Research

I wish there was a magic button to press that would do all research required for the new book I’m writing. Since this has not yet been invented, I will have to make do with my current process:

Write and plan chapter
Research required information
Write some more
Go through and edit each chapter upon completion
Repeat!

At this stage I’m embarking on chapter 3. I prefer writing and researching as I go. I like the flexibility of getting another idea while researching an area and including it if it’s relevant. I don’t want to be tied into the original chapter layout. I imagine others might research each area required and only then start writing. Every writer has their own style and their own preferences for the way they work. This is my way and it’s also the way I wrote my first book.

What’s important is knowing where you want to go and how to get there. You need to be organised, methodical and use your time wisely. I work full time and weekends are the largest chunk of time I have to write. I do write during the week also which ends in exhaustion. I truly dislike looking at a computer screen all day at work and then going home and looking at a laptop screen instead. It gets tiring, but by taking proper breaks, the work is done. Perhaps not as quickly as I’d like, but it does get done. How I’d love to experience writing full time, having the ability to write each day without worrying about what time it is! I hope to be able to do that one day, until then it remains a dream.

Now, as it is the weekend, I have to keep writing and researching. How do you write/research? What is your method?

Free!

When Study Goes Wrong is available for free download this weekend on Kindle. 2 days only – get in quick to take advantage of the offer. Happy reading!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WA6LRDG

What I’ve learned about writing

Writing is both easy and hard. It’s a constant learning process filled with opportunities to create and dream. It can be cathartic, ease stress and allows you to focus your energies. It can be frustrating, exhausting and rewarding all at once. It has its ups and downs – one day you love your writing, the next you’re screwing up pieces of paper and tossing them on the floor, deleting entire sections of work, wracking your brain for that idea that sounded perfect yesterday. Your fingers curl with a persistent anger over the keyboard, waiting for that perfect sentence to write itself. Other times a flurry of activity has taken over, the creative juices flowing.

Writing is just one element of many. There’s research and fact checking, a tedious yet necessary task. There’s editing and rewriting which for me tends to take longer than the actual writing part! Then you have to let go and allow an editor to read your work and work with them to take your writing to the next level.

I’ve learned the importance of rich descriptions which allow a reader to picture the scene in their head, feel the character’s emotions and want to follow their journey.

A writer builds their own world, their own escape, they put a part of themselves onto the page.

Writing is a solitary act that requires patience, dedication and hard work. Writers are all different – some need silence to write, others need some activity around them, others crank up the music. We are all individuals.

Yet a writer also needs to know their work is being read, build up a following and interact with their readers. I’d wager most writers don’t write for the money – short of being lucky enough to write the next bestseller, money may be negligible or a nice on the side income.

If putting pen to paper comes from that desire, the passion is lacking. The passion is for the craft of writing, the love of creation and wanting to share your work with others. From that passion comes writing that can inform, entertain, provide support, understanding and stir up feelings and emotions in the reader.

Writing is a constant learning process, a process that I cannot wait to immerse myself in again as I work on book 2 and a process that allows me to remember memories, make new ones and create scenes that come alive.

Kindle!

My book is now available on Kindle as well as in paperback.

I chose to also become part of KDP Select, giving exclusivity of my book to Amazon/KDP for 90 days. I had to research it to find out how it worked and it looks like a good option for a new author who needs to find readers. I’ll see how it goes. I still need to work out the best ways to utilise it but so far I’m just glad I can share my work both in paperback and digitally through Kindle. I don’t own an e-reader or Kindle but I have worked out that all you need to do is download the free Amazon Kindle app and it worked even on my phone!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WA6LRDG

Book launch!

I had my book launch yesterday, it was held at a local library. I invited everyone I knew, my parents invited some people too and while it was a small turn-out, we still had fun. It was a nice, casual event, which is what I wanted. I would have liked everyone who had RSVP’ed to actually turn up but I was still happy with those who did come.

I sold books, signed them, made a speech and mingled with everyone. Most guests were interested in how I went about writing the book and the time it took to do so which I was happy to talk about.

Other than that, I’ve struggled a bit as a new author – without connections – to get word out about my book.

I have a possible radio interview at a community radio station coming up so hopefully that helps a bit. I am going to do guest blog interviews also and I did get my book to the bookstore last week but unfortunately the person responsible for that side of things was ill so I didn’t get to speak to her, but I did leave my book for her to look at.

My next focus is on having ‘When Study Goes Wrong’ converted into a Kindle/e-book version and continuing to try to get the word out about my book.

Here’s a photo of me from the launch:

Onto book 2?

‘When Study Goes Wrong’ has only been sitting in Amazon’s virtual shelves for just over a week and I am already thinking about and have written a foreword for book 2! This one will be a travel book. I expected I wouldn’t want to even think about writing a book again at the present time and maybe it’s only temporary madness. Time will tell!

So far it’s been difficult being a published author, I’ve been frustrated with friends who say they’ll buy and then don’t seem to get around to it. If it was me, I’d support my friend, even if I had no intention whatsoever of reading the book. But that’s me. Clearly, I shouldn’t expect the same from others.

