How do Best Sellers lists actually Work? Is it all Really Worth it?

As a writer you want your book to be recognized as one of the best, if not the best. And one of the best ways to do so is by having your book on a Best Sellers List. Indeed, if your book is on a best sellers list your book will gain the prestige it needs to be one of the best. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves though. We first have to answer one question. How do best sellers list actually work?

What is a best sellers list? A best sellers list is a list of books that have sold a great number of books and are thus qualified to be on a best sellers list. The qualifications for being on a best sellers list differs because the list are created by different publications and each has its own standards. Such lists may also be published by newspapers, magazines, or book store chains. Foremost amongst these lists is the New York Times Bestseller which is considered as the holy grail of best sellers list. This is because the data for the list is taken directly from bookstores and from the Neilson Book scans. And although the statistics for the best sellers list is not perfect, it is technically the most efficient and trustworthy out there. Which is why if you want to have your book given a great amount of attention, it is best that you strive to have your book in the New York Times Bestsellers list.



But now back to the main question, how do these best sellers lists actually work? As it was stated earlier one of the most common ways that best sellers list are created is through a tabulation of the number of books sold at a certain amount of time and each publication has a different form of data gathering. The books are all divided into fiction and fan-fiction. And some list are further divided into subcategories. They can also be ranked differently for Hardcover and Softcover categories.

We also have to take into account that there are a lot of different lists that are supported by a publication. Each of these list have their own way of ranking bestsellers and has their own setbacks when it comes to judging which books are the most popular. Take for example the way The New York Times Bestsellers list gets the data for their list. They tabulate their info through data gathered from bookstores. They are considerably more traditional when it comes to sources because they get their data from selected book stores. This kind of tabulation of course is not the most accurate because the bookstores are selected and thus there is no guarantee that your books are also popular in the bookstores that were not selected. There is also the example of the Amazon top 100 which is usually calculated on an hourly basis and bases their list on the number of books sold through their site and is tabulated using their own data and qualifications. All in all if you look at how the best sellers list are ranked there is really no definite way to know which best sellers list is truly accurate.

Some authors would try various book marketing techniques and buy marketing services from either traditional or self-publishing companies to get an edge on the best sellers list. But is it really worth all the time and effort you are investing into it? Will it really help you as a writer? The answer is yes, getting into a book list is a really big deal. Although there are many detractors saying book sellers are no longer relevant in this day and age, there is always something special about a book being part of the best sellers list. It shows that your book is popular and a testament to your skills as a writer. All in all having your book in a best seller list is always a special honor and should be taken advantage of.

Signs that Publishing is Evolving and How you can Catch Up!

In the past few years the landscape of publishing has changed. With the rise of mass media and self-publishing the way things have been done has changed drastically. Back in the old days publishing options were more limited. This is because publishing was more expensive and work intensive than it is today.  Back then traditional publishing was the only option and traditional publishing houses had the last say in everything. Authors would have to send in their manuscripts to these publishing houses and wait whether or not their book would be published. But nowadays authors are given so many options on how to have their work published.

One of the most evident signs of change in publishing is the fact that traditional publishing no longer has a monopoly of the publishing industry. Although traditional publishing still exist in this era they are no longer the only option for authors to have their manuscripts published. Nowadays authors have various options to choose from. One option is through self-publishing.

This form of publishing is different to traditional publishing. Where traditional publishing entails the author sending in his work to established publishing houses. There is no guarantee that the publishing house will take the manuscript up and even if they did, the publishing house will still own most of the rights to the manuscript and the writer will get a smaller percentage. This is because the publishing house will pay for most of the publishing and book promotion costs. The author would have little to no control of his book and receive only a smaller percentage of the royalties that he deserves.

