Category: Being an Author

20+ Book Ideas You Can Use in Your Next Book 20+ Book Ideas You Can Use for Your Next Book
Being an Author · Ramblings

20+ Book Ideas You Can Use for Your Next Book

Brigitte BrulzLeave a comment

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission at no extra charge to you if you click on a link and make a purchase. Thank you!)

I’ve come up with ideas for books while listening to my daughters, reading articles, watching TV, going for walks, talking to others, and on and on it goes.

Book ideas are literally all around us!

The idea for my book Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles began in my garden while picking cucumbers to make pickles. The book Aah! Blown Away, Crash! An Alphabet Misadventure, which I created with one of my daughters, started at a writer meeting I attended years ago.

Awesome Idea Syndrome

I don’t have any problem coming up with ideas for books. No, I’ve got lots of ideas! My problem is Awesome Idea Syndrome.

Even though Awesome Idea Syndrome is a term I made up and diagnosed myself with, I’m sure I am not the only writer to suffer from it.

The main symptom of Awesome Idea Syndrome is I am content working on a manuscript until . . . (insert page turn here) I see or hear something that I think would make an interesting book. Then, I get so excited about that idea that I start working on a new manuscript until . . . (next page turn) another idea comes to me.

And on and on it goes. (As a side note, the ideas aren’t always “awesome,” but it sometimes takes me a while to figure that out.)

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay 

I have suffered from Awesome Idea Syndrome for quite a while now. (I have a bin full of partially finished manuscripts to prove it.)

Thankfully, I have found a remedy that has helped me cope with Awesome Idea Syndrome. It’s my “Idea Box.”

I created my “Idea Box” last year with an old shoe box, some decorative card stock, glue, tape, and scissors. It’s not a complete antidote, but it has helped significantly reduce the complications of Awesome Idea Syndrome.

Now, whenever I have a new idea for a book, I write that idea on a library checkout card. Sometimes, I add additional notes to the card, but I limit the amount of time I spend on the new idea. Then, I insert the card into my idea box.

Of course, I could use pieces of paper, but I like the fact that library checkout cards relate to books (and I had been given over 100 of them for free, so I had them on hand already).

Too Many Ideas

There are definitely benefits to having an idea box. I haven’t started numerous random manuscripts over the past year. I have actually finished more writing projects. And I can see how “unawesome” some ideas are after having them sit for a while. (As another side note, idea journals are also helpful!)

A con to my idea box, though, is that I now have a box full of random ideas. Too many ideas for me to ever use in my lifetime!

So, just like I sort through and donate items in my home I no longer want, I have recently sorted through my idea box. And I am “donating” the ideas I no longer want to you.

You are welcome to use any of the following ideas in your next book project. Please keep in mind, I have not researched these ideas any further than what is listed below. As a result . . .

  • . . . they may not actually be awesome.
  • . . . they may have already been written about before. (But maybe they could be written in a new format/genre or from a different angle.)
  • . . . they may not be 100 percent accurate.
  • . . . they may not end with a book deal.
  • . . . they may or may not make sense.

And now, without further ado, here are 20+ book ideas you can use in your next book.

Nonfiction Book Ideas

  • Engineering design process compared to the writing process
  • Inventions or other things commonly thought to be created by someone or some place that didn’t actually create it first
    • Noodles were invented in China (not Italy or some other place)
    • Fortune cookies were invented in California (not China)
  • The year of 2 Thanksgivings
    • Canada and USA have two different dates for Thanksgiving
    • Grandpa could tell a story of when the USA had two Thanksgivings (1939)
  • Walter Hunt
    • Inventor
    • He owed a man money, so he created the safety pin (which he called a “dress pin”) and sold the rights to it for $400
  • Parachuting beavers
  • “Tom Thumb”
    • Possible legend?
    • Steam powered engine lost a race to a horse drawn train
  • Molasses disaster in Boston
  • Ship disasters that killed more passengers than Titanic
    • Wilhelm Gustloff and Lusitania
    • Historical fiction book: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (Penguin Books, 2017)
  • Peshtigo, WI fire vs Chicago, IL fire
    • Took place at the same time
    • More people killed in Peshtigo fire than Chicago fire
  • Invention of bubble wrap
    • 1957 Alfred Fielding and Mac Chavannes
    • “Trying to create a textured wallpaper”
    • Started with two pieces of plastic shower curtain
    • “Accidental invention”
  • “Accidental inventions”
  • History of the can opener and food in cans
    • Canned foods were invented 48 years before the can opener?
  • Bob Ross
    • American painter
  • Jesse Owens
    • American athlete
    • Won 4 gold medals in 1936 Olympics (shortly before WW2)
  • Ann Adams
    • Had polio
    • Learned how to draw pictures by using a pencil in her mouth
  • Duck, sheep, rooster first to travel in hot air balloon
  • When Alaska was purchased and the calendar changed (1867)
  • Odd true animal stories
    • Parachuting beavers
    • First hot air balloon ride
    • “Operation Cat Drop”
    • Dogs trained as parachutists
    • 1962 bear ejected at supersonic speed
  • Nubs the marine dog
  • Stumpton, IA
    • Town no longer exists, instead landfill
    • Across the river was a meat packing plant (called Sinclair Packing House) that is now gone
    • Sewage treatment plant build in 1936

