Protected: Start planning your campaign for when the election noise passes
Our job is not so much to write as to save you time and stress over writing. We became accustomed (somewhat) to multiple and tight deadlines while working at the FT and other major newspapers. Please click photo if you would like to learn more about the clock. Image: The Writing Business
By Marian Edmunds
In this digital age we all have to be writers but this does not come easily to everyone, not even to writers. It is almost always best to collaborate whether it’s in the writing, editing, proofreading, or planning of your editorial program or structuring of your content, copy, articles, books, or presentations. The main job of The Writing Business is not to write but to remove your pain and stress about writing. This will give you time to do what you do best or to have some FUN!
For some people coming up with and idea to write about is the biggest stress. Personally I don’t find coming up with ideas a challenge. It is choosing which ideas to work on within a finite time that is a challenge.
Is your editorial deadline for your business presentation or book imminent? Or is it some way off but you are not sure you are on track?
DO TELL, DO TELL, DO TELL
What is most painful or stressful aspect of writing?
A) Coming up with the idea?
B) Knowing where to start?
C) Structuring your text?
D) Being certain about grammar, punctuation and spelling?
E) Being confident in finding the right words, tone and writing voice?
F) Being happy your text sound polished and read well? and
G) Meeting deadlines? Finding the time?
We want to find our which parts of the writing process you find the most difficult so that we can take that stress away from you. Please answer in the comments or drop us an email.
What do you read?
By Marian Edmunds
We receive questions about self-publishing and e-publishing every week. Here is a 4-minute introduction to the self-publishing maze.
e-Books : Kindle books are sold exclusively on Amazon. Some authors are hugely successful in this format. J A Konrath comes to mind for fiction. Read his blog here about his success and his views on Kindle publishing then pop back to read the rest of our guide. Kindle books are produced or converted from word documents to a format called MOBI. These files need to be set out simply. They don’t respond well to an overload of graphics within text.
Better to put graphics at the start and end of chapters in Kindle books as we found out when publishing Navigational Tips For Living In An Imperfect World (available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk) or from us. Hyperlinks in the text can be used to link to web content or related products or to the publisher’s details. There are different schools of thought on whether the publisher’s details should be at the front or back of the book. Kindle books and their covers are easy to load onto Amazon if manuscripts is converted correctly. You do so by signing up to Amazon via KDP, Kindle Direct Publishing. (Take note that KDP will invite you to offer KDP Select which offers exclusivity and potential for greater profits but you need to read the fine print to see if that’s for you. It is said to work best for authors with many books.) Kobo, Nook, iBook.
E-pub is the format for Apple ibooks. It works for a variety of other formats such as Nook and Kobo. Smashwords is another big player in the e-publishing, self publishing revolution which has what is described as the ‘meatgrinder’ manuscript conversion process. It can apparently attract useful sales.
“EPUB is designed for re-flowable content so that the text display can be optimised for the particular display device used by the reader of the EPUB-formatted book, although EPUB now also supports fixed-layout content. The format is intended to function as a single format that publishers and conversion houses can use in-house, as well as for distribution and sale.
Print books : Amazon also has it’s own print division, Createspace. This opened in Europe a couple of years ago. You can load your own book. It will be checked to see if it meets Createspace’s design specifications. It is best to check those out thoroughly before having your book designed. Createspace also offers some publishing design services.
There are some differences in layout between e-books and print books. Self-publishers may also get their print books ready for Amazon and Barnes & Noble through services such as Lulu whose print services I have tried and Lightning Source whom I use. I chose LSI as it offered access to Ingram book distribution and because it has an office in Australia so it was possible for me to build a working relationship with its staff. There is a small initial outlay and some rather lengthy and dry paperwork to navigate. Once that’s completed you load your cover to a template and your book and wait for a proof copy to arrive.
Taxing Matters : Non-US author’s royalties from your US book sales on Amazon will be subject to a 30% withholding tax until or unless you complete the necessary paperwork to claim full or part exemption from US taxes. It takes a bit of time for individuals. It is easier if you have a company because then you can phone. It took me half an hour early one morning, and most of that was spent in the phone queue. Karen Inglis, in her self publisher’s blog sets out the info quite well. Let us know of further links.
There are also matters of ISBN numbers obtainable though Bowker’s various international offices and national library listings in your country which help libraries find your book. Cool huh?
We work with writers on structuring, writing and editing their proposals and book manuscripts in preparation for publishing be it through publishers or self-publishing.
Checklist for self-publishing and e-publishing
A good book that is well written
Thorough and insightful editing
Proofreading
A great cover
Sharp interior layout and typography
Correct preparation of files for publishing
Branding and imprint
Marketing, marketing, marketing
(The final two items should be thought about at the start)
If our self-publishing intro has helped you please consider picking up a copy of our book from Amazon. Our own book is Navigational Tips For Living In An Imperfect World. There are some things we would do differently next time but we are proud of our book. It’s an easy read that helps you see you’re all right as you are. It has some easy tips to help you recognise thoughts and attitudes that have tricked you out in the past so they don’t catch you out again.
