Blog - News and Updates from the World of Ghostwriting and Self-publishing

You Wrote a Book! Why Do You Need an Editor?

Posted on July 7 2025 by Mark Graham

Dreamality – By Jason McKinney with Mark Graham Communications.

Did we hear you correctly? You finished writing your book? Congratulations!

Conventional wisdom is that for every 100 people who say they want to write a book, only three will actually finish it. Turns out that writing, even if you’re passionate about your subject matter, is hard work! If you’re among the elite 3%, give yourself a pat on the back.

However, the process doesn’t end there. Whether you choose to self-publish or seek an agent and traditional publisher, once you’ve revised the book to the best of your ability, the next advisable step is to hire an editor.

There are several key types of editors:

Developmental editor. This editor will work with you to identify large issues in your book that need to be addressed. The editor reads your book on a high level, looking for concerns around organization, pacing, storytelling, and (for fiction) characterization. A developmental editor then offers the writer suggestions for improvement, and the writer implements them. This type of edit is appropriate for writers who wish to improve their skills, generally with an eye toward writing subsequent books.
Content editor. A content editor performs the same sort of high-level review as a developmental editor. However, a content editor (with the client’s approval) implements the suggestions, rather than the writer implementing them. A content editor is a good choice for anyone who has written a book but might not have the time or desire to significantly advance their writing skills.
Line editor. This editor looks for issues regarding sentence structure, grammar, unintended point-of-view shifts (for fiction), and other mechanical issues. Addressing such issues tightens the book’s language on the paragraph and sentence level. A line editor is a good choice for a writer whose book is well structured and organized, but who wants to ensure the book’s grammar and mechanics are top-notch. Additionally, many developmental editors will provide line editing suggestions, giving the writer ideas for line edits the writer might do on their own. Many content editors include line editing as part of the project.
Copy editor. A copy editor has a strong eye for detail and is an expert at catching typos, inconsistencies, missing/inverted words, spelling errors not caught by a spellchecker, and other small errors. Regardless of which other editor(s) a writer uses, using a copy editor is essential as a final check. This ensures the manuscript is as close to perfect as possible before publication.

What type of editor do you need? It depends on your goals, writing skills, time commitment, and other factors. When determining your editorial needs, think carefully about what you want for the book and for yourself as an author. Particularly if this is your first book, it’s critical to begin building your credibility as an author by putting out a book that’s as high quality as possible.

It’s important to note that there are online tools available that perform editorial functions. While some of these can be beneficial as an initial check, they also come with risks, especially if they’re AI-based. AI tools are not as reliable as a professionally trained human mind and eye. Additionally, AI tools use the material fed to them to continue to build the tool’s knowledge base. This means that if you use an AI-based tool, you give the tool permission to use your material for AI training. Essentially, you are giving away your intellectual property for free—or, worse, at a cost to you, depending on the AI tool’s purchase price or usage fee.

If you’d like to discuss which editorial choice is right for you and your book, please reach out. We’d love to learn more about your book, and we look forward to helping ensure your manuscript is as professional as possible—well on its way to becoming a published book!

Crowdfunding for Aspiring Authors

Posted on June 16 2025 by Mark Graham

Forgotton Letters – By Kirk Raeber and Mario Acevedo with Mark Graham Communications.

“How can I afford it?”

It’s a question we hear from many aspiring authors who want to have a book ghostwritten or who have written a book that needs editing. Answering it opens a conversation to multiple possibilities.

First things first: the question that generally precedes this one—“How much does it cost?”—can only be answered based on length of book, complexity, amount and quality of existing material available to the ghostwriter/editor, desired production specs, and numerous other factors. To discuss your specific project and its projected costs, please get in touch with us. Once you have an estimate in hand for your book project, if you do not have the funds readily available, an excellent way to raise funds is to start a crowdfunding campaign.

What is crowdfunding? Simply put, crowdfunding is a way to raise funds by allowing individuals to donate at various levels. Using crowdfunding, your friends, family, and any other interested parties can help you realize your goal of writing and publishing a book.