Educational Fiction Idea

  • Wizard of Oz fractured story
    • Takes place entirely underwater
    • Good witch could be angel fish
    • Dorothy could be Dorothia the mermaid
    • Toto could be Tortellini the dolphin (or spiny dogfish)
    • Tornado could be a whirlpool (maelstrom)
    • Yellow brick road could be yellow coral and/or yellow kelp
    • Monkeys could be flying fish
    • Sea stars and jellyfish have no heart or brain
    • Octopus have more than one heart
    • Heart reef – Great Barrier Reef
    • Two creatures with symbiotic relationships
    • Brain coral
    • Lion fish
    • Teach about underwater creatures and habitats (without feeling like being taught)

Fiction Ideas

  • Monsters telling campfire stories to each other about kids
  • First hair cut
    • Child’s hair grows just like he is growing
    • “snip, snip,” “clip, clip,” “buzz, buzz”
    • Feels like flying in chair – (going up and down)
    • Wearing a cloak so equates self to a super hero

Finished Manuscript

It’s amazing to me how one idea can be written in so many different ways. Different characters, different genres, different writing styles, different POVs, and the list goes on. That’s the reason ideas aren’t copyrighted but your actual stories are. I’d love to see your story if you use one of these ideas!

If you do complete a manuscript and are interested in publishing it, you will have to choose which publishing option you would like to pursue. (If you are confused about the different publishing options, make sure to check out the course Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book: Traditional Publishing, Hybrid Publishing, or Self-Publishing?)

Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book

The following resources may be helpful for you if you choose to try the traditional publishing route.

And here are a couple of resources if you choose to self-publish.

I still have more ideas in my idea box than I will ever use, but I’m not ready to pass them on just yet. Maybe I’ll get around to writing at least a few of them someday.

What About You?

Do you suffer from Awesome Idea Syndrome? If so, maybe this list wasn’t what you needed right now. Have you found anything that has helped you stay focused on your current writing project?

Will any of these ideas make it into one of your future manuscripts? I’d love to hear from you!

Promote and Market Your Book Learn Ways to Promote and Market Your Book (That Don’t Include Paid Advertisements or Social Media)
Being an Author · Courses · Ramblings

Learn Ways to Promote and Market Your Book (That Don’t Include Paid Advertisements or Social Media)

Brigitte BrulzLeave a comment

Are you preparing to launch your book into the world? Or have you recently launched your book?

If so, then congratulations!!! Creating and launching a book is a big accomplishment.

I’m sure you have put in a lot of time and energy to get this far. Unfortunately, simply releasing a book into the world will not result in people rushing to buy it.

So, what can an author do to help get their book into the hands of more readers?

Well, that is a great question! There are many authors who use social media and paid advertisements to sell books. But there are also quite a few other ways authors can market and promote their books.

And you can now learn more about those ways in a course I recently created called Book Promotion and Marketing for Self-Published Authors: Ways to Promote and Market Your Book Without Social Media.

Many resources provide information on using paid advertisements or social media to promote and market books, so I decided to create a course that does not include those options.

I’m not saying authors shouldn’t use paid advertisements or social media. Those work great for many authors and are viable options. I simply wanted to provide alternative options for authors to be aware of as they try to reach more readers.

So, Book Promotion and Marketing for Self-Published Authors: Ways to Promote and Market Your Book Without Social Media focuses on ways authors (or future authors) can promote and market their books in inexpensive and even free ways that do not include paid advertisements or social media. (A free Udemy account is required to take the course.)

