Publishing Online for Writers

Contents
I: Publishing Online for Writers
1: Introduction to Publishing Online for Writers
Will Online Publishing Rid the World of Printed Publications?
So, How Big Is the Move to Publishing Online?
What Do We Mean by Publishing Online?
A Short History of Publishing Online
The Rise of the E-book
The Future for Publishing Online?
How Writers and Readers Interact in a Digital World
Reasons to Publish Online
The Subject/Genre of Your Piece Performs Well Online
The Piece Is Better Suited to Digital Platforms
You Want to Be in the Driving Seat of Your Writing Career
Want to Be Your Own Boss
You Have Tried the Traditional Route to Publishing and Got No Interest
Wanting to Supplement an Established Writing Career
Revive a Flagging Publishing Career
More Money
You Want to Get to Market Quickly
Use It as a Springboard to Traditional Publishing
When Not to Publish Online
2: Publishing Online: Getting Started
Where to Start
Know Your Market
Preparing to Publish Online
Six Steps to Publish Online
1. What’s the Topic or Niche of Your Piece?
2. What Is the Format of Your Piece?
3. What’s Your Pitch?
4. Who Is Your Likely Audience?
5. Why Do You Want to Publish This Piece?
Other Benefits to Publishing Online that are not Monetary
Gaining Experience
Building a Reputation
Build a Network
A Writer Needs Readers
Meet Other Writers
Test Out an Idea
Gain Feedback
Enhance Your Writing Craft
6. Research Potential Digital Platforms and Media
Online Magazines
Online Journals
Businesses
Retailers
Local Publications
Blogs
3: Publishing in Online Magazines
What Makes a Website an Online Magazine?
How Does that Differ from a Journal?
What Can You Get Published with an Online Magazine?
Is it Worthwhile Submitting Your Work to Sites that Don’t Pay?
Should You Publish Your Article on More than One Site?
Assessing if a Magazine Is for You
Match Made in Heaven?
Is Your Piece Original?
Ease of Use of the Magazine
Alexa Ranking
Is Their Genre and Style Suitable for Your Piece?
Publishing with a Magazine Online
Option 1: A Focused Magazine
What Are Editors Interested In?
Option 2: General Interest Magazines
Option 3: Local Magazines
Option 4: Trade Magazines
What Should You Submit to an Online Magazine?
How Much Will They Pay?
Types of Magazine Articles
Lists
You’ve Found a Magazine, What’s Next?
Step 1: Review Their Copyright Terms
Step 2: Check Submission Dates and Any Deadlines
Step 3: Prepare Your Submission
4: Publishing with Online Journals
Only Submit When Your Article/Paper Is Ready
Finding an Appropriate Journal
Is the Journal Credible?
Is the Journal Indexed in a Database?
Conferences and Journals
Should You Approach More Than One Journal?
Understand the Journal’s Aims, Scope, Guidelines, and Target Audience
What Are Journals Looking for?
Dealing with Rejection
First Impressions Count
Edit, Edit, Edit
Cover Letter
Reviewers’ Comments
5: Publishing via Blogs
Should You Be Blogging?
What Does It Take to Be a Good Blogger?
Should You Have Your Own Blog?
Getting the Blog Basics Right
Writing Quality Blog Posts
Pitching to Other Blogs
Have a Niche
What Is the Aim of Your Blog?
Is Your Blog Hitting the Spot?
Blogging Pitfalls to Avoid
Your Blog Is Organic and Not Set in Stone
6: Publishing a Podcast
What Is a Podcast?
Is There a Standard Podcast Format?
Does There Need to Be a Theme to a Podcast?
Presenters?
Professional or Basic?
Making a Podcast
Your Recording Space
Podcast Apps
Audio Recording
The Interview Format
Editing
Publishing
RSS Feeds (Really Simple Syndication)
Marketing
Making Money
Taking Your Podcast from Good to Great
Research, Research, Research
Preparation
Invisible Scripting
Give Your Audience Something
High Quality Audio
The Podcast Host
The Length
Be Careful with Your Editing
Getting Up Close and Personal
Experiment
Developing Your Podcast Idea
Step 1. What Is the Purpose of Your Podcast?
Step 2. Who Is Your Audience?
Step 3. Choose Your Host
Step 4. Give Your Target Audience a Reason to Listen
Step 5. Name Your Podcast
Step 6: Choosing Your Podcast Format
The Solo Show
The Co-Hosted Show
The Interview Show
Top Tips for Recording Your Podcast
II: Publishing E-books
7: The E-book Publishing Process
When to Decide If You’re Going Down the E-book Path
Use of Images, Charts, and Diagrams
Key E-Book Decisions
Benefits of Deciding Up Front It Is Going to Be an E-book
Does Your Genre Affect Your Decision?
Does the Target Audience Affect Your Decision?
Is It One Book or a Series?
Length of Work?
Could It Be Part of a Package?
Is E-publishing for You?
Why Create an E-book
Can You Make Money from Your E-book?
Steps of the E-book Publishing Process
What’s a Self-Publishing Company?
Is Your E-book Ready?
