Welcome to this issue of the Carnival of the Indies blog carnival. This issue is for October, 2015. We welcome your submissions on topics related to writing, self-publishing, book design or marketing books.
A collection of outstanding articles recently posted to blogs, your reading here will be richly rewarded.
See the end of this post for links to submit your blog posts for the next carnival, or for participating Bloggers and Featured Bloggers to grab your sidebar badges. Thanks to everyone who participated.
Featured Posts
K.M. Weiland presents How to Edit Fiction: Watch Me Correct My Own Story in Real Time posted at Helping Writers Become Authors, saying, “Need specific advice on how to edit fiction? Watch author K.M. Weiland edit her fiction in real time, featuring twelve lessons all writers can learn from.”
Mark Coker presents Oyster and the KDP Select Party Train posted at Smashwords Blog, saying, “With the loss of Oyster, indie ebook authors are losing a fast-growing pro-Indie sales outlet. This post examines how Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited was an invisible hand that helped precipitate the demise of Oyster. It examines how Kindle Unlimited, if left unchecked, will lead to further industry consolidation with fewer sales outlets, fewer single-copy sales and ultimately the loss of indie author independence. Kindle Unlimited is powered by the over 1 million exclusive ebooks enrolled in KDP Select. These books are provided by indie authors. Indie authors have the power to say no to KDP Select. Will indie authors say no to KDP Select exclusivity and Kindle Unlimited before it’s too late?”
Belinda Pollard presents Self-Publishing: Ebook, Paperback or Both? posted at Write & Publish Like a Pro, saying, “Some people assume self-publishing is only ebooks, while others assume it’s only paperbacks. The truth is you can have either or both, and even a hardcover. These 6 case studies help you decide what is right for you…”
Book Design and Production
Cathi Stevenson presents Decoding Book Cover Templates posted at Book Cover Design, saying, “DIYers often write me to ask for help understanding their book cover design templates. Hopefully this infographic will make things go a bit easier. It’s not rocket science, but it does get a bit technical. (Keep clicking on the infographic and it will get very large, so even older eyes — like mine!! can read it).”
Deb Dorchak presents The Birth of a Cover: Tau’s Pride Cover Reveal posted at Bonds of Blood & Spirit, saying, “An inside look straight from the designer’s desk at what it takes to design a stunning book cover.”
Jay Artale presents How Ingram Prints POD Books posted at ALLi’s Author Advice Centre, saying, “British indie author David Penny shares his experience of a tour of the UK printing facility of Ingram Spark, the global distributor of books favoured by many self-published authors for both print-on-demand books and ebooks.”
Ron Callari presents Top 15 Blogs for Indie Authors – Part II posted at Bookworks’ Ron Callari Blogs, saying, “This is Part II of a three-part series, where we will highlight another top five blogs out of fifteen.”
Toni Ressaire presents Formatting eBooks: How to Use the KISS Method posted at Pub.ink – Publish Like A Pro, saying, “This has been one of my most popular posts. It must be the lips. I think all the romance writers retweeted! “Be sweet to your readers. The simpler you keep your formatting, the happier you will be with the outcome and the happier you’ll make your readers. Adding fancy design elements could produce unexpected results when rendered on various e-reading devices. Standard fonts and simple paragraph styles will keep your readers focused on your story; and that’s the best reason for creating a well-designed ebook.””
Ebooks and Ebook Readers
Randy Stapilus presents Indie Authors and the Future of eBooks posted at BookWorks, saying, “The role of Indie authors and their books in the overall marketplace is continuing to grow.”
Indie Author
Alexander Zoltai presents Literary Prizes ~ Which Is More Important, the Author or the Book? posted at Notes from An Alien
Geoff Hughes presents Zen and the Art of Overcoming Writer’s Block posted at The Write Stuff, saying, “Writer’s block. It’s the feeling when you’re staring at a page trying hard to will words into existence that refuse to come. Beads of blood form on your forehead as you discover that your creative tank is empty and the words…just…won’t…come.”
Georgina Jeffery presents Adventures in Self Publishing: Author Interview posted at An Inspired Mess, saying, “New indie author G. Satterford takes us through his self-publishing experience and offers a review of the tools he used: primarily Amazon Kindle Unlimited, CreateSpace, and 99designs.”
