack for choosing just the right gift. Maybe you're a good cook, or a good parent, or a good swimmer or a good tennis player. Or maybe you used to be good at one or more of these things. For example: I grew up with horses, and owned horses for many years. I'm good with horses, and a good rider. If I saw a gap in the market for a horse book, I'd feel comfortable writing the book.

You get the idea. List at least 20 things that you're good at, or have been good at in the past. For example, if you know you're an excellent gardener, even though you now live an apartment, list "gardening."

2. Idea Generator Two: Tap into Your Past Experiences

Experiences sell. If you've been abducted by little green men from Mars, it's a book. If you're a bigamist, it's a book. People have written books about their illnesses (see from challenge to opportunity below), their addictions, and their pets. Browse through the bestseller lists to see what personal experiences people are writing about.

Here's where you walk down memory lane. If you're in your twenties, it'll be a short stroll. If you're in your forties or older, it will be a hike. Don't get bogged down with this, list 20 experiences you've had that spring to mind.

The easiest way to come up with experiences is to work backwards through the stages of your life, or through decades. Again, don't take a long time over this. Set yourself a time limit --- ten minutes is enough.

3. Idea Generator Three: Tap into Your Knowledge

What do you know? Start by making a list of all the subjects you were good at in school. Then list all the jobs you've had - yes, part time work counts.

Also list:

Your hobbies. Are you a keen Chihuahua breeder? Do you quilt? Take photographs?

Your current job. What are you learning in your job that other people would pay to learn?

The places you've lived. Your hometown may be boring to you, but guide books sell well.

Your family tree. What special knowledge do your nearest and dearest have that you could write about?

Spend around ten minutes writing down as many subjects as you have knowledge about.

4. Idea Generator Four: What Do You Enjoy Most in Life?

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson freely admits that she cooks because she loves to eat. Nigella has turned her love of food into a career. She regularly produces bestselling books. (Her chocolate recipes are brilliant.) What do you love? People have written about garage sales, cosmetics, cars, vacations. If you love something, chances are that thousands or maybe millions of others will love it too.

Watch the newspapers and take note of current trends. Or better yet, listen to what your children are talking about, or asking you to buy for them. Children tend to be well up on what's happening.

Remember that it will take around 5-8 months for your book to reach the bookstores. Therefore, the currently hot topics on the bestselling lists may be old news before your book is in the stores. This doesn't mean, of course, that you can't write on perennial favorites like money, sex and exercise. These topics never go out of popularity, and a new twist on one of these is always a sure bet.

The idea of writing about what you enjoy is that you will be bringing passion and enthusiasm to your topic. Enthusiasm is a must.

5. Idea Generator Five: From Challenge to Opportunity

You face challenges every day. Most are minor, some are major challenges. If you've ever faced a large challenge, or if you're facing one right now, then consider that the things you learn could help other people. Whatever your challenge is -- whether it's moving house or confronting a life-threatening illness -- other people face the same challenges, and in those challenges lie the seeds of books.

Make a list of 20 challenges you've faced in your life. Anything catastrophic qualifies: losing your job, facing bankruptcy, the betrayal of a spouse. If you've had a quiet life, then make a list of challenges that the people you know have faced.

Additional challenges you can consider include any habit you've broken, from congenital lateness to overeating.

When you've finished brainstorming, you'll have dozens of book ideas. Winnow out the non-starters. Don't delete them, move them to another computer file. Call it "odds and ends" or "snippets." ]]> The Principles of Good Book Editing http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/the-principles-of-good-book-editing.html http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/the-principles-of-good-book-editing.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:16:24 -0400
Tip 1: Be Concise as Much as Possible

A common mistake is including unnecessary content in your book without realizing it. When editing your work, make sure you eliminate clutter.

Clutter may appear in your work through useless and repetitive words in the same sentences. For example, this sentence, "The hasty brisk way that she talks," leaves the impression that the extra descriptive words add drama, but the words "hasty" and "brisk" mean the same thing.

Tip 2: Vary Sentence Structure

Your readers might find your writing style dull and choppy if you always write your sentences with the main subject followed by the verb. This brings us to the second principle: learn to vary the structure of your sentences.

For example, saying, "Because I ate too much, I gained a lot of weight," sounds better than saying, "I ate too much. I gained a lot of weight." The first phrase not only sounds better and less monotonous, but it is also easier to understand.