There are numerous crowdfunding apps available. Among the most well-known are:

GoFundMe. Used not just for creative projects but also for personal needs, GoFundMe is a recognizable source that many in your circle might already be familiar with. Its name recognition alone can help donors feel comfortable giving toward your book project. You specify your desired goal, and while the project might not be funded 100% before the campaign ends, any percentage raised will help offset your costs.
Kickstarter. Often used by startups creating a new product or service, Kickstarter is also popular among writers, performing artists, and other creatives to fund a particular project. When you put your project on Kickstarter, you are required to specify a funding target. Donors promise to back you by whatever amount they want to contribute, but if you don’t reach your funding target, all donations are returned to the donors. This “all or nothing” approach can entice donors to increase their contributions.
Indiegogo. This app allows either of the above options: you can set a goal and keep whatever funds are raised toward the goal, or you can set a target but only receive the funds if the target is met. In either case, before any funds are transferred to you, a minimum (as of this writing, $500) must be raised.

Keep in mind that, like all reputable crowdfunding apps, all of the above apps charge a usage fee—generally a percentage of the donations received.

Several key elements can help make your crowdfunding campaign a success:

A well-described project. It’s important that potential donors understand exactly what you plan to do, as well as why it’s important. Make sure your description is sincere and thorough, but doesn’t go on longer than necessary. Photos, videos, and other visual elements can make the ask more appealing to donors.
Rewards. You can reward donors by offering a free copy of the finished book—or, alternatively, a “sneak peek” at the initial few chapters. You could also entice donors to participate by offering rewards such as an invitation to your book’s launch party, a homemade gift, and/or book swag.
Different donation levels. Small amounts add up. Don’t expect everyone to contribute significant funds. While some might, it’s vital that donors know that any amount they can contribute is greatly appreciated and will help you toward your goal.
Sharing. No one can donate to your crowdfunding campaign if they don’t know about it. Make sure to share your campaign widely via social media, email to family and friends, word-of-mouth, and any other method you have available to get the message out. Additionally, encourage those who donate to share the campaign with their networks. (Most crowdfunding apps automatically offer donors the option to share the campaign via social media.)

Turning your dream of becoming a published author into reality is closer than you think. If you’d like to discuss your book project, determine ballpark costs, and brainstorm ways to fund the project, please get in touch. We’d love to talk with you about how we—and your network—can help your creative vision become a book that’s ready to share with the world!

Carrying Multiple Products in Your Online “Store”

Posted on May 12 2025 by Mark Graham

The Aware Leader – collaboration with Richard Metheny and Mark Graham Communications

When going through the process of writing a book (whether on your own or with the help of a ghostwriter), it’s typical to consider writing the book the hardest part. While all authors have stories about how their book came to be, and for some authors such stories are fraught with more challenges than for others, a nearly-universal truth among authors is that once the book is written, gaining visibility for the book is equally if not more challenging than writing it.

However, this need not discourage anyone from writing a book. As discussed in the blog during the past few months, there are numerous ways to increase your book’s visibility: social media, direct emails, and reviews, among others. Another method—not as frequently mentioned but often extremely effective—is to write and publish another book as soon as possible.

Traditional publishers know this. It’s one of the reasons why when an author signs a contract with a traditional publisher, in most cases the author is contractually obligated to provide the publisher with their next book (their “option book”) before the author can shop that book to other publishers. In other cases, publishers will ask authors to sign multiple-book deals, obligating the author to write their next book quickly, so the publisher can get it to market.

Why do publishers do this? It’s because they know that Amazon and other online retailers give more visibility to authors who have multiple books to sell. The math is simple: the more products available when readers seek out a particular author, the more likely they are to buy more than one product—which benefits both the retailer and the author.

Think of it like a store. If you walked into a store and there was only one product on the shelf, would you buy it? In all likelihood, you would only do so if you needed that exact item. Otherwise, you’d probably walk out without making a purchase.

However, in a store full of products, consumers are much more likely to browse until they find something they like. If all the products are in one place—i.e., if the author has a well-stocked online “store”—then customers are much more likely to spend their money there. Because of this, Amazon’s algorithms are designed to provide higher visibility to authors with higher numbers of books to sell.

Additionally, multiple books in an author’s “store” give the author more credibility. We are programmed to believe that those who produce the most also have the most expertise, creativity, and/or other characteristics we find appealing. We’re drawn to the spectrum of products offered, and we’re impressed by those with a wide variety of offerings.