This course is divided into a total of 23 videos including the introduction and conclusion. Each video is presented with a slide show presentation as well as a downloadable transcript for the convenience of the students. Handouts are also included with many videos to provide additional resources and information to help guide students with their own promotion and marketing journeys.

Taking this course does not guarantee you will sell thousands (or even hundreds) of copies of your book, but it will give you plenty of ideas that may help you get your book into the hands of more readers.

Before deciding if this course is right for you, please check out what is and what is not covered within this course below. You are also welcome to watch the course video, introduction, and the video about the realities of self-publishing before choosing if this is the right course for you over on Udemy.

To your publishing, promotion, and marketing success!

You can register for the course here.

Who This Course is For:

Authors/Writers with no previous publishing experience who want to learn about promoting and marketing books

Beginner self-published authors looking for ways to promote and market their book(s)

Beginner authors who have published through or who plan to publish through KDP Print or IngramSpark (Not Required)

Unpublished authors who plan to self-publish and are interested in learning ways to promote and market their future book(s)

Who This Course is Not For:

Anyone looking for a get rich quick plan

Anyone wanting information about paid advertisements

Anyone looking for in-depth information on using social media for book promotion

You can register for the course here.

What is Not Covered:

Paid Advertisements, Amazon ads, or Social media ads

In-depth explanation of social media

What is Covered:

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1: Introduction

Reiterate the information found in the course description such as who the instructor is, what students will learn by the end of this course, who this course is for and who this course is not for, what is needed to complete this course, and an overview of what this course contains

Lecture 2: Realities of Self-Publishing

A few statistics on self-publishing and book sales and what this means for you

Transcript included

Lecture 3: Finding Your Why and Setting Goals

Questions for you to consider as you determine your “why” and set your own goals

Transcript and Assignment included

(Additional Note: Much of the information included within this video was discussed in the course Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book: Traditional Publishing, Hybrid Publishing, or Self-Publishing? The included assignment is new for this course.)

Lecture 4: Marketing and Promotion

Brief explanation of marketing and promotion

List of the 5 Ps of marketing

Considerations before publishing a book

Considerations while marketing and promoting a book

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

Section 2: People

Lecture 5: Target Audience

Explanation of a target audience

Questions to consider when determining a target audience

Transcript and Assignment included

Lecture 6: Reviews and Influencers

How some authors get book reviews

Possible places for readers to leave reviews

Questions to consider when reaching out to reviewers

Brief description of influencers

Transcript, Additional Resources Handout, and Reviewer Questions to Consider Handout included

Lecture 7: Awards

List of possible benefits of book awards

Possible places to find award opportunities

Considerations when choosing to submit your book for an award

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

Section 3: Product

Lecture 8: Book Covers

Book cover tips and questions to consider

Parts to include on book covers with examples

Mention of a resource to possibly use to display book covers for promotional purposes

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

(Additional Note: Quite a bit of the information in this video was discussed in the course Self-Publishing 101: Things to Consider Before Publishing Your Book in Print)

Lecture 9: Interior Considerations

Overview of front matter and possible sections to include

Overview of body and possible sections to include

Overview of back matter and possible sections to include

List of additional interior considerations

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

(Additional Note: Quite a bit of the information in this video was discussed in the course Self-Publishing 101: Things to Consider Before Publishing Your Book in Print)

Section 4: Price

Lecture 10: Considerations When Choosing a Price

Questions to consider when choosing a price

One possible pricing technique some authors use

Brief overview of KDP Select

Possible ways to add value to your book (and potentially your brand)

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

(Additional Note: Quite a bit of the information in this video was discussed in the course Self-Publishing 101: Things to Consider Before Publishing Your Book in Print)

Lecture 11: Metadata

Brief explanation of metadata

Explanation of keywords

Book title considerations

Tips for writing a book description

Tips for choosing book categories

Questions to consider when choosing a publication date

An overview of free vs paid ISBNs

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

(Additional Note: Quite a bit of information in this video was discussed in the course Self-Publishing 101: Things to Consider Before Publishing Your Book in Print)

Section 5: Place

Lecture 12: Selling Online

Brief explanation of expanded distribution through KDP Print and IngramSpark

List of possible online retailers for print books

Brief list of distributors for print books

List of possible ways to distribute ebooks

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

Lecture 13: Selling Offline Overview

List of possible offline locations to sell physical books (not just in book stores!)

