National Association of Independent Writers & Editors
As a NAIWE member, you may guest post on the NAIWE blog. Articles should be between 500 and 1,250 words and of interest to our members. All guest posts will include a member byline and a link to the member’s active NAIWE website.
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
We wanted to get to know Brian Schwartz (NAIWE’s Self-Publishing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with him. Here is what he shared with us.
Can an author’s website be “one and done?” Or how can it be updated if there is nothing to update?
At a minimum, it should be updated at least once every 3-6 months. Google has a tendency to rank sites higher that contain fresh content. But it’s also a fatal flaw to include so much information that the visitor’s curiosity is piqued, losing out on a sale. Less is more. I’ll discuss strategies to reserve the bulk of your content for those who’ve already purchased your book.
What is the most common mistake you see on an author website?
Not using a generic (untracked) URL. By just copying and pasting the URL from your browser, every visitor is ‘tagged’ as someone you sent to Amazon (and therefore who you have a personal relationship with) and one theory is that this is one of the tools Amazon is using to block reviews. Also, each page should have a single call-to-action. I will cover several examples during the webinar.
How much time should an author spend updating their website each week?
As little as possible! Authors should spend that time instead writing guest posts for other websites and doing whatever it takes to get their own site linked to from on other websites (blogs, podcasts, media, etc.). Links from other reputable sites are the fastest way to boost your Google ranking. Even if you can’t get another website owner to write about you, there are plenty of sites where you can publish yourself (and include a link back to your website), i.e., Medium, LinkedIn, YouTube, Wikipedia, Quora, etc.
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The internet has impacted nearly every industry and books are no exception. In this webinar, Brian Schwartz showcases how bestselling authors are taking advantage of the web to increase value, grow sales, and connect with readers. He’ll also touch on the key elements of an effective author website and the common mistakes. You’ll hear the 5-figure tip Brian gave an author regarding a video that went viral.
If you feel like a deer in the headlights when you go online, Brian Schwartz will show you the simple steps you can take. From optimizing yourself on Amazon to more advanced tactics that can improve your search engine rankings, you will discover ways to webify your book to gain more reviews, grow readership, and ultimately increase profits. In a post-COVID world with the majority of your readers only a click away, you’ll see why timing has never been better to unlock your book’s full potential.
You can join in this conversation on November 19, at 6 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on elements of an effective author website. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!
November: Family Stories Month. Record or listen to stories from relatives of all ages.
November: National Family Literacy Month. Enjoy some family readings.
November: National Life Writing Month. Write about yourself and your life as you have experienced it thus far.
November: National Novel Writing Month. Use this month to write the first draft of your novel.
November 1: National Author’s Day. Celebrate your favorite authors and the books they have written.
November 1: National Family Literacy Day. Read a book with your family today.
November 2: Job Action Day. Get the tools and resources to master a new job search and land the career of your dreams!
November 4: National Stress Awareness Day. Develop a routine to help you manage your stress.
November 8-14: National Young Readers Week. The focus of the week demonstrates to youth the importance of reading.
November 27: You’re Welcomegiving Day. Share a “You’re welcome” with at least one client today.
November 28: Small Business Saturday. Support your local small businesses.
November 29: Electronic Greetings Day. Send an electronic greeting to each of the clients you haven’t heard from in a while.
November 30: Computer Security Day. Help secure your computer by installing and running antivirus software.
You’ll want to start with Make the Most of Your Membership: A Quick-Start Guide to NAIWE. This handy guide provides a brief overview of the benefits you receive, along with step-by-step instructions for accessing everything. You’ll be off and running in no time!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
We wanted to get to know Claudia Suzanne (NAIWE’s Ghostwriting Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here is what she shared with us.
What is a certified ghostwriter?
There are two types of certified ghostwriters. The first is offered by Certified Professional Ghostwriter, which covers the “dedication, competency, and ethics of ghostwriters.” I know little about this course.
The second kind of certified ghostwriter has completed a rigorous, award-winning 13-month training program that covers the specific skills, industry knowledge, and ghostwriting psychology and mindset transitions necessary to command (not hunt for) high-end professional clients and fees. Their certification comes from California State University, Long Beach. They are industry insiders and solopreneurs, not freelancers.
What can a ghostwriter do that I as the author cannot do?
Honestly, nothing—if the author can disassociate from their own work; has the time to learn the realities of the book industry, its supply-chain needs, and standards; and can find a counterpoint who understands musical line editing. All that not only takes a lot of time, it runs counter to the author’s true purpose, which is to share their knowledge, insights, or story. Think of it this way: authors create art . . . ghostwriters massage, tweak, and polish it.
Are ghostwriters limited to certain genres?
Not at all. They can specialize if they want—I know a lot of ghosts who only do business books or memoirs or self-help titles or fiction—or they can do it all. Depends on the individual.