There are several ways you can work this scenario to your advantage:

Write a sequel. If your story is conducive to a second act, write the follow-up book and add it as soon as possible to your online “store.”
Write a series. Book series are extremely popular. Once readers discover a series they enjoy, they’re likely to read all the titles in that series.
Write companion books. For example, you might create a workbook to accompany your self-help book. If you wrote a business book, you could write companion books geared toward specific industries. For memoir, if your story is appropriate for other ages, you might write a young adult or middle grade version of the book, or a related story geared toward readers of a different age.

As you consider all the possibilities, remember that nothing sells more copies than high-quality writing that truly engages its target audience. Whether it’s your first book, your fifth, or more, if you need editing or ghostwriting help, please get in touch. We’d love to learn more about your ideas and help you stock your “store” as quickly as possible!

The Importance of Reviews – and How to Get Them

Posted on April 4 2025 by Mark Graham

Veracity is a collaboration between Lori Tucker and Mark Graham Communications.

“Read any good books lately?”

You’ve probably both asked and answered this question. It’s human nature to garner the opinions of those we respect—whether asking about prospects in your chosen career path, if a particular stock looks promising, or even whether your instincts about that new special someone in your life are spot-on (or not).

For readers, choosing their next great read is no different. For this reason, it’s vital that authors ensure people are recommending their book. But if you’re a new author and/or have a new book out, how do you get these recommendations?

The key is book reviews. There are two types of book reviews, both of which can be instrumental to a book’s success:

Trade reviews from members of the media and/or professional organizations that review books
Consumer reviews from everyday readers

It’s a good idea to start with trade reviews, because the media and trade publications usually require several months to review a book. These groups accept a pre-publication version of your book for review. This is usually a PDF, epub (i.e., ebook) file, or a printed advance review copy (ARC). Once your book receives a glowing trade review, it can be posted to your website, your book’s Amazon page, and other areas, giving the book credibility and generating excitement before the book is available to the public.

If you’re traditionally published, the publicist at your publishing house will often work to get trade reviews for your book. If you’re self-published or your publishing house has no in-house publicist, you can:

Reach out directly to any media contacts you have
Pay for trade reviews from review sites such as Kirkus, Booklife, and Midwest Book Review
Hire an outside publicist to solicit trade reviews on your behalf

The above options are listed from the most economical to (in general) the most expensive. The options you choose will depend on your budget and time constraints, the connections you currently have, and how wide you want your publicity to go.

Consumer reviews are posted by “regular folks” giving their opinion about the book. Like trade reviews, consumer reviews can increase your book’s credibility and hype. Consumer review sites include (among others):

Book purchasing sites such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble also allow consumers to leave reviews. Some sites (such as Amazon) don’t allow consumer reviews until the book’s publication date. Others allow pre-publication consumer reviews.

It may seem logical to start by asking family and friends to post consumer reviews. However, this can backfire if your loved ones don’t usually read in your genre. Review sites’ algorithms consider what other books a consumer has reviewed. If a consumer posts a review that’s outside their normal reading habits, it can cause your book to show up in the wrong searches. Therefore, if you do ask family and friends, ensure you only ask those who read in your genre.

So how do you find consumer reviewers, outside of your own circle, who read in your genre? A well-established resource is NetGalley, where you can post a pre-publication epub file and make it available for review to anyone who uses the NetGalley site. NetGalley provides you with data about a requesting reviewer, such as other books they’ve read and their review rate, allowing you to determine if the reviewer is a good match for your book. Using this data, you can accept or decline any request for your book. Similar sites to NetGalley are Booksirens and Booksprout.

As discussed in the blog during the past few months, getting the word out about your finished book is a large task, with multiple components. The first step, however, is writing a compelling book that audiences want to read. If you need ghostwriting or editing assistance, please get in touch. We’d love to help you start your journey toward authoring a book that garners rave reviews!

Building and Using a Mailing List to Promote Your Book

Posted on March 11 2025 by Mark Graham

From Utopia To the American Dream is a collaboration between John Czingula and Mark Graham Communications.