Planning for Publishing Your E-book Online
Online Publishing to-do List
Have You Read Material on an E-book Reader?
Choosing an E-reader
E-books and Genres
An Indie Author or a Self-Published Author: What’s the Difference?
What’s the Difference with Self-Publishing?
8: Designing an E-book
Types of E-books
Book Sizes
A Professional E-book
Book Structure
E-book Contents
Traditional Book Elements
Blurb/Description
Have a Clear Chapter Layout to Your E-book
Standard Formatting
Chapter Formatting
First Paragraph of a Chapter
See How Your Content Looks on an E-reader
Seek Feedback
Designing Your E-book
1. Check Your Manuscript Is Ready
2. Format Your Manuscript
How Is an E-book Structured?
Front Matter
Body Matter
Back Matter
About the Author
The Look and Feel for Your E-book
The Wonderful World of Fonts
Useful Resource
Typesetting
Colours in Your E-book
Using Images
Make Your Work Accessible to All
Tips for Refining Your E-book
9: Producing an E-book
Producing Your E-book
Software Options for Producing an E-book
Using E-book Creation Software to Create Your E-book
Check Your Manuscript
Creating Your Cover
Your Cover Is Your First Marketing Tool
Is the Cover That Important?
Outsourcing Cover Design
Key Decisions About Your E-book Cover
Cover Design Tools
Have Links in Your E-book
E-book File Formats
Package Your E-book
Publishing with Amazon
Being an Amazon Author
What Is Kindle Direct Publishing?
ISBN
ASIN
Do You Need an ISBN?
Free or Paid ISBN?
Buy ISBN
Barcode
10: Your E-book Marketing Strategy
The Importance of Having a Marketing Strategy for your E-book
Contents of Your E-book Marketing Strategy
Decide Your Marketing Budget
How Much Time Do You Really Have to Put Aside for Marketing?
Understand Your Field or Sector
Who Is Your Target Audience?
Connect with Your Potential Reader
How Are You Going to Position Your E-book or Work?
Website Promotion
A Landing Page
Assess Your Website and Landing Page
Blog
Website Content
Videos
Guest Blogging
Paid Advertising?
Pre-launch Promotions
Social Media as Part of Your E-book Marketing Strategy
Social Media Posts Can Include:
Have a Theme
Decide Which Social Media Platforms to Use
Promote Your E-Book via Email Marketing
Launch an Email Outreach Programme
What to Charge
Coordinating Your Marketing Activities
Track, Measure, and Refine Your Strategy
11: Promoting Your E-book
Promoting Your E-book
Reviews
Offer a Teaser
Find Influencers
Creating a Buzz
Online Advertisements
Pre-launch E-book Promotions
Share Your E-book Writing Journey
Give Updates on Your Progress
Polish Your E-book Cover
Email Lists
Get Involved in a Group Promotion
Build Relationships
Facebook Groups
Competitions
Promotions Using Different Social Media Platforms
Promote Your E-book on Facebook
Promote Your E-book on Twitter
Promote Your E-book on Instagram
Promote Your E-book on YouTube
Free Online E-book Advertising
III: Publishing Online: Making It a Success
12: An Online Writer’s Website
Does an Author Need a Website?
Your Author Platform
The Purpose of an Author Website
Getting Started
Choose Your Platform
Select a Domain Host
Pick a Domain Name
What’s a Good Domain Name?
Add Domain Security
Build and Design Your Author Website Yourself
Know Your Audience
Pages to Include on Your Website
The Homepage
About the Author
Should You Include a Photograph of Yourself?
Your Publications
Offer Your Website Visitor Something More
Contact Me
Your Blog
Events
Do You Need to Have All These Pages?
Capturing Email Addresses and Having Mailing Lists
Using Your Author Website to Market Your Books
Your Authorial Voice
Tracking Your Website’s Performance
My Final Word on Author Websites:
13: Managing Online Writing Projects
Managing Projects or Project Management: What Is It?
Time, Cost, and Quality
Do Writers Have Projects?
Writer Projects: The Stages
Initiation
Planning
Break It Down
Who Does What
Deadlines and Dependencies
Execution
Stakeholders
Control
Don’t Forget the Unpleasant Activities!
Manage
Close
Time to Reflect
Managing Multiple Projects
Build Your Project Activity Templates
14: Long-Term Success for a Writer Online
Won’t It Be Easier to Be Published Online?
Be Patient
Be Online Smart
Build on Your Writing Skills
You Need to Write
Expect Quality Writing from Yourself
Don’t Forget Your Goal
Take a Step-by-Step Approach
Overnight Success Doesn’t Really Happen
Isn’t All Publicity Good Publicity?
Learn from Others
Build Up Your Network
Brace Yourself for Feedback
Enjoy the Process of Writing
Don’t Give Up
Don’t Be Afraid of Experimentation
Take a Break If You Need To
Don’t Go It Alone
Brush Up on the Marketing Skills
Branding
Always Be Professional
Watch Your Writing Online
Be Prepared
Diversify
Ask for Help
Should You Consider a Self-Publishing Company?
Index