Writing

The Questions Your Editor Can’t Answer

There is a big mistake I see many authors make before hiring an editor, and it has nothing to do with grammar. By the time most authors reach out to Emerald Lake Books, they’ve already invested months—or sometimes years—writing and revising their manuscript. They’ve reached the point where they feel they’ve taken it as far as they know how, and now they’re looking for someone else to help them move it across the finish line. That’s a perfectly natural progression. After all, editing is one of the next major milestones in the publishing journey. What many authors don’t realize, however, is that there is another opportunity that comes before editing—one that no editor, publisher or marketing professional can fully address on their behalf. It’s an opportunity that belongs entirely to the author. The Conversations That Changed My Perspective When I first began working with authors, I assumed much of our time together would revolve around … Continue Reading

Building Your Business with a Book

Are you working hard at building your business? Every couple of years, we survey small business owners and entrepreneurs to discover what their worst business problems are. Out of a list of ten common problems we often hear about, there are three that always place at the top of the list. The order they appear in may change from year to year, but these three are always among the Top 3 Worst Business Problems people face. I need more leads. I need to improve my cash flow. I need better brand visibility. It’s common for two of those to tie in the survey results as they all vie for the #1 slot. This means that a fourth issue regularly makes it into the Top 3 as well: There aren’t enough hours in the day! Do any of these sound familiar to you? More startling Facts The scary thing about those results is that almost half … Continue Reading

Understanding Publishing Models

I belong to quite a few different social media groups that relate to writing and publishing. And every once in a while, a savvy new author will share information about a publishing deal they have been offered and ask the group’s feedback. Oftentimes, these offers come from hybrid publishers. Upon hearing that, many people will start chiming in with things like, “If you have to pay your publisher, it’s a scam!” and “Publishers pay authors, not the other way around!” I cringe every time I read those responses… But it’s clear by their vehemence that there’s little I can say that will change their minds. To me, the question is no different than whether an entrepreneur should do their own bookkeeping and taxes rather than spend time working in their own area of genius. If you’re not doing what you’re best at, you’re not going far fast. And just as there are bookkeepers and accountants … Continue Reading

What’s In Your Writer’s File?

Perhaps you’re familiar with Samuel L. Jackson’s punch line in his commercials for Capital One. After he tells you everything that the card is not, he tells you what it is and asks the viewers, “What’s in your wallet?” I’m going to ask you a variation on the question, though, and it has nothing to do with your credit cards or your wallet. I’m going to ask instead, “What’s in your writer’s file?” “What’s a writer’s file?” you might inquire in return. While its form may vary from one writer to another, its purpose remains the same.  A writer’s file is a repository of thoughts and ideas too good to risk losing, but that don’t have a place to call their own yet. Sometimes, they are things that strike us funny throughout the day. Other times, they’re thoughts or emotions that we know will fly away if we don’t capture them before they flee. My … Continue Reading