As mentioned last month when we discussed using social media for book promotion, it’s important to note the fluctuating nature of social media platforms. While social media provides ample opportunity for connection, these ever-evolving platforms are subject to change without notice.
In contrast, an email newsletter that you send directly to your own subscribers cannot be modified or deleted by the whims of a corporation. Your email newsletter is controlled only by you and any limitations of the platform you use for creating it.

An email newsletter has several key advantages:

Direct contact. Unlike social media posts, which many of your followers might never see, your newsletter arrives directly in subscribers’ inboxes. If a subscriber infrequently opens your emailed newsletters, their email provider might begin sorting them into the subscriber’s “promotions” folder rather than their inbox. You can minimize this by ensuring your content is engaging and relevant, leading to a higher open rate.
List ownership. Your subscriber list can only be decreased by subscribers themselves (if they choose to unsubscribe) or by you (for example, you might periodically remove subscribers who have never opened any of your emails). As a precaution, regularly download your list from your newsletter platform and store it securely.
Style and content relevance. You create your newsletter content, and thus you control its relevance. You might choose a theme for each newsletter and include several short pieces related to that theme. Or you could provide subscribers with advice and insights related to your book, as well as updates about the book, your public appearances, and so on. Most newsletter platforms allow you to add photos and videos, and many provide templates to help you control the look and feel of the newsletter.

If you’re considering the idea of a newsletter to help promote your book, here are some tips:

Subscribe to other authors’ newsletters. By seeing how other authors (particularly those in your genre) are writing and designing their newsletters, you will be inspired with ideas for your own newsletter. These subscriptions can also help you evaluate various newsletter platforms to choose the one that best fits your needs.
Remember that subscribers must opt in. Virtually all newsletter platforms, as well as most email servers, require subscribers to opt into your newsletter. Never add subscribers to your list who have not agreed to be on it.
Collect emails at every opportunity. The sooner you begin collecting emails, the more subscribers you’ll have when you send your first newsletter. To get started, you might send an email to family and friends, letting them know what you’re planning and asking if you can include them on your list. Additionally, collect emails via your website, mention the newsletter in your social media (and provide a signup link), and set out a signup sheet at every public appearance for your book.
Provide a subscriber magnet. As incentive, many authors offer an article, chapter, or other exclusive material to those who sign up for the newsletter.
Create an editorial calendar. To help you get started, plan out the first 6 – 12 months of newsletters. Many authors send one newsletter per month, but you may send yours more or less frequently. Even if your plans change over time, having an initial editorial calendar will help generate ideas and get the creativity flowing each time you sit down to write a newsletter.
Provide a feedback mechanism. Whether it’s a comments section (which some newsletter platforms provide automatically) and/or email, make sure subscribers know how to reach you to comment or ask questions. Any time a subscriber reaches out, respond to them promptly and thoughtfully.

A newsletter is a fun, interactive, author-controlled tool for connecting with readers. As you build you list and generate excitement, you’ll want to ensure you have a quality book (or books) available for eager readers. If you need help getting your manuscript ready for publication, please contact us. We’d love to talk with you about your book and your outreach goals!

Using Social Media to Promote Your Book

Posted on February 10 2025 by Mark Graham

Soul Tracker is a collaboration between Nicholas Crabtree and Mark Graham Communications.

Last month on the blog, we talked about the basics of book promotion, including the three main promotional arms: publicity, self-generated promotion, and marketing. Let’s take a closer look at one very popular area of self-generated promotion: social media.

Without a doubt, social media is a powerful tool for connection. Whether you’re currently on social media for personal connection, promoting a business/service, or both, chances are you’re using at least one of the many social media platforms available today.

If you decide to use social media for book promotion, it’s important to take note of the fluctuating nature of this environment. Currently popular social media apps include (among others) TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and X. There is no guarantee that any of these will continue to be available. These tools are constantly in flux due to external forces such as policies and regulations, decisions made by social media companies and their owners, and other factors. Additionally, social media platforms wax and wane in overall popularity, as well as popularity within particular audiences or groups.

