The Busy Writer's Book of Checklists by Marg McAlister Read Free Book Online Page B

e-publishing
with (for example) Amazon, you may have to pay nothing at all if you do the
formatting and cover design yourself.
    #  Check the publisher’s reputation.
Ask in forums or do an online search [PUBLISHER’S NAME + SCAM]. If the
publisher has been accused of running a scam it will probably show up
somewhere.
    #  When you are satisfied that you have
found the right publisher for you, set up a plan for either submitting to that
publisher or publishing your book yourself.   

Checklist 22 – Writing a Synopsis
    You may not need to worry about writing a
synopsis if you are publishing your own book. However, most authors use various
forms of a synopsis to help promote or sell their books. Some authors use a
'working synopsis' as an aid to plotting: this kind of synopsis changes as the
story develops. Basically, a synopsis is a summary of your book, in the TONE of
your book.
    #  Do you tell the whole story in an
entertaining way? (A synopsis is a sales tool as well as a story summary.)
    #  Does the tone of the synopsis reflect
the tone of your book?
    #  Does the opening paragraph hook the
reader and immediately interest him/her in the story?
    #  Have you included the ending? (A
synopsis is not the same as a book blurb, which 'hooks' the reader without
giving away the main plot points or the ending.)
    #  Do you clearly identify the lead
character(s) and what their goals/problems are?
    #  Will the reader relate to your
characters and want to read their story?
    #  Does each paragraph flow logically
and entertainingly to the next?
    #  Have you hit the high points of the
story, showing the main scenes and major conflicts, without getting lost in the
minor plot points?
    #  Does the reader have an overall
sense of how everything unfolds and how everything is resolved - or has something
vital been left out?
    #  Have you written your entire
synopsis in the present tense?
    #  Have you checked your synopsis to
ensure there are not mistakes with spelling, grammar and punctuation?
    #  Have you used paragraphs
effectively? (No large, dense chunks of text!)
    #  Have you avoided all grammar,
spelling, and punctuation mistakes?
    #  Have you written your synopsis in
different lengths, ready for different purposes? (You may be sending your
synopsis to different people for different reasons - when you want them to read
a review copy, arrange a radio interview, etc. Practice writing a synopsis in
these lengths: half a page, one page, two pages.)

Checklist 23 – Publishing on
Kindle
    Check the Kindle Direct Publishing site
(KDP) regularly for any changes in policy, upload instructions, etc. Use the
checklist below as a guide, and update when necessary.
    #  When your story is finished
(including the final edit and polish) format it ready to upload to Kindle. Keep
formatting simple. Avoid bulleted lists, headers, footers, page numbers or
fancy fonts.
    #  Use Word Styles and use Heading 1
for chapter titles, Heading 2 for sub-titles and Heading 3 for sub-sub titles.
You can use 'indent' for a list, but indent it only a few characters (Change
this in the Word settings; don't just hit the space bar.)
    #  If necessary, do some online
training/research on the Microsoft site to learn how to use Styles.
    #  Create or commission the cover for
your book. Make sure your book has a professional cover! (Take a look on
Amazon's bestseller list to see what you're up against.)
    #  Use page breaks, not hard returns.
Start each chapter on a new page. (You can refer to the Microsoft site to learn
how to include a page break with a Heading 1 style.)
    #  If you include links (URLs) add
hyperlinks to make them clickable. (Highlight the text you want linked, click
Insert >> Hyperlink.)
    #  Insert a TOC (Table of Contents)
based on your header styles. The TOC will then include all your chapter
headings.
    #  Do a final save as both .doc (not .docx)
and as an .html file (save as Web Page, Filtered.)
    #  Download Mobipocket creator