Training and motivating leaders and authors
since 2002
Do you dream of being a professional author,
but aren't sure
where to start?
This series is for you! An Author's Guide To... is a series of 45 brief e-books about being a writer. Each delves into one aspect of the writing business.
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If you're just beginning your career and want to make sure writing is a part of your career path, there's material for you here!
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If you'd like to transition into writing as a mid-life career shift, you'll find these books useful!
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If you're retired or retiring and have books in you that need to be shared with the world, or just want to supplement your retirement income with some extra cash from writing, you'll also find these books useful!
As the books become available, they'll be described below, with a link to where you can buy them. Most are only e-books, but a few will be available in print.
Why listen to Lynn about this subject?
Lynn has worked as a self-employed professional writer since leaving the corporate world in 2002. In her corporate career, she worked for a directory publisher for more than two decades. In these books, she pairs her own experience with experts in each area, with whom she has worked or interviewed for the books.
Book 1: Planning for Self Employment
Do you have what it takes to be a full-time professional writer?
If you've ever wondered what it takes to make it as a full-time, self-employed writer, this book will help you determine if you are suited to it.
As the foundation book of the series, it helps you begin creating your Author Action Plan for when you can actually launch your own writing business.
Book 2: Learning the Writing Industry
Is it one you really want to join?
This book examines the writing industry itself. How much can you make as a writer? How do you find clients? What types of work would you be doing?
It's packed with resources to help you explore even more in depth and add to your Author Action Plan!
Book 3: Polishing Your Writing Skills
Your author's toolkit
Did diagramming sentences put you into a stupor in school? Has using acronyms on social media emptied your brain of all the traditional grammar rules?
Fear not! If you want to be a professional writer, you need to dust off and polish up those skills. This book will help you.
We'll examine the parts of speech and how to use them. You'll find this book useful as a reference to keep in your permanent author's library.
Coming soon!
Writing Business Exploration Guide
Preparing for a new career or a career transition
This book combines books 1-3 of the An Author's Guide to... series. It will be available in both e-book and print editions.
Coming soon!
Book 4: Writing a Business Plan
Your Blueprint for Success
Starting a writing business requires a solid foundation. Beginning that journey by writing a plan for your business will not only open up possibilities for funding, but charts for yourself a guide to running a successful, profitable venture.
This is not your hobby, it's a business! Know where you're going before you start.
Coming soon!
The Full Series
With 45 books in the full series, each focused on a specific aspect of founding and running a successful writing business, whatever type of writer you are, you'll find the help you need here. Build a solid reference library to support your own writing empire!
Most books are being released only as e-books. Longer installments and bundles will also have print editions.
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Planning for Self-Employment:
Do you hnave what it takes to be a full-time professional writer? -
Learning the Writing Industry:
Is it one you really want to join? -
Polishing Your Writing Skills:
Your author's toolkit -
Writing a Business Plan:
Your blueprint for success -
Founding Your Writing Business:
Preparing to open your doors -
A Writer's Professional Ethics:
Keeping your integrity intact -
Finding Your Niche:
How specialization can improve your bottom line -
Forming Virtual Partnerships:
Forging alliances with other creative professionals -
Financial Issues for Writers:
Staying out of the red -
Legal Issues for Writers:
Protecting your livelihood -
Branding Your Writing Business:
Establishing your professional identity -
Writing a Marketing Plan:
Your roadmap to success -
Personal Selling for Writers:
Turning your contacts into clients -
Book Publishing Options:
My, how the industry has changed! -
Polishing Your Image:
Putting your best foot forward -
Publicity for Writers:
How not to be a shrinking violet -
Digital Marketing for Writers:
Helping clients and readers find you -
Polishing Your Speaking Skills:
Conquering America's number one fear -
Networking for Writers:
Socializing for fun and profit -
