New and aspiring writers are curious about the publishing process. As a foundation, it is important to understand the basic advantages and disadvantages of each. These two infographics were prepared as a comparative analysis to help writers understand each especially when navigating the agent-publisher-author relationship.
Here’s hoping it will clarify any confusion associated with the process and help new authors make informed decisions.
Which have you used? Traditional, Self-Publishing, or a combination of both. Do share, we would love to hear.
“Writing is a process, a journey into memory and the soul.”
Isabel Allende
Award-Winning Storyteller and Journalist Sharon Gordon published her debut novel Sheribaby and started off with a bang! Introverts may not be as purposeful due to shyness. They are reserved and avoid putting themselves ‘out there’ for the world to see them and their author life.
That said, here are 15 women authors who found significant success through self-publishing:
Amanda Hocking – Became a millionaire by self-publishing her paranormal romance novels before signing with a traditional publisher
E.L. James – Initially self-published “Fifty Shades of Grey” as fan fiction before it became a global phenomenon
Colleen Hoover – Self-published her debut novel “Slammed” before becoming a #1 New York Times bestselling author
Rachel Abbott – One of the UK’s most successful self-published authors with her thriller novels
Lindsay Buroker – Found success with her Emperor’s Edge fantasy series and numerous other works
Bella Forrest – Self-published the phenomenally successful “A Shade of Vampire” series
H.M. Ward – Romance author who sold millions of copies of her self-published works
Jasinda Wilder – Self-published numerous bestselling romance novels before signing a traditional deal
Vi Keeland – Initially self-published her romance novels before becoming a #1 New York Times bestseller
Penny Reid – Built a successful career with her self-published romantic comedies
Rupi Kaur – Self-published her poetry collection “Milk and Honey” which became a worldwide bestseller
Sierra Simone – Found success with her provocative romance novels
Sarina Bowen – Award-winning romance author who began her career self-publishing
L.J. Shen – Romance author who built a massive following through self-publishing
Many of these authors began self-publishing when traditional routes weren’t available to them. They remained independent even after achieving success. Several eventually signed traditional publishing deals after demonstrating their commercial appeal through self-publishing
Need help to get over your fear of leveling up to achieve your goal of being a published author? Let these women inspire you. Have you or someone you know stepped out and achieved success? Do share. We would love to hear.
As humans, we die, but Books Live on Forever, culturally and intellectually enriching the lives of future generations.
– Ralph Hogges
2024’s Collection of poems, writings and gleanings from The Hogges, Cowins, & Smiley South Florida Writers of Color, literary Magazine shown in the link below.
Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.
Lemony Snicket
Reading, reading, reading. It grows the mind, expands thinking, develops insights and helps us think differently. Goodreads asked The question “what’s your favorite summertime reading spot?” Readers chimed in excitedly. Here I share:
Of Books, Places and Reading
Sea front
Patio
On the beach
In a tent while it rains
Outdoors while listening to the birds
Under the big oak tree
At the summerhouse
Coffee house
RV while camping across provinces
On a balcony
Sneak away for an hour in my car
On a boat on a lake
On a chair by the pond
While driving – audiobooks
Airplane
Hammock
Pool
Beach
Picnic blanket
Bed
Nook
Wow, what a list! Yet there’s more. Where is your favorite place? Do share. We would love to hear.
Pleased to join The Writers Group of South Florida who have been invited to attend the upcoming Book Fair where the goal is to celebrate banned books in Florida
The event is an exciting opportunity for writers to come together and support educational freedom while highlighting the rich literary contributions of authors from Dade, Palm Beach, and Broward Counties.
Event Details: Date: May 11th Time: 11 AM – 2 PM Location: Weston Community Center
Choosing any of these coaching programs will make a fantastic gift this holiday season and throughout the year. It’s the gift of personal Growth that lasts.
Give the gift of insight, inspiration, and growth this holiday season! Delve into the world of leadership, self-discovery, inspiration and professional development with these curated books. Perfect for friends, family, or colleagues seeking to elevate their leadership skills and embark on a transformative journey. Click the Gift Guide, choose a book that sparks growth and ignites the potential within your loved ones this festive season!
Each Book link takes you directly to Amazon where you can buy, beautifully gift wrap and place under your well-lit sparkling Christmas tree. Voila! They’re thrilled!
Hope this guide has inspired your gift giving. E-books are perfect for last minute book shoppers. Grab copies for the perfect New Year’s gift. Oh, don’t forget to get a copy of my just released book RedLight: When God Says No which completes the GreenLight trilogy.
One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.
Abraham Maslow
Personal development is a broad field, and the “top” books can vary based on individual preferences and needs. However, here are 10 highly recommended books that cover a range of personal development topics.