Whereas in Self-publishing, the author has full control of their book’s production and creation. The author is also given a full percentage of his book’s earnings. Self-publishing is technically one of the most viable options for authors nowadays to have their books printed and sold without having to face the rejection of editors and the uncertainty of whether or not their book will ever be published.
Self-publishing can be done by yourself or you can ask for help from self-publishing houses. If you choose to self-publish yourself, this would entail you to do all the work yourself. But don’t fret it is not as hard as it was twenty years ago. With the rise of print on demand services you can have your book printed once someone already bought it, thus you need not have to have stockpile your books in your basement. You can also make your manuscript and do the copy-editing yourself, and if you want a second opinion you can have a professional look into it. The same can be said for book designers and other specialists. They can all be hired for a reasonable fee. If this seems a bit too work intensive for you, you also have the option to choose from a list of self-publishing companies that are more than willing to help you publish your book. If you opt to have your book self-published you are usually given a list of marketing services to choose from. This would usually include service from book creation to book marketing all for a reasonable fee. All in all book production is far easier and more advantageous for the author than it was years ago.

In the case of the book promotion part of book publishing you are also given a lot more affordable and viable options. Back then book promotion usually entailed costly advertising such as advertisements in newspapers and television. But now you need not spend thousands on advertising. With the emergence of social media, you can now manage your own book marketing at your leisure. This is because with the rise of social media you have full control of your book’s web presence. You can use various social media vehicles such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. You can create your own Blog site and hosts events and posts advertisements through it.  Though your blog site you can also cultivate your fan base and even sell your book thorough it. The internet is an incredibly multifaceted advertising platform that can make your book promotion so much easier. The only condition for success when it comes to this kind of promotion is your time, because it takes a lot of time and effort to make an impression on your perspective readers.

All in all when it comes to book publishing nowadays, you have so much more options to have your book produced and sold. All that really separates you from success and failure is the amount of hard work that you put into it.

Tips on how to Finally get your Book Published!

As a writer one of your greatest dreams is to have your book published. The problem though is that it is extremely difficult. There are various factors that may stop you from finally getting your book published. One factor is the lack of confidence. You are afraid that your work is not good enough and this will deal quite a blow on your pride as a writer. And you feel that it would be far better to live in a world of what ifs than to face the harsh realities of an editor’s criticism. Yet another factor is that it is extremely difficult to get a publishing house to take up your book. Although to be honest it does take some time to get a book accepted by a well-known publishing house because they all follow stringent qualifications on choosing a book. Thus it is quite normal that you have a hard time getting your book published. But whatever reason you may have, there is always a way. Here are some great tips on how to finally get your book published.

Brush up on your writing skills
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”
― Stephen King

Like any worthwhile endeavor writing may take a lifetime to master. So do not get discouraged if your work is met with criticism. It just means that your skills have yet to be fully developed and you need a little more practice. Even great authors like Stephen King had to write day in and day out to perfect his writing style. Thus it is not too farfetched that you should also practice and practice more. And don’t worry about your work being unfit for publishing, just remember that as long as you stay strong and positive you will eventually get published. Just remember that no worthy endeavor has ever been accomplished without blood, sweat and tears being shed.

Look over your publishing options
“Publishing a book is like stuffing a note into a bottle and hurling it into the sea. Some bottles drown, some come safe to land, where the notes are read and then possibly cherished, or else misinterpreted, or else understood all too well by those who hate the message. You never know who your readers might be.” 

― Margaret Atwood
One of the mistakes committed by some writers is that they are looking at their problem to narrow mindedly. There are so many ways that you can have your book published. The most common being traditional publishing where you send your work to already established publishing houses. This is an ideal publishing route but these publishing houses have very stringent guidelines and it may take you some time to have your book chosen.

Another option is to publish the book yourself. This method is known as self-publishing and is a truly valid option. It has many advantages over traditional publishing. They being given creative freedom over your book and receiving full royalties for your book. You are also given overall freedom on the book marketing aspects of your book. The only set back of this route is that you will have to pay for all your publishing expenses. The good thing though is that you have a lot of options on how to go about self-publishing. You can choose to do it yourself and delegate some of your work to a specialist or you can have a self-publishing company handle it all for you. A self-publishing company handles every aspect of your books publishing. From book production to creating marketing services for your book. If these options are not to your liking, you can also have your book in e-book format. This makes it easier to publish and distribute. Although it is not as lucrative as having your book published in paper, it can help you break through the publishing barrier.

