​While you should rightfully celebrate this amazing accomplishment, it is also a good time to mentally prepare for the final leg of the race here. You should now focus on self publishing your book to get it out to the masses. 

​Self publishing entails doing all the work that a regular publishing house does. In short, you have to edit and format the content, design the cover as well as the marketing and pricing of the book. Self publishing can be challenging, particularly for newbies but with the help of the following tips, you can make things easier for yourself.

This might be the second step but it is extremely important. A good cover can entice readers as well as reflect the message of the story without giving away spoilers. Having a cover that does all that is necessary. Remember, we all judge a book by its cover, so make sure you have a great one!

​Self publishing can be done through traditional print or in a digital format. Either format comes with a number of different challenges that need to be considered. Traditional print also tends to be more expensive to self publish and sell so it is a good idea to think about your available budget. 

​Once you have decided the format, you need to pick the marketplace you are going to release your book on. Amazon, Apple and even Google offer online libraries but you can also monitor the reading habits of your target market. Younger readers are more comfortable with eBooks they can read on their Kindle or tablets. Older readers still tend to prefer traditional print books.

​Always focus on the fine details when you are self publishing. Often these are the very same details that a publishing house would be managing. However, since you are self publishing, you are responsible for them. These include the layout of the page, knowing fictional and non-fictional book formats, adding images, picking the type of paper to print on, getting an ISBN number and more.

​Make sure that you are 100% certain that you hold the rights to your book. Always ensure that you have full ownership of your ISBN number, your book as well as the cover unless otherwise specified. This ensures that should your book become a best-seller, you won’t suddenly be inundated with lawsuits or pending payments from its shares. 

You may also want to check out a great article from The Self-Publishing School, which gives you some valuable tips on social media for indie authors, you can see the full article here on social media for writers and authors.

​Whether you are trying to get published or reviewing someone else’s work, knowing how to edit plays a huge role in how well the content is received. If you have to edit a book, it might seem very daunting and time consuming. To make things simpler, here’s a short guide on how to do it the easy way:

​It can be very difficult to edit a book in one go. This makes it more likely for you to miss out on the errors. A good idea is to go by chapters when you are editing. You can also pay attention to other factors such as the outline of the story, scene setting, sentence structure and other factors. By editing in chunks you are more likely to pick up on any discrepancies in how the story flows.

​Once you have made the edits, don’t be so quick to turn in the book. Take a break for half an hour and then go to the start of the document. Re-read your edits to make sure that the changes you have made, add to the story. You might be removing redundant words or making sentences brief and readable but make sure that the plot or storyline doesn’t get sidetracked when you do so.

​When you are editing, don’t just look at the spelling and grammar. Look at the story at large and ask yourself a few questions. Don’t know what to ask? The following can be a rough questionnaire for you to use:

​It’s a good idea to ask someone else to edit your work or re-read your edits. Many writers face difficulty in knowing what to cut out or what to keep. With an outsider’s perspective, they get a more objective outlook on the content and the mistakes in it. 

​Many writers have a problem with social media. Either they are using it too much or not enough. Finding the right balance is essential as it plays an important role in how you communicate with your readers/audience. To make things simpler for you, we have four simple social media tips for aspiring writers:

1.     Pick the Right PlatformsYou don’t have to use all the social media platforms. Just pick the ones you are most comfortable with. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are a must whereas Instagram and Snapchat can be more optional. Twitter, in particular, can be crucial for networking, socializing and building a target market and improving interaction and awareness of your book.

2.     Create a ConversationFocus on improving engagement by trying to create real conversations. Ask questions, be thoughtful and interact with your target audience in a manner that will create and instigate loyalty. Share content related to an interesting topic that can click well with your followers. Memes and puns and jokes are also a great way to create a good conversation and healthy interaction.

3.     Avoid a Promotional AuraDon’t just keep talking about your work on social media. It can be very promotional and off-putting to others and might decrease interest in your work. A good idea is to follow a ratio of 80:20 in your content. At least 80% of the content you share can be related to your industry, genre, writing tips or more. Around 20% can be related to your work. This keeps a good balance and ensures you aren’t going too overboard in the start. Once you understand your target audience, you can change the ratios to suit you.

4.     Good Examples of Writers on Social MediaIt is a good idea to look at different examples of writers on social media. Looking at how they interact can give you a better idea on how to interact on social media. The following are a few good examples:

• Stephen King – He often posts about his dog and other areas of his life which are equally as interesting as his books.
• George R.R. Martin – Fans actually find it exasperating to see him post anything that is not related to his books. Everyone is really waiting on the last one to hit bookshelves.

While they are renowned authors who have best sellers, they are also from a time when using social media was not the norm. Over time, they have carefully curated their social media presence to garner a large array of followers.

Writer’s block happens to the best of us and it can be very frustrating to deal with. While many writers often assume that it will go away on its own, some writers have experienced weeks or even days when all their work feels insufficient. To tackle the problem, you have to consider the cause and several other factors. Some of these include:
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• Time Limits – This is the most common cause and can prolong the writer’s block as well. The more you think about the time limits, the more anxious you will become.
• Fears – Every writer has a fear of getting negative critique. Writing can be a very personal experience for some and the fear of being judged on their work can cause ideas to dry up.
• Perfectionism – Striving for the perfect phrases, sentences, words and more can be a taxing process. It can leave you feeling depleted and stunt the progress you are making.
• Routine Boredom – When you write so frequently, it can cause you to become bored or you have used up all your ideas. Try as you might, it can be hard to be creative when you feel stuck in the routine.
• Following a Format – Many writers believe in writing in a format. First comes the beginning, the middle and the end. Any other format might feel odd, unfamiliar or restrictive. 

All these scenarios and more can contribute to causing writer’s block in a person. Some writers can become absolutely miserable and start to procrastinate or refuse to write until the block disappears. However, it won’t go away on its own. The following are a few ways you can overcome writer’s block with ease.
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• Write whatever comes to mind - What do you do when you have the middle but can’t work out how to write without the end or the beginning of the piece? You write it down and build the story around it.
• Take a Break – Go for a walk, exercise or talk to someone. Use this as an opportunity to let your creative side rest. When you go back to the writing table, you feel better.
• Change of Environment – If you cannot write in your bedroom, change the environment and head to the living room. If you need to, head out to a café or the local library to get a better writing environment.
• Know that It’s Okay – Even the bestselling authors experience writer’s block from time to time. Acknowledge that it is alright and don’t beat yourself up about. Progress might be slow but fans of your work will be patient and understanding too. Just look at George R.R. Martin as an example.