Self-publishing isn't the devil, in fact as I'm lounging around this morning I'm thinking about what a lovely gift a personally written, professionally bound book could be.
You see, the writing (or photographs, or art) should at times be the very gift you give. For those of you whose work has been hung proudly on a fridge, the gift of something bound can make the holidays very special. Since organizing your work into a publishable form takes some forethought, I suggest you begin thinking about it now while there's no holiday panic.
Go ahead, I dare you to move from the fridge door to the coffee table.
Blurb is a fairly new self-publishing service. I'll admit I haven't yet tried it out yet, but the possibilities for art books as well as print-only look fabulous. Dart around the site and check it out. Worth a look.
Everyone loves Lulu, including hordes of public school teachers who I know have saved themselves time, trouble, and printing costs publishing student anthologies on Lulu. But you don't have to teach to self-publish, so warm up your pdf converter and get going.
And if your self-publishing plans are more serious than mama's coffee table, all the more reason to get going. Neither of these services cost you a dime until you order a book. It doesn't get any better than that.
Ah, Sunday morning. Nothing like it. We used to read the paper in bed, but now I suspect most of us wander around in wrinkled bedclothes, moving from the coffee maker to the computer for a little surf time.
At least that's what I do. Here a few excellent sites to get your inner author scribbling. Enjoy. You deserve it.
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) isn't just a writing site, it's a cult. Each November, writers of all ability and aspiration gather at this site to provide each other encouragement. And they need it. It's no small feat to write 50,000 words in a month. Whether you decide to write more than the goal or less, it's well worth signing up for the challenge.
I completed NaNoWriMo last year, and I have to say it was the most invigorating writing experience of my life. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
So where do all the published writers hang out? In the Red Room. Join this community to keep up with your favorites or sign yourself up as a resident writer. This site offers blogs, podcasts, videos, everything. Note: if you teach writing or literature, sign up now.
On the Veranda is a weekly collection of fabulous online finds for the creatively inclined. I'm always stumbling across this and that, so now it's time to share a few things with you. Look for online communites, publishing info, and crazy-fun sites.
Why the veranda? Because it's Sunday and I'm out here writing, creating, enjoying the inspirational abracadabra of scribbling outside the usual box. Visit these sites and go make something today. You deserve it.
I saw this on CNN yesterday and rushed to the the computer for the site. Louder Than Words Memoir Series has been on Youtube and will begin publication this month. Editors are taking new teen writers now. I'll let them tell you.
"What do you get when you give talented teen girl writers a chance to share their life story with the world? The first-ever series of teen-authored memoirs . . . Louder Than Words. Inside each Louder Than Words book, authors share their powerful stories through unique prose, journal entries, and poetry."This is ground-breaking work and a perfect opportunity for young female writers.
On the Veranda is a weekly collection of fabulous online finds for the creatively inclined. I'm always stumbling across this and that, so now it's time to share a few things with you. Look for online communites, publishing info, and crazy-fun sites.
Why the veranda? Because it's Sunday and I'm out here writing, creating, enjoying the inspirational abracadabra of scribbling outside the usual box. My veranda's not terribly impressive. Yours might not be, either. Who cares. Visit a few of these sites and go make something today. You deserve it.
(Note: There's still a daily writing prompt. I'll never shortchange you. Pinky-promise.)