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey This classic book focuses on principles for personal and interpersonal effectiveness, helping readers transform their lives through a holistic approach.
“Awaken the Giant Within” by Tony Robbins Tony Robbins offers strategies for taking control of your emotions, finances, relationships, and life in general, enabling you to achieve your goals and dreams.
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear James Clear presents a practical guide to creating and maintaining positive habits, breaking bad ones, and ultimately mastering the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.
“Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown Brené Brown explores vulnerability, shame, and the importance of embracing imperfections as a means of fostering courage, connection, and authenticity.
“Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Dweck Carol Dweck introduces the concept of “fixed” vs. “growth” mindsets and how adopting a growth mindset can lead to personal and professional success.
“Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill Napoleon Hill outlines the principles and mindset necessary for achieving financial success and personal fulfillment through positive thinking and strategic planning.
“Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth Angela Duckworth explores the importance of passion and perseverance in achieving long-term goals and personal success.
Ditch It Switch It by Dr Shelly Cameron is for those who are miserable, stuck, dissatisfied, afraid, stressed, longing for personal growth or those who have a passion for entrepreneurship. It will help readers prepare to take the plunge to get out of your comfort zone.
“The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” by Eckhart Tolle Eckhart Tolle offers insights into the power of living in the present moment and escaping the tyranny of your thoughts, leading to a more peaceful and fulfilling life.
“Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ” by Daniel Goleman Daniel Goleman discusses the significance of emotional intelligence in personal and professional success, emphasizing the importance of understanding and managing emotions.
“The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” by Mark Manson Mark Manson challenges conventional self-help advice and encourages readers to embrace life’s challenges and uncertainties, focusing on what truly matters.
Remember that personal development is an ongoing journey, and these books can serve as valuable resources to help you gain new insights, develop healthy habits, and cultivate a positive mindset. It’s also a good idea to explore various books and authors to find those that resonate most with your unique goals and aspirations.
Writers always produce more than they share with readers. Even bestseller authors have abandoned manuscripts. This article will give you some ideas on what to do with them.
Writers Write
Loved these Writers Write tips for those who write and have manuscripts that just can’t get done. Suzzanne Bennett shares 7 Ideas of what to do with abandoned writings. Here I share my favorite 3.
Create a space. Call it ‘graveyard,’ ‘slush pile,’ or ‘bits n bobs
Salvage the Wreck. The ‘To Salvage’ file contains revamped manuscripts that you still consider terrible, but where you hope to find a few nuggets of gold.
Revisit your Graveyard in times of need. Whenever you need inspiration, go to your pile of manuscripts, and start reading. You might just find a darling that once was ‘killed’
These were my favorites. Do you have abandoned writers? What can you do with them? Do share. We would love to hear.
Goodreads asked the question in a public forum “what books should everyone read this year?” As authors and readers chimed in, here’s a list of 41 extracted. They include classics to recently released books in different genres.
Don’t worry if you can’t get through them all. Just keep the list as a yearly reference
Retirement: The Journey and The Destination is a guide to help readers in their twenties, thirties, forties, and fifties learn and appreciate the key considerations that should direct the process of planning for retirement so their preparation will not be fragmented, lopsided and insufficient.
What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
Jane Goodall
Nancy got the promotion! Yessss! Now what should she do? It was exciting when she Ditched her Job for a new and better opportunity. When Nancy learnt that she got the new role that came with higher salary and perks, she could hardly retain her joy. But as she began thinking deeply about her new role, she found herself nervous because she was new to management. She asked herself, what if I fail? What if they don’t like me? What if they realize I am a fraud? Tons of questions but the truth is to get out of this rump, there are things Nancy can do.
These three simple tips will help Nancy overcome her fear. At the minimum, she should be able to manage the jitters. In addition, there are books that deals with the art of managing for the new leader. Angela Robinson shared 12 Books for New Managers. Below I recommend 7. Take a look at the list below and choose one, two or a few that will help you grow in your new role.
7 Books Every New Manager Should Read
Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For: A Guide for New Leaders by William A. Gentry Ph.D.
The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter by Michael Watkins
Welcome to Management: How to Grow From Top Performer to Excellent Leader by Ryan Hawk
The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You by Julie Zhuo
The First-Time Manager by Jim McCormick, Loren B. Belker, Gary S. Topchik
Everyone Deserves a Great Manager: The 6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team by Scott Jeffrey Miller and Todd Davis
Everyone Deserves a Great Manager: The 6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team by Scott Jeffrey Miller and Todd Davis
From the list, which do you like the most? Would you read and/or recommend to others? Do share. We would love to hear!
