Karen's blog: bookbaby newsletters

Here are the latest bookbaby newsletters, including details of the North Street Book Prize:

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Good morning,

I’m taking a break from the publishing Q&A this morning to clue you in on a lively conversation that is taking place on the BookBaby blog.

Our friend and contributor Scott McCormick recently wrote a post entitled “Publishers are hiring sensitivity readers. Should you?”.

His post explored how the desire for more diversity in publishing may not conform to the oft-stated opinion that writers should “write what you know.” In seeking to make their books more authentic, authors and publishers sometimes look to sensitivity readers to help shape their content.

Scott sums up the article by saying, “All you authors looking to self-publish: the choice is yours. You can choose to hire a sensitivity reader or not. Should you hire one, you can even choose to disregard his or her advice. But if you’re seeking a more traditional publishing experience, be aware that your book may go through this extra step along the way. What are your thoughts on all of this?”

It didn’t take long for the debate to begin!

From S. Willow: “And this is why I stopped writing for the overly sensitive, hyper-reactionary, immature millennial market. No, I do NOT think we should be running our work past ‘sensitivity’ readers. Books will end up like movies, boring, safe and all the same because no one will dare write anything that might offend someone somewhere.”

J. Redmond says: “As an editor, I do point out things that readers might find objectionable when doing content edits. That doesn’t mean authors always take my advice, but a few times my clients had been pleased to have something highlighted as insensitive, and have thanked me.”

M. Carvin adds: “I want a sensitivity reader for my early California novel. Not so much afraid of “offending,” as afraid I am missing details that would enrich it and don’t want to put something in that a knowledgeable reader would consider unlikely.”

DJ McCoy chimed in: “Maybe when the whole world holds hands and sings girl scout songs around the campfire, we writers will be able to write about that. Until then it’s a tough world. If you can’t face reality maybe shouldn’t get on the bus Buttercup!”

Want to add your two cents? Don’t write me this time! Instead, you can join the discussion here.

And speaking of conversations, here’s one for the ages: Ninety-two years ago, J.R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis—perhaps the two most famous fantasy writers of the 20th century—met for the first time at a meeting at Oxford University. You can learn all about their long friendship right here.

All the best,

Steven Spatz
President, BookBaby

Featured Article:
Look for ideas in all the wrong places

If you’re writing a romance novel, don’t look for ideas in other romance novels. Look to thrillers, chaos theory, or the building of the Flavian amphitheater. If you’re struggling for inspiration, try looking in the unlikeliest places. Read more.

Why you should put your books on subscription services

The way readers consume and discover new books is rapidly changing, which is why you should consider making your work available by putting your books on subscription services. Read more.

What writing rules do you live by (and which ones do you break)?

Knowing writing rules doesn’t guarantee you’ll produce stellar written work, but aspirational rules can expand your horizons, and practical rules can improve your writing craft. Read more.

The sooner you market your book, the better. Learn how to do it in just three steps.

Top Stories:

The isolated sentence test

Write by accident, refine by design

Five things you need as you begin a career as a self-published author

How to spot self-publishing scams

Use book excerpts to promote your book

How to read, edit, and evaluate your writing with fresh eyes

New! 1-on-1 book marketing consultation. Get your book the attention it deserves with real expert help.

A message from one of our trusted partners:

North Street Book Prize for Self-Published Books

You have until June 30 to enter your self-published book into this year’s North Street competition, sponsored by Winning Writers and co-sponsored by BookBaby and Carolyn Howard-Johnson (author of The Frugal Book Promoter).

Choose from five categories: Mainstream/Literary Fiction, Genre Fiction, Creative Nonfiction & Memoir, Poetry (new), and Children’s Picture Book (new). The top winner in each category will win $1,000, one grand prize winner will win $3,000, and all will receive additional benefits to help market their books. Any year of publication is eligible. Entry fee: $60 per book.

Submit online via Submittable or by mail. Please see our guidelines, past winners, and judges’ remarks at winningwriters.com/north.

No restriction on country or age of author. Judges: Jendi Reiter and Ellen LaFleche, assisted by Lauren Singer Ledoux and Annie Keithline. This contest is sponsored by Winning Writers, one of the “101 Best Websites for Writers” (Writer’s Digest).

Click to Submit

Prefer to Enter by Mail?

Mail your entry and $60 fee to Winning Writers, Attn: Book Prize, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060-3961, USA. Include your name, email address, mailing address, and phone number. Your payment should be US funds drawn on a US bank, or US currency.

Questions?

See past winners and more contest information at winningwriters.com/north

Turn your book into a business with this free guide. The 7-Step Guide to Authorpreneurship.

Free download

Outlined insights to reach self-publishing success.

Award-winning author Rochelle Carter defines authorpreneurship as, “Coming up with an idea centered on book publishing and turning it into a profitable business.” It’s a process any author can benefit from—and now you can learn it all for free in her latest book.

The 7-Step Guide to Authorpreneurship explains how to:

Write and polish your manuscript
Create your business plan
Create your author platform
Engage your audience
Prepare for your book launch
Maintain your momentum
Sharing the value of your success

This book is full of advice you don’t want to miss. But you only have a limited time to get your advanced reading copy. Download Rochelle’s book for free right now.

Free download

Featured Article:
How to spot self-publishing scams

Bad players in our industry prey upon unsuspecting independent authors by disguising themselves as traditional publishing houses and using deceptive tactics. Here are four ways to identify self-publishing scams. Read more.

Use book excerpts to promote your book

Here’s a quick case study of former Saturday Night Live writer Patricia Marx using book excerpts to promote her book. Why not use the same tactic in your book publicity? Read more.

How to read, edit, and evaluate your writing with fresh eyes

Reviewing your own writing from an editor’s perspective can be a challenge, even for experienced writers. Here are strategies that can help you bring fresh eyes to your own written work. Read more.