From Bookshelf to Best Seller!

Well, it's the end of the year in which I became an author, so it's only fair I share with you how my book fared when it reached the virtual bookshelves of the web. 


It's done rather well for itself! In the first place, when I was selling direct to the public without the help of Amazon, it covered its costs ... then went into (dare one even hope for such a thing with a first novel?) ... profit! Took two weeks to become profitable. Considering that most first novels don't even earn out their author's advances, I was rather chuffed with that.

Once it was in profit, I thought there was nothing to lose by uploading it to Amazon. Within a short while, it was on best seller lists for new releases in both the US and UK ... ahead of books published by big name publishers! The next step was to see whether or not I earned myself any reviews. A nervous wait.


Sure enough, reviews arrived. My book went on to become one of the top 20 best reviewed novels in its genre on Kindle in the UK. 


If you've read it and would like to add to the reviews, please do! http://amzn.to/rebeccaw is the UK link and http://amzn.to/palaces-and-calluses is the US link.


Meanwhile, I've been tapping away at a keyboard all year, writing my column for Writing Magazine. Yep... they decided to turn a few articles into an ongoing arrangement. Guess what? The Word Nerd Army did that wonderful thing that the Word Nerd Army does and blooming well supported me. Not only that, but they got hooked on the magazine (because it's awesome) and ... long story short ... it was selling out, so they had to make an app version of it to keep up with demand. Woohoo! 


Aside from that, I've been obsessive about learning marketing this year. Ob-sessss-ive. I've stayed up until 4am to listen to training calls from the US. Why? Because we all have to take responsibility for our own books and publicity now. Even if we're signed by major publishers, marketing is still our responsibility to a large extent. I've been through all the different methods, and sifted through endless sites and reports, so I could find the best solutions for authors. I'm going to put a course together to help other Word Nerds grab the reins and take control of their marketing and sales.


Another thing I've researched is ways that writers can earn money alongside their writing (the kinds of things that will fit around a novelist's need for time with the muse). Now, I'm pulling everything together, packaging it up, and I'm planning to help lots of aspiring authors in 2012. For more on that, see my official site (yep, I've finally gone all WordPress) join-rebecca.com

From Bookshelf to Best Seller!

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Word Nerd Gifts. Check Out My Shop!

Only another couple of pay days until Christmas. Can you believe it? Now's the time to buy your pressies, and drop big hints about what you want. To help you with both, I've been a bit busy at my virtual kitchen table building a Word Nerd Gift Shop. Check it out and leave your thoughts below. Hope you like it! 

The shop has a home behind the Word Nerd Gift Shop tab above. The UK version is http://zazzle.co.uk/wordnerdarmy* The US version is http://zazzle.com/wordnerdarmy* - and it looks as if the US postal service has approved my stamp!!! The Facebook version is http://bit.ly/wordnerdgifts .

Word Nerd Gifts. Check Out My Shop!

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Publish Now! (If You Are 1 of the Lucky 45)

I found something beautiful. A new magazine for word nerds. Publish Now! I turned the pages and almost gasped with joy. Here was a magazine that looked forward and plotted out the future of books. Self-publishing was at its core. 

Anyone with an eye to the digital ground will know of Seth Godin's recent comments about traditional publishing. The time is absolutely right for this publication. I hear there are even plans to produce a digital version too! This first print issue looks likely to become a collector's edition. I was so impressed with it that I phoned the editor. He told me there are only 45 left, and asked if my word nerd followers would be interested in this kind of magazine. Uh... YEAH! This is like a Word Nerd Army survival guide! Whatever kind of publishing you hope to secure, you need to be fully educated about all the options. Guys, grab this while you can. Let's all get published before this time next year. What do you say? Find out more here.

Publish Now! (If You Are 1 of the Lucky 45)

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The Smiley Face of Publication - Update

This is what I raised. Thanks guys. 

Thanks so much to everyone who took part in my funding project over the last couple of weeks. It wasn't quite enough to get me to my target - but I'm very near it now. If you didn't help, but would like to, go along to http://bit.ly/writersandreaders - every penny helps get me closer to publication.

As I didn't quite reach my target, it throws off my timing again. I may also have to reconsider what I had planned to offer. My first run of books will need to fund any further publication, so I may just release an e-book to Kindle first time around. That way, I can monitor demand for other formats and launch those that make the most sense. It seems the most intelligent approach. I may even release only on Kindle, but run competitions where I release only 5 or 10 in another format. There's stacks of different ways to approach it. The better funded I am, the more options I have. The first book is where all the set up fees go. Once this book is out in the world, it's plain sailing for books two, three and four.