Explanation of 3 possible book delivery options to those offline locations

How to order author copies through KDP Print and IngramSpark

Considerations when ordering author copies to send them to offline locations

Transcript included

Lecture 14: Selling Offline Part 2

Considerations for selling to offline retailers

Considerations for contacting offline retailers by email

Considerations for contacting offline retailers in person

A brief explanation for and considerations for selling on consignment in stores

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

Lecture 15: Selling Offline Part 3

Tips for author business cards

Explanation of sell sheets (also known as sales sheets) with a sample

Explanation of what to do when receiving an order for books

Explanation of an order form with a sample

Explanation of an invoice with a sample

Explanation of a book catalog

A couple of examples of why having a website with contact information available is very important

Explanation of what the instructor does when someone reaches out requesting to purchase a large number of books

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

Section 6: Promotion

Lecture 16: Book Launch Overview

Explanation of what a book launch is

List of reasons to have a book launch

List of possible places to have a book launch party in person

List of possible places to have a book launch party virtually

List of possible people to invite to a book launch party

List of possible activities to do at a book launch party

List of things to bring to a book launch party

Considerations when choosing a time to have a book launch party

Considerations for the cost of a book launch party

List of what to do after a book launch party

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

Lecture 17: Author Website

List of reasons to have an author website

List of possible website platforms

Explanation of wordpress.com vs wordpress.org

List of possible hosting providers

Tips for choosing a domain name

List of pages to (possibly) include on an author website

Information about an About Page

Overview of email lists

List of possible email marketing providers

List of possible legal considerations for websites

Additional author website tips

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

Lecture 18: Offering Freebies

List of reasons to offer freebies

List of possible freebies to offer

Additional tips for freebies

Transcript included

Lecture 19: Presentations and Storytimes

List of possible places to speak

Tips for speaking engagements and presentations

Considerations for speaking fees

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

Lecture 20: Free Publicity Part 1

Tips for using themed festivals to promote your book

Tips for getting interviews

Possible places to be interviewed

What to do before, during, and after an interview

A brief explanation of HARO

An additional resource for free PR

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

Lecture 21: Free Publicity Part 2

Brief overview of Goodreads

Overview of an Amazon Author Page

Overview of Guest Blogging

Overview of Google Alerts

List of other possible free promotion ideas

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

Lecture 22: More Promotion Ideas

Overview of social media with some tips

Tips for using Pinterest

A list of a few additional promotional ideas

Transcript and Additional Resources Handout included

Section 7: Conclusion

Lecture 23: Conclusion

Congratulations!!!

Please remember…

Transcript included

You can register for the course here. (And if you still aren’t sure if it is right for you, click here to watch the sample videos.)

Publish a Book This Year You Can Publish a Book!
Being an Author · Writing Appearances

You Can Publish a Book!

Brigitte BrulzLeave a comment

(This page contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission at no extra charge to you if you click on a link and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate and Udemy Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I greatly appreciate all purchases you make using these links. Thank you!)

Yes, it is possible for you to publish a book! But will you? And should you?

There is A LOT to consider when publishing a book. I have spent many, many hours learning about publishing over the past few years.

I’ve attended writing conferences and webinars, read countless blog posts and books, joined SCBWI and a monthly writer group, submitted manuscripts to literary agents and editors, and self-published multiple journals and three picture books. All three of my picture books received a Readers’ Favorite 5 Stars review, and my book Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles was chosen for the 2019 Read Across Connecticut program.

Through it all, I have learned a lot! I am excited to share what I have learned with you to save you countless hours of research.

Choose a Publishing Option

Of course, in order to publish a book, you must first write a book. But once you have completed your book, what should you do to get it published?

Many years ago, anyone who wanted to publish a book had to submit their manuscript to literary agents or editors who then had to accept the manuscript in order to be published. Writers can still do that if they would like, but there are now additional publishing options available.

Do you know the differences between the different publishing options? And do you know which publishing option is best for you and your book? If not, you may be interested in the course Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book: Traditional Publishing, Hybrid Publishing or Self-Publishing? (A free Udemy account is required to take this course.)

Choosing the Best Publishing Option

There are pros and cons to each of the publishing options. In the end, it is up to you to decide which option is best for you and your book.

If you are a children’s book author interested in publishing through a traditional publisher, make sure to check out this list of 37 children’s book publishers accepting unsolicited submissions.