 Make a realistic and possible marketing plan
Although we all want to be great authors and sell our books in huge quantities, reality can get in the way. Which is why it is important that we have a realistic marketing plan. You have a good number of options to choose from when it comes to making a marketing plan. One option is to create a blog site dedicated to your books and writing. This is an affordable way to getting publicity for your book because it costs very little to set up a blog site and you can posts advertisements and teasers about your book through your blog sit free of charge. The fact that almost everyone uses the internet nowadays makes this a viable option. You can even cultivate your own fan base though your blog site. This is very important because this fan base will be the nucleus of your fan base in the future when you have already published your book. It is always important to think past the publishing phase and also think about the book promotion phase.  This is because no matter how good your book is, but if no one is going to buy it what would be the point. You can also use various social media vehicles such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to advertise your books. Through Facebook you can advertise your work for free and tag as many of your friends as you can. You can even make a book trailer and post it through YouTube. The best thing about this form of book marketing is that it will not cost you too much to set up and maintain. All it takes is your time and effort. You can even hire a Social Media specialist to manage it for you.

All in all when it comes to publishing self-belief is your greatest asset. It is this self-belief that will inspire you to finish your book, it is this self-belief that will inspire you to be a better writer.  It is this self-belief that will strengthen and harden you through the many rigors of life as a writer.

Reasons Why you Should Get your Book Self-Published!

Having your book published is one of the most worthwhile endeavors you can take up as a writer. Sadly though taking up the more common route can also be the most difficult. This is because the traditional way of publishing entails you to send your book to the many well established publishing houses out there, the problem though is the fact that it is quite difficult to break into the traditional publishing game. This is because traditional publishing houses are notoriously known for being picky with their books and you may have to wait months or even years to get your book chosen. Even worse there is also the fact that even when your book is chosen, you will still lose creative power over your own book. What’s more you will get a smaller percentage of your book’s full profits.
This is why having your book self-published is a great option. Self-publishing entails you to take a more unorthodox path and compels you to publish your book yourself. This may seem risky at first but in the long run you will see that it is the right choice. Here are some great reasons why you should have your book self-published.

• You have full control of the creative process

Unlike traditional publishing where you give up control of the creative aspects of your book, self-publishing gives you full control of It. You are given the chance to be your own boss and not have to agree with the suggestions of the editors. You can choose how your book will look like, how the manuscript is published and how the prose will sound.  All in all having full control is the best way for you to reach your full potential as a writer. You are also given the chance to promote your book yourself and use any method that you would deem acceptable.

• You have full access to your work

One annoying part of having your book published traditionally is the fact that you don’t have full access to your book specs. At most they will only provide you with quarterly sales reports. But with Self-publishing you have full access to your work and how they are doing in the market.

• You no longer have to wait for your book to be printed

By having your book self-published you have the chance to have it printed as soon as possible. In direct contrast to Traditional publishing which takes a long time to print their books, having your book self-published makes the printing process a very efficient and exciting one. This is because you have the choice on when and how your book is printed. Even better with the emergence of the print on demand industry you have the option of having your book printed only when someone buys it. Thus you no longer need to have a number of your books printed and stockpiled.

• You get compensated more

Although self-publishing may costs you a bit at first, you can rest assured that you will be compensated quite well in the end. This is because unlike in traditional publishing where you get only a percentage of your book’s sales, with self-publishing you are given a larger percentage of your book sales. For example the usual publishing deals nowadays only gives 25% to authors. But you get around 70% if you take a self-publishing route.

• It is easier

Years ago self-publishing may not have seemed like a viable option because of the work it involved. But with the rise of self-publishing companies nowadays, self-publishing is so much easier. Self-publishing companies are literally like traditional publishing companies because they give you the same marketing services that a traditional publishing house can offer you. The only difference is the fact that you have full control of the publishing and promotion process. Although you are expected to pay for these publishing packages rest assured that you are given the best service possible.
Self-Publishing is a truly fast growing industry and a good number of authors are opting to take this route and publish their books themselves. Although it is not a perfect solution to your publishing needs it is still one of your best options to choose from.

Challenges in Writing a Book and How to Face Them!

