5 Ways To Kill Your Book

So you finally uploaded your e-book and you're ready to send it out into the world. Or maybe, you've done so, it's been weeks, and wow so many people are reading it. In fact, too many people. People are contacting you to talk about your book, wanting you to do events with them, and asking when the next book will be out. You didn't realize what a horrible burden this would be. You have no one to turn to, but one thing is certain... You have to kill your book.

Here are five sure-fire steps to make sure you kill and bury your book forever.

1. Delete your website. You don't need it, you don't need anyone! Try to erase as much web presence as possible. And, if you must be on the internet, make sure your Facebook pages, twitter, or any other social media is all under different username and NOT connected. The last thing in the world you want is for people to know anything about you or your book. Or, alternatively, keep your website, but load it with as many gadgets, music, and images as possible. Make sure anyone even daring to Google you will want to pull out their own fingernails by the time your page is loaded.


2. Do not respond to emails. If you dare press that reply button you risk fans seeing you as likable and approachable. No matter how warm and friendly you are, you must fight off this urge. Be aloof, cold, and distant. In fact, forget you have an email all together. If you must reply to emails, make sure you do it as slowly as possible. It would be best that so much time has passed that the person you're responding to doesn't even remember who you are.

3. Snub other authors. This is obviously a game. And, like I said earlier, you don't need anyone. Whatever you do, do not try to make any connections with other authors. Don't try to be friends. And DO NOT READ THEIR BOOKS. The best way to kill your book and your career is to be as self-involved as possible and forget anything your mother ever taught you about manners or social etiquette.

4. Slap together the worst cover you can imagine. Don't hire an experienced book designer to put together a tasteful and appealing cover. Consider using clip art for your cover, it's free... right? Or, better yet, put a candid picture of your wife in her best Christmas sweater on the book cover. Cut her out using the wand tool in photoshop then put a wonderful starburst gradient behind her. Make your name bigger than the book title.

5. Do not giveaway your book. And definitely do not occasionally put it up for sale. This would cause other people to become curious about your book. It might even make them get it, read it, and recommend it to other readers. Under no circumstances should you be generous with your work. Expect everyone to buy your book for full price and be offended if anyone asks for a free copy to review.

10 Ways to Stand Out as a YA Indie Author

No one said indie publishing was easy. And if they did, I'd be wary if they really knew what they were talking about.


What acclaimed indie-author Belle Whittington says: 

When LB approached me about co-writing this post, I thought it was a terrific idea. Not only because of the subject material, which is one of my most passionate obsessions, but mostly because I was excited about co-writing something with my very talented daughter. She and I have worked really hard together over the past year-and-a-half on promoting Cicada and Firefly and also promoting me as an author. We’ve learned a lot, to say the least. And, no doubt, we’ll learn a lot more over the next couple of years. However, LB wanted to share what we’ve learned so far, and she gave me the restriction of listing five tips to stand out as an indie author. I can’t tell you how difficult it is for me to smash this swarm of information that’s buzzing around inside my head into five tips. But, here goes!

LB's tips:

1. Be dynamic! Whether you want to come off as magical and sparkly or simplistic and minimal, you want your book and website design to be dynamic. It should not only capture your personality and your book's concept, the designs that represent you should be bold and follow the rules of design. 

If you're not familiar with design principles, start small. For instance, have your name bigger than your book title. That's a big no-no and takes away from your cover. Research what makes an eye-catching cover before you seek out a designer. Look around at other book covers and see what you like. Then bring those covers to the designer you pick so they know what you're looking for.

2. Mold your persona. Even as an indie author, you're still in the spotlight; more-so because you directly communicate with your readers. Brainstorm for a while and figure out what top two or three traits you want to be known for. Perhaps you want to be whimsical and kind like J.K. Rowling, sassy and out-going like Amanda Hocking, or maybe you are more of a recluse like J.D. Salinger.

How to Develop Your Artistic Style

• Originally posted: Feb 8, 2008, 5:58:18 PM

I started dA back in 2006 doing simple digital photography. I had never taken a class and I had no knowledge on photography. My only formal training in art has been in water colour and pastels. These days I’m into photomanipulation. How did I get into it? Simple: deviantArt.

You’ve probably heard many people calling dA a wonderful community. It is, but it’s so much more than a community. DeviantArt is an art school. Yes, there are people who sign up and then put up masterpieces of work, but if you dig deeper into the community you see something amazing: progress. This is what makes dA great. To me, deviantArt has been my art school. I’ve learned from so many deviants on so many different forms of expression. And I’ve made friends.

There are some complaints about dA. Those are usually found in any community. Things usually based around generated artwork. (Too much anime/anthro/myspace shots and so on.) I think a majority of these complaints could be cut down by simply encouraging artists to find their own style; I know, groundbreaking.

dA introduces a variety of styles and techniques to us all, but many times an artist is blinded by trying to emulate (and sometimes immolate ) what they’ve seen others do. This results in hundreds of deviations that all look like each other. Sadly, many of these make the front page and it starts the cycle all over again. So here is the main point of this article: one way to become popular on deviantArt is to develop your own style.

Tips on Developing your Style

1. Enjoy and study other pieces of art, not just on deviantArt. Learn from this work, don't copy it.

Never underestimate a day to the museum and never underestimate other art forms. Being an artist is like being a growing tree. You start out as a sapling focusing on one art form, but you grow and develop all different sorts of artistic "branches". If you're a photographer, spend some time studying sculpting. You never know what you'll learn from another form of art that you can incorporate into your own work.

2. Carry a small notebook with you. Write down things you see or think of that inspire you.

You never know when inspiration will hit. I've always carried a notebook around with me ever since I was a kid (and a fanatic about Harriet the Spy). It wasn't until this year that I realized the full potential my notebooks had. The one I carry now is the size of my hand. It's filled with quotes, play ideas, poems, and short scenes I've seen or dreamt up.

Using a notebook is also another way to get rid of writer's block, especially if you're used to typing. A notebook forces the writer to get more "physically intimate"  if you will, with his or her work. It's an excellent way to form new methods to outline one's ideas and organize your writing.