In such a rapidly changing environment, how do you decide where to place your social media focus? Consider the following:

Audience. As discussed last month, understanding your target audience and knowing where they go for information and entertainment is key. Carefully analyze the ways in which your ideal readers are engaging online. Where are they most likely to comment and connect with each other and with you as an author?
Your preferences. Where do you like to connect with others? If social media feels like a chore, you will be less likely to stay engaged and active. Think about the type of content you like to read, view, and/or listen to. If you enjoy taking in a particular type of content, you’re also more likely to enjoy creating that type of content.
Relationships. Think of social media not as a platform for endless promotion of your book, but rather as a pathway to create meaningful relationships with your audience. Where will you be able to have discussions that help your audience get to know you, and vice versa? What value can you provide to the audience that goes beyond simply asking them to buy your book?

Whatever social media platforms you decide to use, there are several key factors to consider when you post. First and foremost, be careful what you post. Provide enough personal content for your audience to get to know you, but make sure to protect your privacy by never disclosing sensitive personal information. Secondly, ensure your posts are relevant and engaging. Readers are more likely to comment on a post about your process of writing the book, for example, than one that consists only of purchase links for the book. Finally, consider engaging on more than one platform. As many TikTok users discovered recently, social media platforms can be removed (and restored) without notice. While you don’t need to overdo it, being active on more than one platform ensures that you do not put all your social media eggs in a single basket.

Social media can be a fun and useful tool for authors. If you need help ensuring your book’s content and production are top-notch before you start talking about it on social media, our team of ghostwriters, editors, and production staff can help. Please get in touch to talk with us about your book—so you can begin talking about it via social media as soon as possible!

Book Promotion Basics

Posted on January 7 2025 by Mark Graham

The Art of Spies – collaboration with Robert E. O’Connell III and Mark Graham Communications

Deciding you want to write a book might feel daunting. Getting an idea from your head onto the page, in a completed book form, requires time and dedication. Nonetheless, there’s a level of excitement for both seasoned and aspiring authors who have a story to tell, whether fiction or nonfiction. However, once the book is written, the next step of the process can overwhelm any author: promoting your book.

Given the choice, most authors would rather write than promote. But the reality is, no one can read your book if they don’t know about it. Ideally, over time, many potential readers will learn about your book from other readers. However, building initial interest and sustaining that interest for a widening base of readers are tasks that fall primarily to the author, whether traditionally or self-published.

So how do you let people know about your book? Here are some basics:

Publicity. Promotion that you don’t pay for, including interviews, podcasts, articles, blog posts, and any other mention of your book from a source whom you have not paid for their services.
Self-generated Promotion. Social media, website, newsletter, speaking engagements, videos, and any other area where you personally talk about your book. Self-generated promotion differs from publicity in that you (rather than someone else) are the source of the information. Additionally, while some self-generated promotion is free, other areas have inherent costs built in, such as the costs to set up and maintain a website.
Marketing. Promotion that you pay for, including advertising, paid reviews, book giveaways, swag, blog tours, book trailers, costs associated with a book launch event, and more.

While the above list is not exhaustive, it provides a basic overview of options. Most book launch campaigns include a combination of publicity, self-generated promotion, and marketing.

So how do you decide which strategies are right for your book? First and foremost, it’s vital to understand your target audience. No book is right for every reader, and the more you focus your promotional efforts on reaching the potential readers who are most likely to pick up your book and read it cover to cover, the more effective your promotional strategies will be.

To help you determine your target audience, make a list of successful books that are similar to yours. Do not let yourself go down a path of thinking your book is like no other. While your book inevitably has unique qualities and attributes (as all books do), your goal should be to reach readers who are already interested in your genre or topic. Don’t think of such books as competition, but rather as a conduit to reaching readers who are hungry for further reading material in your genre or on your topic.

The books you come up with on this list are your comparative titles, or “comps.” Once you have a list of comps, think about the type of readers who are interested in these books. What qualities do these readers share? How are the authors of your comps reaching their readers? Follow these authors on social media, subscribe to their newsletters, and observe any paid marketing being done on behalf of the author or book.

While promotion might feel daunting, the sooner you begin thinking about your target audience and promotional strategies, the easier and more natural the process will be.

Keep in mind that your most important promotional material is your book itself. Writing and producing a high-quality book is the first step. If you need help, our team of ghostwriters and editors can assist you in ensuring your fiction or nonfiction book is the best it can be. If you’d like to learn more, please get in touch. We look forward to helping you get your book into the hands of your target audience as soon as possible!