Writing is both an easy and difficult process. It is easy because it is a very enjoyable process and a way for you to open yourself up to the world. You can express yourself in a myriad of ways through writing and it is through your own passion that makes the writing process easy. And yet the process can also be very difficult because there are so many obstacles that may come up in the future.
True you can start out the writing process without any difficulties but in the long run these obstacles may come up. So before you think of starting the writing process here are some examples of common challenges in writing and how to face them.

• Writers Block

Of all the writing obstacles that you will face in the future, writers block may be one of the most difficult to combat. Imagine that you are just about to start working on a new book, you are so excited and everything seems so clear to you. You just sit down and type down the words on your laptop. You start out great, you make the setting of the book very intriguing and you are really enjoying yourself. Then out of nowhere you can’t seem to put two words together. You shrug it off at first then you stumble out a few sentences. They don’t seem to make any sense. You feel annoyed, then helpless and it dawns on you how uncertain you now feel. This is how writers block usually feels. It is an uncertainty on how you should proceed with your work. It will feel as if your mind is a blank and you can’t seem to think clearly. You can’t seem to make a coherent sentence no matter how hard you try.
Writers block in truth may stem from a lot of factors. It could be stress, overwork, anxiety etc. But no matter the factors though you should always tell yourself that you can still write. Writers Block is a challenge for any writer but it could be made even worse with self-doubt. The best way for you to face writers block is to calm your mind and look at it from a more logical perspective. Don’t obsess over the problem and take in one at a time. If you feel agitated with the situation you should try a change of scenery. This can help you look at the world through a whole new perspective on your writing.
Another great way to combat Writers block is to go out and take a walk, travel if you can. Do anything that will help you gain a whole new perspective in life. It is also good advice to take up a more healthy way of living because having a good overall well-being makes the writing process so much easier. It is also a good idea to refrain from writing for a while because writing with writer’s block is akin to an athlete who competes with an injury. You will not only be ineffective but you will also damage yourself as a writer further.

• Loss of inspiration

Writing a story is a very intensive activity. This is because you not only have to work at it constantly and master your craft, you also need to have inspiration to write. Inspiration is like fuel for a writer and should be cultivated as much as possible. This is why the loss of inspiration while writing a book is a very hard challenge to overcome. If you are writing a book and you lose your inspiration don’t panic. Although it is difficult to regain inspiration when it is lost you should not lose hope. One of the best ways to regain your inspiration to write is to open yourself to new things and having a well-balanced state of mind. Just stay positive and try to look at life in a positive manner and eventually you will find your inspiration again.

• Lack of confidence in your work

When you write you open yourself to the world. Your thoughts on life, your ideas and philosophies are broadcast through your writing. This is why confidence is extremely important when you write. If you don’t believe in yourself how are you supposed to convince others that your book is worth reading?

• Bad work ethic

Yet another challenge for a writer is bad work ethic. Writing a novel is a difficult process and if you lack the drive and work ethic you will find yourself floundering the whole time. This is why you need to develop a good work ethic.
Having a good work ethic means being able to work at a consistent pace, to be able to will yourself to work no matter how difficult the process may seem. The best way to develop a good work ethic is by having a rigid work schedule. You should stick to this work schedule no matter what whether it is the holidays or a work day. Through this practice you will be able to develop a good work ethic.

• Lack of support from family

Your family is your very first form of support and most of your creative ability and inspiration stems from them. Which is why it is so important that you have their full support. There are so many ways for you to get support from your family.
It could be through emotional support such as them cheering you on, encouraging you during hard times and just simply being there for you. You could also ask for their feedback on your book and any tips that they could give. All in all having your family’s support is very important when it comes to your continuing career as a writer.

• Emotional problems

We all have chinks in our armor, no one is exempted from emotional problems. You could be going through a hard time or even going through a traumatic moment in your life. And because of these emotional problems your writing may also suffer. But in truth writing can be a solace to you. Think of writing as a form of therapy where you can let out your pain. You’ll be surprised at how effective it is.
In truth writing a book is a difficult process and takes a lot of dedication and patience to get through. But always remember that as long as you work at it and do your very best you will accomplish your dream of writing your very own book.