Jon Chaisson presents On Self-Publishing: Doing the Backstage Work – Self-Publicity in Social Media posted at Welcome to Bridgetown, saying, “Welcome to Bridgetown is my official writing blog/author website. Its primary focus is the trilogy that I am self-publishing. I touch on many different writing-related subjects here, and lately have been ‘live-blogging’ the process of releasing my first book, going from the cover all the way to the release at various websites.”
Marcy Kennedy presents Helpful Ways to Deal With Dream-Crushers posted at Marcy Kennedy’s Website
Matt Knott presents Indie Authors and the Grim Wasteland of Self-Publication posted at Warriors Oath, saying, “I was hit up by several ‘people on twitter claiming to represent marketing groups offering paid for praise. I was so staggered by how brazen it all was that I decided to write my thoughts on how dishonesty isn’t a shortcut to personal or material success.”
Steve Vernon presents The Scoop on the Kindle Scout Program posted at Yours in Storytelling, saying, “So – do you want to sell your next e-book release through the Kindle Scout program? This article will give you a few tips on how to get the job done.”
Steven Saus presents What Kind Of Publishing Should Authors Choose? posted at ideatrash, saying, “I compare two small publishers (one being myself) and compare that to the costs of going indie as a starting point for authors to do the math to see what publishing path best suits them.”
Marketing and Selling Your Books
Chris Syme presents How To Turn A Facebook Group Into Fan Central posted at Indie Author Book Marketing, saying, “Thanks for the opportunity to be considered for your event Joel. I love this concept.”
Frances Caballo presents 11 Ways You May Be Spooking Your Readers on Social Media posted at Social Media Just for Writers, saying, “Abandoned blogs and empty Facebook pages can spook your readers to the point they’ll never retrun to your social media sites. This post covers 11 ways you may be neglecting your readers and tips on how to do a better job of welcoming readers into your tribe.”
Jordan Smith presents Invite ‘Em In: Onboarding for Authors posted at Fix My Story, saying, “An introduction to the process of onboarding new subscribers to your mailing list by sending a welcome e-mail that quickly orients the reader and reduces unsubscribes.”
Kate Tilton presents Enter the Publishing Industry: Publishing is a Business posted at Kate Tilton, Connecting Authors & Readers, saying, “Author and editor Jessica West reminds indie authors that publishing is a business and provides tips for authors to succeed in the business of being an author.”
Martin Crosbie presents My Kindle Scout Adventure, Part 1 posted at Indies Unlimited, saying, “A breakdown on my Kindle Scout campaign.”
Nick Daws presents Why Now is the Time to Start Promoting Your Amazon Associate Links Extra Hard posted at Entrepreneur Writer, saying, “This blog post reveals why writers should be promoting their books and ebooks extra hard on Amazon in the next few weeks.”
Patty Jansen presents Why you are the biggest impediment to selling your books posted at Must Use Bigger Elephants
Sabrina Ricci presents Indie Author Marketing Guide: A Primer to Social Media posted at Digital Pubbing
Sabrina Ricci presents Indie Author Marketing Guide: Twitter posted at Digital Pubbing
Sandra Hutchison presents Adventures in Amazon Keyword Padding posted at Sandra Hutchison, saying, “Keyword padding is a way to show up in Amazon searches that seems to work better than stuffing keywords into the product description — but it can have unexpected results.”
Sarah Bolme presents Grab More Attention with Your Titles posted at Marketing Christian Books, saying, “We are drowning in a sea of information. Experts estimate that the average American citizen sees anywhere from 3,000 to 20,000 marketing messages a day. Whether that figure is the lower end number or the higher end number, the truth is, standing out is difficult. You have to do something creative or different to grab people’s attention.”
Simone Pond presents Six things to help launch your book posted at Simone Says, saying, “Thanks for your consideration!”
Steve Vernon presents How To Promote a Kindle Freebie Cheaply posted at Yours in Storytelling, saying, “Selling horror isn’t easy – but at least we can keep it on the cheap side of the budget.”