I do have plenty of pre-orders offline for the book launch I am having next week. It’s a bit nerve-wracking to think that I’ll have to somehow entertain the family and friends that turn up, make a speech perhaps and talk about the book, sign some copies for those who request it. I may even bring along some light refreshments. I could only book the library for a 2 hour slot – right in the middle of lunch time so I am considering getting some light refreshments for guests.

I am preparing myself mentally for meeting with the bookstore who might take on some books tomorrow. I don’t want to get my hopes up but I am hoping for the best.

Keep writing!

First few days as a published author

It doesn’t feel all that different to before. Very happy and excited of course and now have to focus more on marketing and selling my book. My book has been published since 12th March, all my friends know about it, but I don’t yet see any sales. Early days! I am having a book launch at the end of the month and will sell some there, some people have requested signed copies. I’ll need to practice my ‘author’ signature!

Those who have self-published with CreateSpace, how long did it take to see sales? I am not well-connected and short of saying ‘congrats’, I doubt my friends would even think to buy a book online. They would probably be put off by having to do something as onerous as signing up to Amazon or CreateSpace!

I hope I get some books into a bookstore on consignment, I have an appointment coming up with a bookstore to sell them the book. I will go prepared to sell and see how I go!

Overall it’s an exciting time and I’m already thinking up ideas for a second book. I enjoy the writing part, the creativity, the flow of ideas. Seeing it in print is simply the icing on the cake!

http://www.amazon.com/When-Study-Goes-Wrong…/dp/1494862875

I’m an author

It’s happened. The book proof arrived, I looked it over. It was perfect! And then the magic ‘publish’ button was pressed, leading to this:

http://www.amazon.com/When-Study-Goes-Wrong-Mitsis/dp/1494862875

It’s a brand new listing so the page hasn’t yet got all the features but my book is there, it’s available for sale.

I am thrilled and amazed – after all that hard work, it’s incredible to see it in print.

And it’s a dream come true because from a young age, that’s all I wanted to be, an author. I took a bit of a detour by becoming a lawyer but I know that had I not had that experience – as a law graduate looking for work, this particular book would not have had a reason to exist.

Now onto more marketing and getting my book into a bookstore if possible. I have an appointment with a bookshop which supports independent authors in a few weeks and by then my first shipment of books will have arrived too.

It’s an exciting time!

It’s coming!

I received the email from CreateSpace this morning, they are printing and shipping my author copy! According to my calculations I should receive it by my birthday on the 18th. That would be an amazing present!

The second digital proof was fine and I got it early. I had emailed CreateSpace both to tell them about the spacing issue and to express my dismay that the proof was now coming up as being ready by 10th March. Another lengthy wait? I advised I need it by the 6th and I had it by the 6th – it was the 5th their time actually when I received it. Happy with their quick response to my query and having the proof ready early.

After the cover designer tweaked the spine size to match the final page count, I submitted everything and was pleasantly surprised this morning to receive the email that the proof would be on its way soon. I was worried for a moment as I’d been intending to order it via priority shipping but double checking their shipping method confirmed that they would also be sending it priority.

I hope that my next update is a picture of MY book. It’s amazing to think that it’s almost available for purchase. I set my prices and distribution channels yesterday also. It’s an exciting time. I am hoping the physical copy is perfect so I can move on to the next phase – pressing that magic publish button!

There is so much to think about. Next steps are certainly to ramp up marketing and work out ways to get my book into some local stores if possible. I have made preliminary enquiries with book stores who support independent authors. There is one who has responded positively and I will be sending them a copy as soon as I receive the first batch of books.

I will be counting the days until the book arrives, that’s for sure!

It’s happening!

In just a few short weeks, I’ll be holding a copy of my book in my hands. I may be old-fashioned but I want to see it from front to back cover, feel the pages, feel their texture. Kindle and e-reader versions are not something I aim for at the moment but I will consider in future.

So far there has been a first draft, second draft, final draft, editing of each draft, proofreading, taking photos for my back cover author photo and currently CreateSpace designers are working their magic on the interior.

I did my best on the internal layout but in the end, I’d rather just pay for the service – a lot less time and effort. I don’t think I’d be publishing in just a few weeks if the interior had been left to me. I used the template but after drafts/revisions, I simply couldn’t get the layout exactly right. Not to mention adding in the illustration, which also wouldn’t cooperate and other issues with format. You have to have the patience and know-how to design the interior yourself, I take my hat off to the authors who can do that.

Did the self-publishing process cost more than I thought it would? Yes. Maybe the first editor I used was too expensive, maybe it was worth the cost because I was guided into a better structure for my book’s content, something a mere copyedit wouldn’t have gone through. Overall, adding it up I think it has cost just over $3000 for everything. But I’d rather know it has been professionally designed, including the cover, and been edited numerous times than not be sure. I’m still not sure, I have seen errors in professionally published books by very well-known writers, but at least I’m sure we have all collectively picked up on as much as possible prior to print!

This is an exciting time, a nerve-wracking time, an exhausting time. I am busily contemplating my next moves – marketing, having a book launch etc. A week’s worth of sleep may also be in order!

To other self-published authors – describe to me the moment you first saw/held your book. I can’t wait for that moment!