If You Choose to Self-Publish

Literally anyone can self-publish a book these days. In fact, my daughters self-published their own journal last year at the ages of 12 and 13.

write, draw, believe journals

Authors who choose to self-publish don’t have to worry about their manuscript being rejected by literary agents or editors. But, their books could be rejected by their potential audience if not created well.

Do you want to learn more about self-publishing a book in print, so you can one day see your book for sale in online places such as Amazon and barnesandnoble.com? Are you interested in self-publishing a book but have no idea where to begin with the self-publishing process?

If so, the course Self-Publishing 101: Things to Consider Before Publishing Your Book in Print may help guide you in the right direction to reach your publishing dreams. (A free Udemy account is required to take this course.)

self-publishing 101 Course Available

As I had said before, there is A LOT to consider when choosing to publish a book! Instead of spending countless hours aimlessly searching for information about self-publishing, this course is designed in an easy-to-follow format to guide you in the right direction. And it doesn’t matter if you write books for children, middle grade, young adults, or adults.

Divided into a total of 33 videos including the introduction, each video is presented with a slide show presentation as well as a downloadable transcript for your convenience. Handouts are also included with many videos to provide additional resources and information to help you with your publishing journey.

You are welcome to watch the course video, introduction, and the video about print-on-demand publishing (found here) before choosing if this is the right course for you.

Enroll here now or continue reading to see what information is covered within the course.

What is Included in Self-Publishing 101 Course

Section 1

Lecture 1: Introduction

  • Expansion of information presented in the course video
  • Brief introduction of instructor
  • List of what students should learn by the end of the course
  • List of what this course will not teach
  • List of who this course is for
  • Reference to the course Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book
  • Brief overview of the publishing options: traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, and self-publishing
  • List of what is needed for this course
  • Some additional publishing tips
  • Break down of this course
  • Disclaimer and copyright information for this course
  • Information about the included handouts

Lecture 2: Print-On-Demand Publishing

  • Overview of print-on-demand printing
  • Pros of print-on-demand
  • Cons of print-on-demand
  • List of print-on-demand companies
  • Brief discussion of offset printing
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Section 2: Copyright and Legalities to Consider

Lecture 3: Copyright

  • What copyright is
  • How long copyright lasts
  • How to register for copyright
  • What may not be copyrighted
  • How to show copyright
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 4: Other Legalities to Consider

  • Explanation of disclaimers with samples
  • Being an authorpreneur – business considerations
  • Taxes and permit considerations
  • Keeping records considerations
  • Mention of one resource all self-published authors should consider having
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Section 3: Sections to (Possibly) Include in a Book

Lecture 5: Sections to Include in a Book Overview

  • Brief overview of front matter sections
  • Brief overview of body sections
  • Brief overview of back matter sections
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 6: Front Matter Part 1: Title Page

  • What is included on a title page with samples
  • What is included on a half title page
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 7: Front Matter Part 2: Copyright and Dedication

  • What is included on a copyright page with samples
  • Explanation of a dedication with samples
  • Brief explanation of a CIP data block

Lecture 8: Front Matter Part 3: Table of Contents

  • Explanation of a table of contents with samples
  • Tips for creating a table of contents
  • Video with Step-by-Step Instructions for Inserting Table of Contents Included

Lecture 9: Front Matter Part 4: Accolades and Reviews

  • Explanation of a foreword with a sample
  • Explanation of accolades with samples
  • Brief explanation of an advance reader copy (ARC)

Lecture 10: Body Overview

  • Explanation of an introduction with a sample
  • Explanation of a prologue with a sample
  • Considerations for the main text of a book
  • Explanation of an epilogue with a sample
  • Explanation of an afterword
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 11: Back Matter Part 1: Author Bio and Choosing a Name

  • Explanation of an author bio with samples
  • Explanation of an illustrator bio with samples
  • Considerations when choosing an author name
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 12: Back Matter Part 2: Acknowledgments and Additional Options

  • Explanation of acknowledgments with samples
  • Explanation of a promotional page with samples
  • Explanation of a glossary with sample
  • Explanation of an index with samples
  • Explanation of a bibliography with samples
  • Explanation of permission information with samples
  • List of extra back matter ideas
  • An additional tip in place of back matter

Section 4: Editing

Lecture 13: Editing Overview

  • Possible reasons to have an editor
  • Explanation of developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading
  • Tips for self-editing
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 14: Finding an Editor