By varying the length and structure of your sentences, you can achieve a smoother and more conversational tone, instead of sounding like a robot. Thus, your readers can relate to your book more and understand it better.

Tip 3: Use Active Voice

By replacing "to be" verbs with active verbs, you can change your statement from a passive voice into an active voice. For example, it's better to write, "Anna ate the apple, " rather than "The apple was eaten by Anna." You avoid confusing your readers on who the "doer" of the action is in your statements.

Using active voice is an important editing principle. Active voice holds your readers' interests; unlike passive voice of writing, active voice does not drag out your point.

Tip 4: Clarity, Cohesion and Coherence

The three C's in writing, otherwise known as clarity, cohesion and coherence, are useful editing techniques. For your book to truly speak to readers, you must evoke a response so your readers connect with what you are trying to say. Use clear, connected and coherent words to achieve this result.

For your work to become clear, avoid using too much jargon or unnecessary words. As mentioned previously, keep your book concise and simple so readers understand your point better.

Make sure sentences and paragraphs clearly stick together. One trick is to use transitional words and phrases like, therefore, or, and so. These can show the relationship between your phrases and drive your point across.

To achieve coherence, follow basic principles of writing and editing as the ones mentioned above. Sometimes it's not your fault if readers don't fully understand your work. However, you can make things easier by using correct grammar and cohesive sentences.

Editing is essential to improve the quality of your work. If you are not used to finding errors on your own, then you may find self-editing too taxing. As long as you use these basic principles, then you will see how this process improves your writing style in many ways.
]]> As a Book Author, Do I Need a Literary Agent? http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/as-a-book-author-do-i-need-a-literary-agent.html http://www.articlecabi.net/writing/as-a-book-author-do-i-need-a-literary-agent.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:57:31 -0400
Tip 1: What Is A Literary Agent?

A literary agent represents writers and their written works to publishers, producers and other companies. Basically, these agents assist you in selling your book and negotiating contracts. In most cases, you do not pay the literary agent directly, because they receive a percentage of your book royalties.

Literary agents act as buffers between you and your publisher, especially negotiating how each party should package or market your book. As a writer, you do not want the publisher to butcher and change your original work too much; however, publishers do insist on changing your work to improve its salability in the marketplace. Having an agent to help settle things can make things much easier for everyone.

Tip 2: Why Should I Get a Literary Agent?

Many book writers want to concentrate on writing their books and use a literary agent to handle the business of book publishing. In this case it makes sense to hire an experienced agent to sell your book to a publisher and negotiate royalties. Secondly, a literary agent will have connections in the industry that you do not, and this could speed up the publishing process.

An agent is responsible to shop your manuscript around to publishers and use his connections to get your work in the hands of a good editor. Your literary agent will handle most of the contracts, agreements and negotiations on your behalf. You may also decide to work with a literary agent to express and brainstorm ideas and opinions about your book and what you want to achieve.

Use a literary agent to assist you in earning optimal money from your work, and at the same time, provide you with creative protection. A literary agent will help fight for your artistic decisions and ensure publishers don't compromise your original concept.

Tip 3: What Should I Know Before Getting A Literary Agent?

As good as it may sound to get a literary agent, do not rush yourself in choosing one. Follow these basic rules:

Know who the good agents are, and research their credentials and accomplishments. Narrow down a few good agents. Request their submission guidelines or ask if they accept unsolicited material. The best approach is to send a book proposal with a sample chapter, a comprehensive synopsis, and a short letter asking them to represent you.

Most literary agents are swamped with manuscripts. Many of them are picky and hard to please. Do not feel frustrated if you experience some difficulty at this stage. Research will uncover many agents; in time, you will find an agent who will believe in your work and help you sell it.

Be wary of scammers who request up front reading fees. Make sure your chosen literary agents are legitimate. If you find agents advertising themselves too much, or advertising "rags-to-riches" offers and promises, then it's likely they may not be the real deal.

As a writer who is determined to get your work published, finding a reputable literary agent is a basic step to achieve your goal. By doing so, you can get your stories across to people and help you make money from your art.

Writing a book is one journey, and the business aspect is another. A good literary agent can help launch your career as a writer and make things a whole lot easier for you. If you want to become successful in your book writing endeavors, it would certainly not hurt you to find a good agent.
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