“An unknown author wanting to get an unknown manuscript published by a traditional publisher is akin to an 18-year-old showing up in Los Angeles with a 6-string guitar, wanting to get a record contract,” says debut memoir author, Lisa Baldwin.

Learn how several publishing professionals helped Lisa shift her expectations and shape her manuscript into an award-winning book.

We discuss three types of investments Lisa made: (1) pre-publication costs, (2) publication costs, and (3) hidden costs.

The post 72 – Costs of Self-Publishing a Book, with Lisa Baldwin first appeared on Blogging Bistro.

Running a writing-related business costs several thousand dollars per year, even when you’re a frugal DIYer like me. In episode 71, I’ll walk you through:

exactly what I spend to run my business

how much to budget for essentials

3 things to do before investing in a service or tool

Transcript and loads of links included.

How can frugal, penny-pinching entrepreneurs creatively build a business without forking out a ton of money?

In episode 70, I’ll show you five basic, FREE things you can do right now to:

• find great deals on tools for your business

• gain visibility

• interact with prospective readers and book buyers

• earn bonus income

Shareable infographic included!

How can frugal, penny-pinching entrepreneurs creatively build a business without forking out a ton of money?

In episode 70, I’ll show you five basic, FREE things you can do right now to:

• find great deals on tools for your business

• gain visibility

• interact with prospective readers and book buyers

• earn bonus income

Shareable infographic included!

The post 70 – 5 Quick, Easy, and Free Ways to Gain Visibility as a Writer first appeared on Blogging Bistro.

When I hear the phrase, “business finances,” I shudder.

I’m not a numbers person; I'm a word person. That’s why I invited bookkeeping expert, Vanessa Butler, to guest on The Professional Writer podcast. Vanessa will help us word nerds take a serious look at:

The financial health of our business

The most efficient ways to do accounting

Why "business" and "pleasure" bank accounts shouldn't get married

Why it's important to create a realistic monthly budget, and to look at it daily

When I hear the phrase, “business finances,” I shudder.

I’m not a numbers person; I'm a word person. That’s why I invited bookkeeping expert, Vanessa Butler, to guest on The Professional Writer podcast. Vanessa will help us word nerds take a serious look at:

The financial health of our business

The most efficient ways to do accounting

Why "business" and "pleasure" bank accounts shouldn't get married

Why it's important to create a realistic monthly budget, and to look at it daily

The post 69 – Bookkeeping Tips for Your Biz, with Vanessa Butler first appeared on Blogging Bistro.

A contract that clearly and specifically spells out expectations is a must-have for every entrepreneur, whether you’re hiring someone to work for you, or someone is hiring you to work for them.

In Episode 68, I’ll share contract horror stories, suggest items to include in a legal agreement, and recommend easily customizable contract templates.

We’re exploring five problematic platform-building practices:

The “swollen ego” bio

Inflated follower counts

Platform plugins

Bestseller lists

“Award-winning author” taglines

I believe these vanity metrics give authors permission to bend the truth as a means of proving their worth. And that concerns me. Let’s talk about it!

We’re exploring five problematic platform-building practices:

The “swollen ego” bio

Inflated follower counts

Platform plugins

Bestseller lists

“Award-winning author” taglines

I believe these vanity metrics give authors permission to bend the truth as a means of proving their worth. And that concerns me. Let’s talk about it!

The post 67 – The Problem with Vanity Numbers, Half-Truths, and Swollen Egos first appeared on Blogging Bistro.

Misinformation and horrible advice about email marketing abounds. In episode 66, I’m going to give you some tough love. I’ll bust 7 myths about email marketing.