Rebecca

The Smiley Face of Publication - Update

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What if Writers and Readers Worked Together?

Q/ Is is possible to be an authorpreneur if you are not wealthy?
Q/ Do readers love books enough to fund writers without receiving anything in return?


A/ Check this out. The contributors have been clear that they also intend to buy the book.


This is the smiley face of modern publication.

A couple of weeks ago

About a week ago

Today

There is still a little way to go. If you want to join in, there is a donation button under the vid. THANK YOU.

A little vid for the Word Nerd Army - my supporters and friends who prove
time and time again that...

The pen is mightier than the pin-up

 

What if Writers and Readers Worked Together?

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Booktrust Guest Blog is Up!

Words about me from Booktrust...

Our Twitter page has put us in contact with diverse parts of the publishing industry, from publishers to writers to book bloggers to parents and carers who benefit from our bookgifting. One of the more interesting personalities on our Twitter feed has been aspiring author Rebecca Woodhead. Author of two books and unpublished, she has been using the internet to her advantage, to build up a loyal following of visitors to her blog and writings. Then she was nominated for Ms Twitter UK, a Twitter competition pitting her against celebrities like Lily Allen and Fearne Cotton and their extensive fanbases. Mobilising her band of followers, cutely named the Word Nerd Army, and rallying publishers, agents and literary types alike (including Twitter god Stephen Fry), Rebecca won Ms Twitter UK, with the motto 'the pen is mightier than the pin-up', promising to help promote literature and reading and aspiring authors and libraries, all issues close to the heart of Booktrust. Now with a land of opportunities awaiting her following her victory, Rebecca has written two blogs for us, this week on how she came to write her novel and use the internet to help promote it and in the next blog on how she won Ms Twitter UK and what it means and how other writers can follow in her example of using the internet to pursue their dream of being published....

To read my article, click the bus at the top or click here... http://news1.rebeccawoodhead.com

Booktrust Guest Blog is Up!

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Rebecca Woodhead is Ms Twitter UK thanks to Word Nerd Army!

We did it!! Thanks to all the wonderful word-people who've supported me. My own personal goals aside, the random collection of supporters who became known as my Word Nerd Army have taught me so much about the industry over the last few weeks.

From people who work in libraries to people who advise the government on library policy to publishers, teachers, readers and retailers, I've been able to pull together different stories of the book community and come up with a list of ideas that we broadly agree upon. If anything comes out of my being Ms Twitter, I hope it will be that bloggers will pick whichever of these inspire them and will blog and tweet them into the limelight. These are the issues that matter to the people who helped me to become Ms Twitter UK:

1. Millions of people don't read, because they can't read. More money needs to go into schemes to give word skills and confidence.
   
2. Millions of people don't read, because they are not inclined to read. Being a 'word nerd' needs to be seen as a good thing.
   
3. Libraries are variously under-funded or under-attended. More effort needs to go into reconnecting societies with libraries.
   
4. Many people are not aware of the benefits of using libraries during a recession. Free books, cheap DVDs & music, free net access etc.
   
5. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be a pin-up. There is everything wrong with thinking that is your only option. Choice is crucial.
   
6. Men and women can work together towards a common goal - as can different cultures - on twitter. Twitter has a positive part to play.
   
7. The online book community is very motivated & incredibly supportive of new & established talent. Reading and writing are solitary activities. Twitter brings in a social element regardless of location or physical mobility.
   
8. Illness, bad fortune and/or poverty need not be a significant barrier to success. Web 2.0 can re-enable people facing hardship.
   
9. Books give you access to great minds.
   
10. Stories are important.
    
11. A large number of people in UK prisons (around 3 in 5 according to one prison librarian) have reading problems or dyslexia. There needs to be research into the connection between difficulties with literacy and eventual crime to help people before they resort to crime. Access to good help with reading and communication difficulties needs to be a priority. Wouldn't it be great if by addressing this issue, we could build more libraries and fewer prisons?

Point 11 is a big issue and we, as a group, didn't have the necessary information to suggest anything. It may be coincidence but it's got to be worth a look.

Sorry about the third-person-ness of the heading - I'm not being a diva, I'm just aware google likes it and want people to see the points above.

Thanks again everyone. So glad it's over. If anyone's scratching their head and thinking 'but you're in the Europe contest representing the UK next' read the previous post. I'm hanging up my sash after this.

Rebecca - Ms Twitter UK (*hee hee*)

Rebecca Woodhead is Ms Twitter UK thanks to Word Nerd Army!

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