Your Story: Memoir or Autobiography (And What’s the Difference?)

Posted on December 26 2024 by Mark Graham

The End of 1 – collaboration with Chris Reese and Mark Graham Communications

We’re frequently asked by potential clients if we can help them write about their own lives. The answer is always yes, but we follow up by asking the client to explain a bit about the story they want to tell. Why do we ask this? It’s because the client’s response gives us a sense of whether the client is considering writing a memoir or autobiography.

If you’re unsure of the difference, it’s fairly simple. An autobiography is a book about the full spectrum of your life, from birth to the present time. It includes key events, family members and other important people in your life, anecdotes, and the details that add color to the story, particularly if you grew up in an era unlike our current times. A memoir, in contrast, is about a specific theme, event, or aspect of your life. A memoir might be about your recovery from a serious illness, for example, or your quest to discover clues about your heritage. It could be about a perilous adventure you had, or what you learned when you went on a life-changing trip.

How do you decide which type of book to write? Consider the following:

Audience. Who is the book for? If the book is primarily for family and friends, with the goal of providing them access to your story when you’re no longer here to tell it, you’ll likely want them to know your life story from birth onward. In this case, an autobiography is the way to go. On the other hand, if you want to share what you’ve learned based on something specific that happened to you, and your goal is to reach a wider audience who would benefit from hearing that story, memoir is the more appropriate form.
Marketability. Related to the above, most autobiographies, unless you’re a celebrity or notable public figure, are likely of most interest to those who know the subject of the autobiography. While it’s certainly possible to market your autobiography to a wider audience, general readers tend to be more interested in the specific, relatable stories and lessons found in a memoir than they are in the life-to-present-day story of someone they do not know.
Length. While some memoirs are lengthy due to complex subject matter, most memoirs range from 60,000 to 80,000 words (about 220 to 300 pages). Depending on how much you want to share, your autobiography can be much longer, much shorter, or around that same length. If your goal is mostly to share your life story with loved ones, you are not as limited by length conventions in autobiography as you are in memoir.

It’s worth noting that while autobiographies about the “man or woman on the street” generally do not turn into runaway bestsellers, there is no reason not to share your autobiography with a wider audience if you so choose. Self-publishing a high-quality book has never been easier than it is today, and if you’re comfortable with the idea of a wider audience reading your life story, there is no harm in publishing the book on Amazon and other online sites for anyone who chooses to purchase a copy. Our team of designers and publishing experts can help you with all aspects of turning your manuscript into a quality book.

But first, the book must be written! If you’ve started writing your story but aren’t sure how to finish it—or if you have ideas about what you want to say but need help writing the book from start to finish—our team of expert ghostwriters and editors is here to help. Please reach out so we can begin a conversation about your book. Before you know it, you will be holding a copy of your memoir or autobiography in your hands.

Writing for Youth: Becoming a Middle Grade or Young Adult Author

Posted on November 13 2024 by Mark Graham

Spark – collaboration with Dr. Greg Ayers and Mark Graham Communications

Last month on the blog, we talked about genre fiction, particularly the popular genres of romance, mystery, and fantasy. As suggested, if you want to write a novel but are unsure what type of story interests you, writing in a genre that you also love to read can be a good option for breaking in.

Another avenue to explore is writing for middle grade and young adult readers. Source material often flows naturally from your own experience or that of children and teens in your life. Within these popular categories, readers—as well as their parents, caregivers, teachers, and librarians—are frequently on the lookout for fresh material from new-to-them authors. Additionally, in both categories, series are popular, which opens the door for authoring multiple books.

How are middle grade and young adult readers defined?

Middle grade (MG) is considered appropriate for children ages 8 to 12 who are reading on grade level. Middle grade readers have moved beyond picture books and brief, picture-based books designed to teach children basic reading skills. At middle grade, children are reading independently and are eager for chapter books that follow a simple but compelling plot featuring memorable characters who are around the same age as the reader, up to pre-teen (age 12).
Young adult (YA) books, by contrast, are geared toward readers ages 12 to 18. Because this is a wide range in both reader ability and experience, there are subcategories within young adult, such as teen fiction (geared toward the younger teen, age 12 to 14). Young adult fiction addresses more complex themes such as identity, relationships, and independence.