  • Explanation of alpha readers, beta readers, and critique partners
  • Tips after having your work edited or critiqued
  • List of possible questions to ask yourself when deciding to hire an editor
  • List of possible places to find an editor
  • Explanation of the cost of an editor
  • Explanation of what to do if your book is published with errors
  • Handout with Additional Resources and Handout with Questions Included

Section 5: Illustrations, Photos, and Fonts

Lecture 15: Illustrations, Photos, and Fonts Overview

  • Brief explanation of copyright issues
  • Examples of when the instructor has contacted others for permission
  • Explanation of the difference between black and white interior vs color interior
  • Explanation of bleed and no bleed

Lecture 16: Illustrations Part 1

  • Tips before hiring an illustrator
  • Information about dummies
  • Possible places to find an illustrator
  • Questions to consider when choosing an illustrator
  • Additional tips and considerations with illustrations
  • Handout with Additional Resources and Handout with Questions Included

Lecture 17: Illustrations Part 2

  • Explanation of illustration notes
  • A break down of the instructor’s experience with the illustrator of her first two picture books

Lecture 18: Illustrations Part 3

  • A break down of the instructor’s experience with the illustrator of her third picture book

Lecture 19: Photos

  • Possible places to find photos
  • Additional tips and considerations for photos
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 20: Fonts

  • Brief explanation of fonts
  • Possible places to find fonts
  • A possible place to create your own font
  • Tips for having fun and being creative with fonts
  • Additional tips and considerations for fonts
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Section 6: Metadata

Lecture 21: Metadata

  • What metadata is
  • Considerations/explanations/tips for choosing keywords, book titles, categories, price, and the publication date
  • Tips for writing and formatting a book description
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 22: ISBNs and Barcodes

  • Facts about ISBNs and Barcodes
  • How many ISBNs you need
  • When a new ISBN is required
  • Where to get an ISBN (in the United States)
  • Whether or not you should purchase your own ISBNs
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Section 7: More Details

Lecture 23: Trim Size and Additional Considerations

  • Explanation of trim sizes
  • Tips for choosing a trim size
  • Explanation of additional interior considerations such as paper thickness, paper color, running heads, running feet, and page numbers
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 24: Book Covers

  • Explanation of book cover considerations such as hardcover vs softcover, matte vs glossy, and cover consistency
  • Tips and resources for creating your own cover
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 25: Self-Publishing Expenses to Consider

  • Explanation of cost to self-publish
  • List of expenses to consider when self-publishing
  • List of ways an author can save money when self-publishing
  • A break down of the cost to publish the instructor’s most recent book
  • Considerations about profiting on a self-published book

Section 8: Publishing with KDP Print

Lecture 26: KDP Print Overview

  • Brief recap of print-on-demand
  • Overview of KDP Print
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 27: Expanded Distribution with KDP Print

  • Explanation of expanded distribution through KDP Print
  • A break down of possible book royalties through KDP Print
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 28: KDP Print Tips

  • Tips for using KDP Print
  • Explanation of proofs
  • Handout with Additional Resources and Handout with Step-by-Step Upload Instructions Included

Section 9: Publishing with IngramSpark

Lecture 29: IngramSpark Overview

  • Overview of IngramSpark
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 30: Additional IngramSpark Information

  • Explanation of wholesale discounts
  • Brief explanation of publisher compensation calculator and print and ship calculator
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Section 10: Using Both KDP Print and IngramSpark Together

Lecture 31: Using Both KDP Print and IngramSpark Together

  • Tips for using both KDP Print and IngramSpark together with examples
  • A break down of author copy costs
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Section 11: Even More Information

Lecture 32: E-books and Audiobooks Overview

  • Overview of e-books
  • List of possible benefits of e-books
  • List of possible options for publishing e-books
  • Brief explanation of KDP ASIN
  • Brief explanation of DRM
  • Brief explanation of KDP Select
  • Brief mention of audiobooks
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Lecture 33: Just a Few Marketing Ideas

  • List of a few more considerations before publishing a book
  • List of nine inexpensive publicity/marketing ideas
  • A reminder as the student moves forward with own publishing journey
  • Thank you!
  • Handout with Additional Resources Included

Who This Course is Not For

  • Someone expecting to get rich fast by publishing a book
  • Someone expecting to learn writing techniques
  • Someone expecting to learn specific book formatting techniques

Take the Next Step

Like I said, there is A LOT of information to consider when self-publishing a book. Are you ready to take the next step to reach your publishing dreams? Enroll now in Self-Publishing 101: Things to Consider When Publishing a Book in Print and learn at your own pace.

