How to make your book stand out from the crowd

Writing a book is a big deal. You are moving into a big league and must care about how to package and present your work to a print and online audience. Your book is joining a sea of other books to fight for the attention of your audience. How do you stand out in this red ocean?

It is important to start with a budget. Money is not unlimited but wants are. So, identify what you want and what you need, and focus on the needs. That is what all smart authors do. Using your budget, work on the following things:

Editing:

Your writing is best served when it is edited by a professional editor. Good editors cost quite a pretty penny, but they are worth it. Do not skimp on getting a professional to review your work, especially if you wish to sell the books or enter them in competitions.

Formatting:

The book has to be formatted properly. The front and back matter have to be properly arranged, and the text alignment, font type and size should be consistent. Your book should have a crisp professional look, be it a print or an e-book. Get a professional to format your book.

Proofreading:

Before putting the book out to the public, get a proofreader to check that everything is in order. Pages are not mis-numbered, and text is not omitted.

Cover design:

This is a big one. We are warned not to judge books by their covers, but this advice is difficult to heed when we see terrible covers. Who wants to take that chance? For many books, it is the cover that sells them. Put your best foot forward and get a good cover design.

Self-care:

Writing a book takes a lot of time and mental and physical energy. Sitting for hours to write can affect your back, fingers, and weight. Authors must eat healthily, have a daily fitness regime and take multivitamins as recommended by their doctors. You will be the one promoting the book, so you need to be healthy to attend speaking engagements and book signings.

Always create the best book that you can. For an opportunity to learn from seasoned authors and network with like-minded authors, register here to attend the Global Authors and Authorpreneurs Conference. It is FREE, but registration is required. Sign up here today and save the date.