Self-Publishing Success
Diane Lee presents 3 contradictory truths about self publishing posted at The Diane Lee Project, saying, “This is a follow up to a post I wrote a couple of weeks back, which was also featured in last month’s Carnival of Indies. Thank you, by the way!”
Halona Black presents 10 Steps to Publishing Your First Book posted at Digital Well Publisher, saying, “This article gives an overview of the self publishing process from the point of view of an entrepreneur who wants to share his or her story while promoting their business.”
Hope Clark presents The Second Book Syndrome posted at FFW Tips, saying, “The second book is a nail-biting endeavor. One would think that the first one would be the one to make you break out in hives, but trust me, that follow-up is an experience all its own.”
Lana Pecherczyk presents Q is for Quick – Tips for writing faster posted at Author Zoo, saying, “They say to succeed in self-publishing, you need to produce more books per year. This article outlines tips on how to write faster.”
C.K. MacLeod presents 5 Tips for Dictating Your Writing posted at Tech Tools for Writers, saying, “Dictation has become increasingly popular with writers who want to improve their writing productivity. Here are five tips for using dictation, if you decide to give it a try.”
Forrest Bryant presents 10 Ways to Boost Your Writing Productivity posted at Evernote Blog, saying, “Summary: “For writers, productivity can be a constant challenge. How do you find time to write, stay disciplined, and keep focused? Here are 10 techniques you can use to keep yourself in the writing zone.”
Halona Black presents How Do You Know What Book to Write First? posted at Digital Well Publisher, saying, “Entrepreneurs who want to write a nonfiction book that promotes their business are often bombarded with too many ideas. How do you make the right decision on which book to tackle first? I offer 3 great questions to help you get started.”
Kate Tilton presents Why Writing Flash Fiction Can Help You Write a Better Book posted at Kate Tilton, Connecting Authors & Readers, saying, “Author and speaker Daryl Rothman on the benefits of writing flash fiction for authors of all stripes.”
Lana Pecherczyk presents Is being a pantser or a plotter linked to whether you’re right-brained or left-brained? posted at Author Zoo, saying, “If you’ve been struggling with your plotting or pantsing, you may be doing it wrong. How your plotting style may be linked to the side of the brain you use most.”
Marcy Kennedy presents 10 Dialogue Mistakes That Kill Your Story posted at Marcy Kennedy’s Website, saying, “Awkward or boring dialogue can make readers cringe and toss our books aside to find something better. These are the biggest, most common dialogue mistakes I see in my work as a freelance fiction editor.”
Ron Callari presents Top 15 Blogs for Indie Authors – Part I posted at Bookworks’ Ron Callari Blogs, saying, “When it comes to blogs about self-publishing, there are lots of reasons why some shine more than others. However, it is always a subjective call. Like other ‘Top Blog’ posts, today’s selections are an attempt to provide our readers with a ‘Top 15’ list of both well-established favorites, as well as some innovative newcomers who are distinguishing themselves.”
Shelley Hitz presents How to Improve Your Writing Skills 7 tips to be even more productive during your writing time! posted at Shelley Hitz – Author Audience, saying, “Looking for ways to improve your writing skills? I share 7 tips to making your writing time more productive PLUS 49 authors share what is currently working for them.”
Sherrey Meyer presents 7 Reasons Good Writers Need Beta Readers posted at Sherrey Meyer, Writer
Stefanie Newell presents 3 Tips for Writing Workplace Organization posted at The Write One Blog
Stefanie Newell presents Utilize Character Development In Your Novel posted at The Write One Blog
Well, that wraps up this issue. I hope you enjoy some of the great articles here, and let other people interested in self-publishing know about the Carnival—Use the share buttons to Tweet it, Share it on Facebook, Plus-1 it on Google+, Link to it!
The next issue is November 29, 2015 and the deadline for submissions will be November 15, 2015. Don’t miss it!
Here are all the links you’ll need
- Have something to share with our community? Submit your article here
- The original announcement post
- Carnival of the Indies web page
- Bloggers, grab your official Carnival of the Indies Badges here
- Follow Carnival of the Indies on Twitter to get deadline reminders
- Subscribe to The Book Designer Blog