Both the middle grade and young adult categories encompass nonfiction as well as fiction. Biography and history are common nonfiction topics in both categories. It’s also worth noting that some adults enjoy reading young adult fiction and nonfiction.

If you have a great idea for a middle grade or young adult book—an experience from your past that would make a compelling tale, a fascinating subject in which you have expertise, or a story concept you’ve come up with—how do you turn your idea into the reality of a book?

Here are some tips:

Study the market. Read books in your desired category (middle grade or young adult) and genre (fiction or nonfiction). Become familiar not only with the classics but also with newer books and authors who are popular with your target audience.
Write down your ideas for the book. You don’t necessarily need to outline the entire book, but having a roadmap of what you want to say is helpful when you begin the project.
Keep in mind length. Middle grade novels are usually about 20,000 to 25,000 words, while young adult novels are 40,000 to 80,000 words. To maximize your book’s commercial appeal, aim for a word count within these standard ranges.
Work with professionals. If the ideas are flowing but you’re not in a position to write (or complete) your book, consider a ghostwriter or editor. A ghostwriter will study your basic concept, interview you thoroughly about your ideas, and write the book from start to finish. An editor will take the draft you’ve written of your book and work with you to polish it until it’s ready for publication.

Writing for young people can be exciting, invigorating, and provide a refreshing break from the pace of adult life. Once your book or series is out in the world, connecting with youth and knowing you’re helping to foster a new generation of readers are among the most rewarding aspects of the process.

If you’re ready to begin, please get in touch. We’d love to hear your ideas and help you get your middle grade or young adult book into the hands of eager readers!

Break Into Publishing Via Genre Fiction

Posted on October 7 2024 by Mark Graham

The Eyes of the Moose – collaboration with David Ranking Johnson and Mark Graham Communications

If you want to be a published writer but you’re not sure what you want to write, a logical question might be, “What type of book is the easiest to get published?” While there’s no definitive answer to this question, there are certain genres that tend to be perennial favorites with the reading public. Among these are genre fiction categories such as romance, mystery, and fantasy.

What makes a book qualify as genre fiction? A novel that fits into a particular genre follows the norms of that genre. For example, readers of romance novels expect the story to center on an amorous relationship between two people. Generally, the two characters meet and there’s a romantic spark, but there are also conflicts. By definition, romance includes an “HEA,” or “happily ever after” ending, in which the couple finds a way to overcome their conflicts and be together. Within this genre, there are subgenres such as LGBTQ+ romance, historical romance, and so on. The same sort of pattern can be found for mystery novels (and their subgenres), fantasy and subgenres, and so on.

If you’re considering genre fiction as a way to break into publishing, it’s important to take the following into consideration:

Write what you like to read. The majority of fiction writers also read a lot of fiction, and often they gravitate toward particular genres. Consider what draws you in when you select a book to read. What types of stories keep you turning the pages late into the night? Because you’ll be bringing your passion and enthusiasm to the project, what interests you most as a reader is also the genre in which you’re likely to produce your best book.
Study the genre extensively. Select a variety of authors, both well-known and emerging, and read their books with a critical eye. What did you like? What didn’t work for you? If you’d written the story, what elements might you change?
Consider a series. What makes many genre fiction books successful is that they’re part of a series. Once readers discover a series that they enjoy, they’re likely to pick up the other books in that series, too. Every book in your series doesn’t necessarily need to be about the same characters, but the books should be tied by theme, location, time period, or other unifying factors.
Plan for marketing. Writing a book (or a series) is only one piece of the puzzle. Once the first book is written, you’ll need to get the word out about the book using a combination of techniques (advertising, word-of-mouth, publicity, and so on). You will also need a compelling cover design that fits the mood of the genre, as well as expertly produced interior pages.

The first step is to get the book written! If you’re inspired, there’s no time like now to begin. If you have ideas but you’re not sure how to get started, please get in touch. We can help you brainstorm your ideas for your genre book or series, then partner you with a ghostwriter or editor to help write or polish the manuscript. After the manuscript is complete, our marketing team will be ready to assist you with getting your first professionally written, edited, and produced novel into the world.

At that point, congratulations are in order—you will have officially broken in as a published author!