Giving Back to the Community:
The many rewards of volunteerism -
Avoiding the Unscrupulous:
Mistakes and lessons on handling and avoiding the headaches -
Crafting an Immortal First Novel:
Keys to writing a book that will be studied by literature classes -
Government Contracting for Writers:
Navigating the bureaucracy of this potentially lucrative market -
Article Writing and Content Creation:
Why and how you should be doing them -
Copywriting:
One of the most valuable skills you can cultivate as a writer -
Communications Writing:
Publicity for clients...or for yourself -
Technical Writing:
Is it the right style for you? -
Ghostwriting:
Telling someone else's story -
Writing Books:
Fiction or nonfiction, for adults, teens, or children -
Editing:
Another revenue stream for writers -
Awards:
Gaining accoclades to improve your reputation and credibility -
Expanding Your Writing Business:
Is it time to take the next step? -
Finding Balance:
Juggling your work and everything else in life -
Naming Your Characters:
Adding meaning by choosing the right names -
Screenwriting and Playwriting:
Bringing your words to life -
Grantwriting:
Planning, researching, and writing to secure funding for... -
Managing Success:
Investing in your future -
Poetry and Songwriting:
Writing for eye and ear -
Planning for the Unforeseen:
Continuing your writing business in the face of disaster -
Technology for Writers:
Embracing the beasts, keeping up, and setting ethical boundaries -
Comics and Graphic Novels:
Pairing your words with illustrations -
News Writing:
Unbiased reporting in the digital age -
Game Writing:
Creating multiple possibilities in alternative realities -
Enhancing Characters With Personality Typing:
Adding dimensions and meaning -
Your Exit Strategy:
Putting down your quill for the last time
Several bundles of the books will also be released as both e-books and in print:
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Writing Business Exploration Guide
Includes books 1, 2, and 3 -
Writing Business Startup Guide
Includes books 1 through 5 -
Essential Writer's Reference Guides
Includes books 9, 10, and 40 -
Essential Marketing Skills for Writers
Includes books 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, and 17 -
Book Writer's Essentials
Includes books 14, 17, 22, 29, 34, 44 -
Advanced Business Skills Guide
Includes books 8, 21, 32, 37, 39, and 45
An Author's Guide to
Literary Genres,
Volume 1: Juvenile (Children's) Nonfiction
The ultimate guide to identifying your Juvenile Nonfiction book's correct literary genre!
Why You Need This Book
Are you a children's nonfiction book author who's struggled to find the correct literary genre for your books? It's important not only for marketing your book to the right people, but also if you plan to find a literary agent or publisher specializing in your genre.
Struggle no more! An Author's Guide to Literary Genres will give you all the information you need, including:
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The official BISAC categories and codes from the Book Industry Study Group, updated through 2022
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Definitions for each category describing the types of books found there
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Totals of ISBNs available at wholesale within each BISAC (at the date it was written)
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Sample titles in production for each BISAC
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Basic information on other book classification systems such as Bowker, Dewey, Library of Congress, Amazon, and Goodreads
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A handy Topic Index to give you options for different BISACs that may be appropriate for your book's topic, depending on what aspect of that topic your book addresses
Even professionals who work in the book industry will find much of value in this book: literary agents or publishers looking for ways to position a book properly so it will target the best audience for it can easily find what they're seeking in one place. Lynn has done all the legwork for you! Overseas publishers or those who are newer to the industry will find it especially useful.
Due to the great volume of information included in this book, Volume 1 is limited to books in the Juvenile Nonfiction area, covering books written for children ages birth to 11 years. Volume 2 will address Young Adult (ages 12-18) Nonfiction, and Volume 3 all the other (adult, in the sense of "written for grownups" not in the sense of "pornographic") Nonfiction genres. Volumes 4, 5, and 6 will address the same breakdowns of Fiction.
Want Lynn to Speak at your Writer's Conference?
Lynn is available to present workshops on literary genres, as well as on digital marketing for authors. Contact her for rates and availability.