We wish you well as you start your publishing journey. Contact us for help in the development of your book. We love to see books finding their place.
Pages of shoes – a fairytale! From Thierry Rabotin
When shoemaker Thierry Rabotin sent new soles for my shoes, they added something to the parcel – a stylish book containing glossy life-sized shoe images.
There was also a section about how their shoes were made. This was sent for me to show the repairer. It was clear this shoemaker valued me beyond making a sale. I value the shoes for their comfort. In the book, the Frenchman remembers the relief he felt as a child when he took off his shoes. He recalls watching his grandmother and seeing her eyes “light up with serenity” as she took off her shoes. From this the “answering the age-old question” of the discomfort of the feet became his personal motivation.
My first pair of Thierry Rabotin shoes was stolen from a London hotel never having been worn, well, not by me. There have been several pairs since. The price may pinch a little at the point of purchase but the shoes never do. They are the shoes I wear more than any others. My second pair was found in Paris, and so loved and worn were they that the soles started to disappear. ‘Shoes much loved, please send soles,’ I emailed to Italy.
Red shoes : Thierry Rabotin~Parabiago Collezioni
Next day came the reply from the factory in Milano province. “Please send me a picture of your sandal and give me your correct size. If you have a good shoe repair I can send you a new pair of soles. I think this is the simplest solution. If the shoe repair needs only the material, we can send the material.”
As I sent off the images of my sandals, I visualised a clan of Italian shoemakers shaking their heads at my lack of care for what they had so tenderly crafted. I needn’t have worried. Inside the book, along with shoes I wanted to walk of the page and into my wardrobe, were shoes far more battle weary than mine. Yet it was not the scuffing that stood out but love. I emailed my thanks and the reply came, “Hope your shoemaker makes a good job. Karl.”
On reading the book I found that Karl is Karlheinz Schlecht, one of the partners along with Giovanni Ceolini and the eponymous designer, Thierry Rabotin.
Much scuffed, much loved – Thierry Rabotin
After my shoes were repaired, I kept the book. Aside from the clear attraction of shoe images, it’s an example of the journey that’s possible between a creator and client. It’s also the kind of narrative that we can collaborate on and develop with you. Contact The Writing Business if you would like to look at ways of telling your story. What age-old question sparked you in your work? People love the connections in stories.
Book : Thierry Rabotin by Parabiago Colleziona, 2007. Concept: Claude Mazzoni
Marian Edmunds is an author, journalist and copywriter. Her most recent publication is ‘Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush’ which appears in the literary travel guide city-pick Istanbul among works by Virginia Woolf and David Byrne (yes Talking Heads) and many more.
Choosing a logo isn’t easy. Here we share the thinking that went into our new logo…
THE WRITING BUSINESS tried life without a logo. At first it didn’t seem important. Our existing clients already counted on us: to deliver engaging copy and narratives; for business writing management; and to pay a level of attention to details that one of our clients says helps them “to sleep soundly at night”.
How, in not so many words, could we convey this to prospective clients? Suddenly a logo became a key item on our shopping list.
A logo is the assembly point where brands align. A logo brings identity and flexibility. You don’t have spend time explaining who you are before you get to the really interesting news of what you are offering. With a logo, we find there is no: “Well, um, we…”
A logo may need time to brew. We developed our logo with Vivid Agency. We found this an enjoyable, and sometimes thought-provoking process as the Creative Director ‘teased’ from us detailed information about our experience, and where we want to go with our business.
Our main logo is a series of three typewriter keys with weathered metal edges that speak to our experience and longevity in the business of writing and editing. However, the styling is contemporary. We can have fun with our logo, as we can mix up the characters. The alphabet gives us 26 to choose from, as well as numbers, and other keyboard icons. And if we wish, we can make our own keys, with our own icons for invoices, ‘Like’ buttons for social media, our own thumbs-up.
Each letter of our logo can make a word, so each letter is equally important. That’s perfect for us because that’s how we feel about every word, sentence, paragraph, chapter and book that we work on. It’s also how we feel about our clients.
In today’s global and digital market a logo operates subtly across a variety of platforms and media. Not so long ago we would have walked into a businesses premises and instantly decide if we felt comfortable to do business there. Now, the premises is virtual. So the logo and our writing have to work harder.
There was an unexpected bonus from our new logo. It gave us a sense of security and inspiration about developing our brand long into the future, and continuing to work proudly with our clients creating, revamping, and polishing their copy and business literature. TWB. Find us here: thewritingbusiness.com
What does a logo mean to you? Have you been thinking about a new look for your logo and your written content?
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