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Join Claudia Suzanne, the Ghostwriting Expert, as she reveals insider truths about the book industry, and how a Certified Ghostwriter can give your title a better chance in the marketplace. Learn:
You can join in this conversation on October 22, at 3 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on ghostwriters assisting in the publishing process. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!
October: National Book Month. Curl up on the couch with a good book.
October: National Reading Group Month. Gather a group of friends, and meet weekly to discuss a great book!
October: National Work and Family Month. Focus on one way to improve your work/life balance. The Be a Better Freelancer conference can help with this: “Freelancing 101: Launching and Managing Your Freelance Business” with Meghan Pinson.
October: Self-Promotion Month. Promote your skills to gain some new clients. The Be a Better Freelancer conference has a session to help with this: “You Oughta be in Visuals: Make Your Social Sizzle to Fire Up Your Freelancing” with Walt Jaschek.
October 1: National Fruit at Work Day. Take a break today to enjoy a piece of seasonal fruit at work.
October 5: National Do Something Nice Day. Do something nice for one of your clients today!
October 6-12: Mystery Series Week.
October 6-12: National Newspaper Week.
October 6-12: Customer Service Week.
October 9: National Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work Day. Spend a day with a cuddly friend to make you smile. 🙂
October 13-19: National Work at Home Week.
October 18-24: National Business Women’s Week.
October 18-24: National Friends of Libraries Week.
October 24: National Make a Difference Day. Do something to make a difference in the life of someone else.
The posts you share on your member website are eligible to be promoted on NAIWE’s social media pages. The NAIWE Member Activity Feed is scanned each week on Member Monday, and many post titles and links are posted on social media to increase your readership. Member posts that are tagged with the #NAIWE hashtag can also be reposted on NAIWE’s social media pages for you.
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
We wanted to get to know Tina Glasneck (NAIWE’s Book Promotions Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here is what she shared with us.
What is one thing that you learned about your craft the hard way, and what benefits have you received from it? Can these benefits be broadened to include book promotions?
The most important thing to recognize for one’s craft is that of identifying the target audience, as a book is not written for everyone. It must have a specific audience in mind. Genres, of course, are there to assist readers in locating books that they like. Often, there are specific tropes that are used in the genre.
For example, romance requires a happy for now or happily-ever-after ending. If it does not meet that standard, then it cannot be classified as a romance. If it will be advertised as a romance, the genre tropes and requirements are something to keep in mind when it comes to crafting the novel, as well as the later marketing of it.
What has been your most rewarding book promotions avenue, and how was it rewarding? Self? Monetary? Clients?
I believe that the best thing an author can do is grow their newsletter, and that growth is from where most of my success continues to come.
It is through my newsletter that I can create relationships with my readers, who frequently will then share news of my books with their circle of friends. All other promotion has its uses, but for long-term growth, the newsletter is the best way to continue to grow it.
What do you associate with book promotions?
Book promotion is when the goal is to promote or make an audience aware of a particular book. This can include, but is not limited to
Paying for expensive book promotion only makes sense if one has more than one book in a series, or other books available that a reader can purchase. Book promotion is to advertise and to make readers aware of a product. It is best to use cheaper options, all within one’s author budget before one launches the more advanced ad campaigns.
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Are you struggling with what you can do to make your books a success? Are you overwhelmed with what you need to do to get eyes on your latest book-baby? Join USA Today bestselling author Tina Glasneck as she gives practical advice on what you can apply to your writing career to find readers and gain success. This webinar will dig into the basics and provide practical tips that you can implement right away to start you on your successful author journey.
You can join in this conversation on September 24, at 8 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on finding readers to gain success. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!
September: Self-Improvement Month. Take some time to improve yourself. What class will you take or conference will you attend to improve your business self? Think ahead and prepare to sign up for the Be a Better Freelancer conference!
September 6: National Read a Book Day. Grab a book (a fun read or even one for professional development), and spend the day reading.
September 7: Labor Day. This day recognizes the men and women who labor to build this country. As self-employed professionals, many tend to work on this day, but what will you do to celebrate?
September 10: National Swap Ideas Day. Share a creative or helpful idea with a client or colleague.
September 12: National Day of Encouragement. This day is dedicated to uplifting people around us and making a positive impact. Who can you encourage?
September 15: National Online Learning Day. This day recognizes the advantages and vast potential of online learning and the accomplishments of these students. What can you study today to improve your skills? On September 24, NAIWE will host its monthly webinars to help you improve your skills!
September 15: National IT Professionals Day. This day is set aside to honor the venerable geeks of the world we all rely on to keep us connected.
September 22: American Business Women’s Day. A day set aside to honor and reflect on the contributions and accomplishments of the millions of women in the workforce and the millions of women business owners in the United States.
September 24: National Punctuation Day. A period, a comma, a semicolon, a question mark, and an exclamation point are examples of some of the punctuation used in writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning. National Punctuation Day commemorates these and all punctuation marks.
NAIWE members receive alerts from people looking to hire freelancers, along with specifics about the job postings. Members can then apply for the jobs by contacting the person directly.
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.