New Keyword Tool

If you write non-fiction, or if you have a website for your book (you do don't you?), even if it's fiction, I hope you are familiar with the term "keywords". Just in case you aren't, keywords are those words and short phrases people type into search engines. The search engine then looks for them on websites as they try to match a request for information. Keywords are also the basis for the ads that show up on the side of the results page. Basically, in the world of the Internet, keywords are everywhere and if you want to attract visitors you need to have at least a basic grasp of how they work and where/when you need to use them.

Over the years, there have been a variety of tools that help people figure out the most popular keywords are on any given subject. That's important to know because if your website has those popular words in the right places, it will come up high in a search. If you write or post and article on a blog, directory, etc. the same applies.

Today, I found a new tool that works a little differently called Keyword Questions It appears to be a new variation from Wordtracker. It's different in that when you put in a topic or potential keyword, it generates a list of recent questions posed by searchers rather than just phrases.

How does this help you? Type in the topic of your current book or book you're planning to write. Here are just a few ways to use the search results:

1. How many of the popular questions are you addressing? If not many, are you sure people have a need or desire for what you're offering?

2. Pose and answer one or two of the questions within your back cover blurb and use that copy on summary pages on Amazon etc.

3. Make sure your website utilizes the questions or keywords within the questions in the appropriate places including in the text.

4. Even if you write fiction, you may be able to enter locations or other central themes of your book and see what people are talking about and also get blog posts or ideas for hot topics to weave into the story.

What are your keywords & why?

Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett

Critiqued by an Agent

Thanks to the wonderful Inter-web, it's much easier these days to know what's going on in the minds of agents and editors. What do they want? What do they consider good writing? Is my work anywhere near good enough? Several agents host blogs that answer these kinds of questions and more.

One of those agents is Nathan Bransford. Recently, he started a neat little feature called Page Critique Monday. He chooses a sample submitted by a reader and marks it up (with red even) to give at least a peek into what makes good writing. Though fiction is much more subjective than non-fiction, the first couple of examples show basic skills that every fiction writer needs to accomplish. You can find this week's example here.

BTW, if you write non-fiction instead and you could use a critique/content editing of your work, that's something I can help with. Contact me via my form at my website and let's see if we can get your project to the next level.

Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett

Pitch a Pair

When I saw this article at the Shelftalker Blog I was immediately impressed by the simple, yet creative book marketing idea it portrays. In a nutshell, an author who wrote a book about salamanders and she let a bookstore know about it. It was such a great fit for the area (that has a lot of salamanders) the bookstore decided to host not only the author, but a naturalist who could bring live salamanders to the event as well. They did a presentation together, a total win win all around for the author, the kids, the nature center and the bookstore.

Whether you are trying to entice a group or venue to host you as an author, think bigger, think beyond one book one author. This author was blessed to have the bookstore so excited that they did the legwork to expand the event themselves, but it won't always be that easy for everyone. It will be more likely that you'll need to at least have tentative ideas (make sure they'll fly if you pitch them) so that the host understands you're trying to eliminate as much hassle as possible.

Have you ever successfully paired up with someone else or pitched a full event around your book? Hope you'll share and inspire the rest of us.

Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett

A Million Titles Published

According to RR Bowker, the company that compiles and tracks publishing stats, more than one million authors saw their books published in 2009. Though some might be updates of established titles or reprints of titles in public domain, most of the titles are new. Besides that, at least half of those titles were produced by small or micro-publishers (like me) who utilize POD technology.

Think about that for just a minute. If someone wants to buy a new, current book, there are a million titles to pick from. Then there's the hundreds of thousands from 2008, 2007 etc. etc. Then there are the classics that have been on the shelf for decades. Even for the most avid reader and book lover, choosing could become a daunting task.

What does that mean for you the author or author to-be? Whether you are published traditionally, via a "self-publishing/POD" company or independently, if you want to sell books you need to understand you are one voice among thousands.

If you're writing just to write or for friends/family, not a problem. But, if you wish to sell books, to get anyone's attention at all, you and your work must stand out in a big way. "Publish it and they will come" could not be further from the truth for the vast majority of writers and books. There's a lot more to it these days.

Not trying to scare you or discourage you from trying to get a book out. On the contrary, this is the reality of today's publishing world and not being informed is, in my opinion, one of the quickest ways to failure. Learn as much as you can about your craft, put the "wow factor" into your book from the beginning, be a student of marketing and you'll have a much greater chance at success.

Lastly, if you like numbers and want to see how the million breaks down by category etc. you can find the full article at www.bowker.com

Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett

Are We Having Fun...Still?

When is the last time you really enjoyed writing-your writing? Do you finish a section, an article or a few lines and get joy out of it occasionally, sometimes, often? Rarely? If the answer is toward the rarely scale, that's not good and it's probably time to step back and figure out why.

Even if you must write to make a living, hopefully, more often than not, you like what you're doing. Few of us are lucky enough to love every bit of work we do, and there is a reason it's called work, but with at least some frequency, when we use our gift, it should bring us happiness, joy, maybe a laugh, or at least a job well done, accomplished feeling.

Author Dee Stewart posted about this whole idea the other day on The Master's Artist blog and it made me stop and think about which of my writing I like best (my newest book) and why I stopped writing a newsletter (I really didn't enjoy it, could do something else instead). Take a peak at what she has to say then I hope you'll come back and share what makes writing fun for you.


Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett

Authors and Illustrators

I recently had a mini coaching call with a new author and thought I'd share the information here as well. One of her questions was in regard to illustrations. She loves the illustrations a relative did for the children's book she's written and pretty much assumed that they could be used when she got the book published.

These are just a couple of the tips I gave her:

1. Most traditional publishers have their own team of illustrators and generally match an author with one of them. It is the exception rather than the rule for an author and illustrator to be accepted for publication together.

2. (If going pay to publish/POD or Independent) If the artwork was drawn/painted on paper not using a computer design program, a graphic designer would have to make them print ready by scanning them in and adjusting as needed. Cost would depend on how well the initial scans processed the artwork.

3. Soft cover is the only affordable way to print color at this point for small publishers who can't do thousands of copies at a time. Cost per copy is still fairly high though so that must be a consideration when setting cover price and projecting profit.

Could you use personalized coaching to move your book project along? We can do a "preview" session of about 15 min at no cost by phone or a brief email chat to and then you can decide if a full hour session or more would be beneficial. Contact me via my contact form at publishinganswers.com or find me at Facebook.com/cherylpickett.

Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett

What Does a Traditional Publisher Do for New Authors?

The world of publishing is changing almost on a minute by minute basis. Marketing strategies that used to work even a few years ago, probably don't now so publishers are shifting their risks and strategies as well.

Newbie author Kevin Daum is currently sharing his experience with a major publisher. I think it's worth following along to get a view of what's happening in the real world. True, it's only one person's experience, but it is still more helpful than looking at the careers of author's who've been at it a long time.

You can find the link here. Anything surprise you? Is it what you expected? More, less? Interested in your thoughts as always.

Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett