The Writer's Mailbag: Installment 136

That's great to hear, Linda. Please let me know when your cookbook is available.

Shauna - The 2nd draft of the cookbook is complete. Just another edit, adjust pagination, create table of contents, construct the index, and it's off to the printer.

I can honestly say that I would NOT have done this without the encouragement of wonderful friends like you and Bill.

Stay tuned.

I think Linda should publish a book cookbook. I have several cookbooks and I can't imagine using an ebook to cook by. My most used cookbooks have food splatters on them and dog-eared pages marking my favorite recipes. I think anyone who's serious about cooking prefers a good old hardback to lay on the counter when following recipes.

As far as pictures go, I love to see what the finished product should look like. However, none of my go-to cookbooks have photos. Linda and I both have The Joy of Cooking and Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book, neither of which have photos in them.

Go for it, Linda! I'm with Bill on this one.

Bill

After nearly losing 50k words of the novel, I use it all the time now.

Bill

Great stuff here, one thing I've been doing that might be worth mentioning is using Google docs for writing.

It's just the same as a word document but the difference is it saves it I 'the cloud' (its secure) as I was writing in word when my laptop crashed, I nearly lost the second novel 'Scorpion reach' but somehow managed to save it to Google docs.

The beauty of the system is I can write wherever I am and on any machine with internet access (I don't have to be 'online' either, once I've opened the document, I just click 'work offline' and it'll work fine uploading the next time I go online)

I think something like that might help as you can get the ideas down and work on them later!

Blessings

Lawrence

The advantage of the smart phone is you can write all your ideas down on it as you are wandering along. Lately, this has gone beyond note taking, and I do a lot of writing with my two thumbs. All the same, I have had a ton of good ideas blow away in the wind, and my data retrieval ain't what it used to be. Great stuff as usual.

Thanks for the information on marketing. And it's good to know that the best strategy is writing. That fits my desires and skills much better than the other stuff.

BTW, I'd be interested in your urban farming articles.

Bill, if I may be so bold, may I jump in and give my two cents worth on travel-related articles on Niume? I have about 6 travel articles on that site and they have received more views and more hype than anything else I have written on Niume. I'd suggest try one and see what happens.

Hi Bill. Great mailbag this week. I have yet to venture over to Niume but I was wondering if you have any idea how travel articles do there? I'm not really looking to leave HPs, just curious.

We've had an interesting week here in Massachusetts. Yesterday was sunny and 50 degrees. Today, 20 inches of snow and a wind that won't stop. Looks like spring will have to wait.

Marketing seems to be the name of the game! sigh! Great mailbag!

Hi Bill. thanks for posting this hub. It's definitely worthwhile writing in word doc first. I've not tried writing on other websites as yet, and am fairly new to Hubpages. But I do enjoy writing and reading your hub has given me some useful tips, thankyou.

Another fine mailbag, Bill. thanks for the shout-out for The Creative Exiles. The site has recently had a makeover and is looking and working better than ever. Mike designed the cover for one of my first books and I actually think the cover is better than the content :)

You aim for writing two hub page articles in a week, wow. I'm lucky to post two article in a month! Your mailbag tips are great for any writer. Thanks for your dedication.

I'm still dragging my feet on publishing, though I've done so in the long past. Anyway, every mailbag gives me a nudge. Thanks for the tips from both the questions and answers.

The term is printed.

Thanks, Bill, for answering my question re HubPages and Niume.

In your reply to Linda, you said that Create Space has hard cover or e-book options, yet your books shown in a photo are paperbacks, not hard cover books. Is there a term that refers to all forms of printed on paper books—hard cover or hardbound, trade paperback, mass-market paperback, bound in boards, leather bound, spiral-bound, self-wrappers, and so on—as distinct from e-books? 'Hard copy' refers to any printout of data, even on a single sheet of paper, so it is too broad a term for specifically books. Printed with ink book? Dead tree book?

Carb Diva, you make a great point about e-readers and I think a lot of cooks are going that way in the kitchen! Or they're following it step-by-step with YouTube videos. I have a friend who's created a whole vegan cooking business online with her YouTube videos. Thanks for making that great point!

It's always great to start of a week with your inspiration and advice. Some thoughts from this mailbag. I think you are right that there are sites where some articles do better and others where they don't so it is a matter of pick and choose. The one thing I have discovered and that is through your great ideas and suggestions that if you find something that works never give up on it and keep seeing it through. Hope you have an awesome week.

I think this was one of the best mailbags yet (only my opinion, of course). Enjoyed all the questions and answers. Writing doesn't pay my bills Neither does the ministry, so I'm forced to clean office buildings in the evenings. I do just about all my scene planning without paper, pen, or keyboard. The thoughts come to me while I have my head in a toilet (literally), or while I'm throwing trash in a dumpster. By the end of the night, I have the next chapter ready to go. All I have to do is go home and type it. I know that's not the best way to do it, but through it all, I've learned to multi-task. lol

I was just reading out of a book by Steven Pressfield "War of Art". His notion is pretty clear that that which we most fear and resist is what we really are called to do.

In your time have you seen writers crippled by the resistance and fear who when they overcame were just fantastic writers?

I always enjoy reading your responses. I feel you are down to earth and know what is more cost effective in terms of publishing. I hope to get some courage one of these days and start writing my book.

I've published several books on CreateSpace over several years and found it very easy and with excellent results. I've also used Lulu.com and find them very similar in processing and have been very satisfied with them, as well. On the Cookbook, I'd also recommend getting it published without color photos, first, using it to build your platform. A color edition could be added, later, if you feel there is a demand from your readers.

I received a book from Amazon (apparently self-published?) that was terribly misprinted. There were page numbers that skipped around, whole segments misplaced in the book, etc. it was very schizophrenic. When I complained and asked for the real book they wanted me to ship the misprint back for free as evidence I suppose. I received a free replacement. I wonder if this is the type of thing that Karen Hellidr is referring to. You just never know what your customers are actually receiving.

There's some very useful information in this edition of the mailbag. Of course, the mailbag article itself is interesting and helpful, but the comments and your responses are also useful. Thanks, Bill.

Great Mailbag:-)

Hello Bill - I received a message from out of the country that I should come over and read this weeks Mailbag. Thank you for the shout out. I appreciate that. As poor writers and poor marketers it pays to help each other in the chore of shouting about our books and each others. I figure that most people think I am a walking commercial for books. That is OK with me. The avenues of social media is all that is open to us. I have see some national brands asking for $750.00 for a one time business card size ad. That is out of my marketing budget perimeters.

Lots of interesting questions again this week. The color pictures in a cookbook question is a tough one. There are people that can print 100 copies of a book. That still would be a financial risk for the author.

Hi Bill!

I have a question for you regarding CreateSpace. I have read some very negative reviews about CreateSpace in terms of their print books being unprofessional in terms of folded pages in the finished products, crooked printing, etc. Have you ever had those issues with the print versions of your books?

Billy...It is amazing how much useful information you have packed in your brain as it relates to writing. 136 Installments. That is a Novel right there.

I always get something out of the mailbag. Thanks....

I have a desire to write SOMETHING, but I'm as dry as an old bone. That happens to me when it's cold and gloomy. I'm wondering if the weather affects others? Thanks Bill.

Your Writer's Mailbags are always encouraging and inspiring, thank you, billybuc. One of these days I am going to publish something at CreateSpace - mark my words.

Mike Friedman is an expert when it comes to online publishing and all it entails. The fact that he constantly advertise the writings of his clients is also commendable.

Very informative and good stuff here.

I get ideas when in the toilet most often. And, one fun fact is I get my phone calls also when I am in toilet or bathroom.

Your tips about marketing are great as I also can't spend any money on publishing or marketing. I published the kindle book at Amazon KDP dealing with Economics. But not a single copy sold even though priced at $2.9 only. I am thinking of another book on Accounts which is in the process.

I have seen your profiles at niume and creative exiles recently but didn't read the articles yet.

Thanks for this wonderful mailbag.

Hey Bill,

Greetings from wet, wet California. Although I'm happy the farmers have rain, rain and lots of rain, we are starting to see flooding problems and I'm ready for it to stop. Anyway I wanted to chime in on the color photo issue. I totally understand your reasoning behind the skyrocketing price. I published my craft book on Create Space and felt that the color photos were needed for crafts but the book doesn't sell well because the price is outa sight. I may have to go back and reformat the book with black and white photos instead to reduce the price per copy, but I sure hate doing that. Your friend is right when she says we gals look at the cover, flip it open and base purchase on the color interiors. Still print on demand books aren't all about finding it on a book store shelf as much as finding the info you want in an Internet search so maybe it doesn't matter as much as I think. I'll publish it in b&w and let you all know what I find out through the process. Thanks for another great Monday Mailbag.

Blessings,

Denise

I'll remember Bill. I know where you're coming from you sweet man.

Lots of interesting and useful information here, bill. I'm a fan of Mike too; his covers are great - I didn't realise he did yours and that makes my admiration for him grow even more.

Thanks for dealing with my question too. I think we are kindred spirits as your mind seems to work so similarly to mine!

Here we are in the cold, wind and rain again. I'm hoping it's better with you.

Have a mind-blowing Monday, bill!

Ann :)

Writing goals - ah yes! Working on this. Finding time to devote to HP hubs, commenting on hubs, writing for Niume, being an active participant, editing - when do I find time to concentrate on my book? I teach everyday, perform piano, practice, work on my website, go to the Y, errands, and on and on. Help!

Question for the mailbag? :)

Love you tons,

Audrey

Bill, two more comments. About different work on different sites. I started writing on HP -- everything. Now I am reserving HP for food-related articles only.

Travel and articles on authors/artists are being moved to Niume, short stories are being moved to Creative Exiles, and short recipes that aren't getting any traffic here are being moved to my personal blog. Crafts (sewing, quilting, crochet and gardening) are going there as well.

And on cookbooks -- spiral bound would be best, but I think that many people/cooks (my daughter, for example) don't use a paper copy cookbook in the kitchen. It's on the E-reader of choice. Easier to keep clean and scroll up and down with the swipe of a flour-covered finger. Today's food enthusiasts are accustomed to seeing several (dozen?) color photos on food blogs and will want that on their E-book as well. BTW, the price of color vs. black and white is about double on CreateSpace (I've checked).

OK, over and out.

G'morning! Lots going on in the Mailbag today.

Re: Going Old School for Notes. I'm a pad and paper person, too, when it comes to flash inspiration. But if I have time and it's convenient, then I do more copious notes on my iPad. Afterwards, I email the notes to myself so that I can copy and paste into Word or HP.

Re: Money-less Marketing. Yes, most writers are money-starved when it comes to marketing. And, yes, the best way to market is to keep writing. One book market your other works, especially if you've got an Author Central profile on Amazon.

Re: Cookbooks and Color. I agree that Createspace is an awesome platform. Like you, I haven't dabbled with the others because it's just too good on Createspace.

You are so right, regardless of whether you print and sell or sell through Amazon, printing color photos is VERY expensive. That also means that the author will make less money on a full color printing of the book.

For some recipes, it just doesn't matter if photos are included or not. For those where complex techniques or artful elements (cake decorating for example) are explained, it might make more sense. Keep in mind, though, that for years in the past, cookbooks rarely included photos. It all depends on the expectations of the market and the demands of the recipes.

The questioning cookbook author is also planning to sell the book at a farmers' market. While Createspace will create a professionally printed product, it will be perfect bound which is a problem for cookbooks in general. Cooks need to keep the book open to the recipe while they work with it. So maybe a spiral bound work (done at a quick print shop) is a better option. That would not be possible through Createspace and would not then be available through Amazon (except through fulfillment). But does that matter if it's sold at a farmers' market?

Re: Different Sites, Different Work. I do think that using multiple sites might be an option if the author's work is a good fit with the site's genre. Be cautious of posting everything on EVERY site. This could result in Google penalties for duplicate content. Understand why you post where you do.

Okay, that's enough for today. Great questions. Have a wonderful week ahead!

Bill, thank you for including my question in your mailbag. I do hope that you receive comments from others on the issue of "color photos, or no photos" in cookbooks. I have over 200 cookbooks in my collection (yes, it's time for an intervention), and honestly when I look at that section in the bookstore, the first thing that gets my attention is the cover and title (pretty all one piece of info in my little brain), then I flip it open. If it's just text, blah blah blah, I place it back on the shelf. My younger daughter is the same way. Perhaps it's because we are both artists and are looking for those visual cues.

I laughed when I read the question about creative flow. I keep a pad of paper and pencil on my nightstand. Some of my best phrases come to me in the middle of the night. If I don't jot them down they are either gone by morning, or (more likely) keep me awake the rest of the night obsessing.

Thank you for another great one, and thank you for your encouragement. I'm formattig my little fingers off today.

Some good questions, Bill, but you asked the best one yourself about writing goals. So far I have two books in the work, supposedly editing projects, but I'll probably end up ghostwriting them both. And yes, don't we do our best work in the strangest places. Some of my best creativity comes while doing mundane tasks like loading the dishwasher or doing the laundry. I think I've missed a mailbag or two that I'm going to have to go back and read. Sorry. Have a great rest of the week, my friend.

Hi Bill,

Regarding cookbooks, I have several which do not have pictures. I love cookbooks and have several. In fact, two of them are spiral bound and these are always in my kitchen and used weekly.

For a first cookbook, I say publish without images.

Plus I have a question for a future mailbag.

Do you think people are born with a talent to be writers or is it something we can all do with enough perseverance? Is it like singing or drawing, you either got it or you don't.

Happy Monday Bill! I'm one of the few people, judging by the traffic, who didn't call in sick on the day after the super bowl! So, I'm very happy to see that my always dependable mailbag was waiting for me. And what a great variety of questions (and answers) this week! Hope you have a fantastic and productive rest of the week!

As always, you have not disappointed your followers. This piece was a great read and filled with a plethora of information. I'm going to share this on Facebook. I thoroughly enjoyed this post. Thank you.