Click here to register if you are ready to take the next step.

Self-Publishing 101: Things to Consider when Self-Publishing
Self-Publishing 101: Things to Consider When Publishing a Book in Print

Conclusion

Simply learning about publishing will not get your book published. You will have to put in the effort to actually move forward with your publishing journey.

To your publishing success!

KidLit Indie Publishing Summit Learn More about Publishing at the Upcoming KidLit Indie Publishing Summit
Being an Author · Writing Appearances

Learn More about Publishing at the Upcoming KidLit Indie Publishing Summit

Brigitte BrulzLeave a comment

Are you interested in publishing a book? Or are you looking for more information about self-publishing?

If you answered yes to either (or both) of these questions, make sure to check out the upcoming KidLit Indie Publishing Summit!

If you are reading this after the summit but are still interested in learning more about publishing, please look on my courses page. There may be something for you there!

KidLit Indie Publishing Summit

Even though the 15 speakers span across four continents and six countries, there is no need to travel to attend the KidLit Indie Publishing Summit. It is entirely virtual. No travel costs. No lodging fees. You can watch the entire summit from the comfort of your own home!

Learn more about the speakers here.

I had the privilege of creating and presenting one of the webinars for the summit. It is titled Using KDP Print and IngramSpark to Publish Children’s Books (And Should You Use Their Free ISBNs and Barcodes?).

This particular webinar may be for you if you want basic information about:

  • KDP Print
  • IngramSpark
  • Tips for using both KDP Print and IngramSpark to publish print books
  • Print-on-demand publishing
  • Expanded distribution
  • ISBNs
  • Barcodes

This is just one of the sixteen webinars that will be available during the summit. All of the webinars are focused on information about creating books, the printing process, illustrating your book, and book marketing.

Learn more about the available webinars here.

And best of all, the entire summit is free to watch for a limited period of time. Make sure to claim your spot for the KidLit Indie Publishing Summit here.

As an added bonus, all KidLit Indie Publishing Summit attendees should be receiving a coupon code for a discounted price on my recently released course Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book: Traditional Publishing, Hybrid Publishing, or Self-Publishing?

Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book

Make sure to check out the KidLit Indie Publishing Summit for more information.

Like I had mentioned before, if you are reading this after the summit but are still interested in learning more about publishing, please look on my courses page. There may be something for you there!

To your publishing success!

Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book: Traditional Publishing, Hybrid Publishing, or Self-Publishing? Course Now Available
Being an Author · Course

Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book: Traditional Publishing, Hybrid Publishing, or Self-Publishing? Course Now Available

Brigitte BrulzLeave a comment

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission at no extra charge to you if you click on a link and make a purchase. Thank you!)

Are you interested in publishing a book but don’t know which publishing option would be best for you and your book?

If so, you may be interested in a course I recently created titled Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book: Traditional Publishing, Hybrid Publishing, or Self-Publishing?, which is now available on Udemy.

Choosing the Best Publishing Option
Click here to go to the course

If you take this course, you will learn:

  • the differences between traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, and self-publishing
  • what a literary agent does and whether or not one is needed to publish a book
  • the pros and cons of print-on-demand publishing and two self-publishing companies that offer print-on-demand publishing
  • publishing terms such as query letter, manuscript, book proposal, exclusive submissions, simultaneous submissions, advance, and royalty
  • things to consider if choosing a hybrid publisher
  • and more

The course includes a total of twelve lectures: an introduction and 11 lessons. Each lecture includes a video with a slide show presentation as well as a downloadable transcript for your convenience. The video lectures total approximately 2 hours (about the same amount of time it takes to watch a movie)!

Handouts are also included with some of the lectures to provide additional resources and information to help you in your publishing decision.

You are welcome to read more information and preview the introduction and two lessons over on Udemy here.

If you do not already have a Udemy account and you choose to take the course, you will be required to register for a free Udemy account.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions concerning the course Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book: Traditional Publishing, Hybrid Publishing, or Sef-Publishing?

Choosing the Best Publishing Option for You and Your Book

If you are a children’s book author interested in pursuing traditional publishing, you may want to check out 37 Children’s Book Publishers Accepting Unsolicited Manuscripts.

May you have a wonderful day!