Writers Remedies

You’ve completed your novel, published it on Kindle, Smashwords and Createspace. Now what do you do? If the indie book sales don’t come rolling in, it is time to do some book marketing. Of course, there is FaceBook and Twitter on which to plug your book, but which websites specialize in book marketing? Websites to Promote your Book Linkedin is a website dedicated to professionals who wish to exchange opportunities and ideas and therefore is ideal for authors wishing to get noticed. Linkedin can be used as a network platform for self published authors to connect with others in the industry such as literary agents and publishers. Goodreads is a huge online bookclub where avid readers can impart what titles they have enjoyed and give recommendations. The Goodreads Author Programme helps authors reach their target audience with your own webpage. You can advertise your book, post a bio, post excerpts from your book and even a quiz about your book. It is recommended that your book is a...

You do not have to wait for the next screenwriting contest deadline or response from a film agent to get your screenplay discovered. You can also upload your screenplay onto various online platforms where they are viewable 24/7 for people in the movie industry looking for new screenwriting talent. Getting Your Screenplay Read Screenwriting platforms are basically websites that host your screenplay for public view. On registration, you will have access to screenwriting forums and discussions with other screenwriters, get reviewed by those like yourself and/or those in the movie industry. You will also get exposure to those looking for screenwriting talent. Most screenwriting platforms are free, but some charge for registration and/or hosting on the site. Look out for prizes and opportunities to improve your craft of screenwriting. Should I Upload My Screenplay for Public View? Of course it is always advisable to register your work with the WGA or similar before uploading. Unless...

Entering scriptwriting contests is an exciting activity, but care must be taken the competition is fair. I always garner reviews from screenwriting forums. The prize fund must correlate with the entry fee, for example, a high entry fee for a small prize fund should be questioned (unless further opportunities are offered). Look out for hidden costs and beware of competitions with spam or have pop-up ads. Competitions that enable the screenwriter to retain the rights are to be preferred. The Best Screenwriting Contests The following links provide information on annual screenplay contests, with good cash prizes and/or good prospects on offer. The entry fees are pretty much the same, around $50 or so. Always read the competitions rules carefully. The Page International Screenwriting Awards Started by a group of producers, writers and agents from Hollywood, winners of this annual competition resulted in movie productions and options from established film makers such as Fox Films and...

Createspace, one of Amazon’s limbs in the self-publishing business is a free and convenient way to getting your novel published in print copy. Not to be confused with Kindle, which is Amazon’s ebook store, for reading novels on a reader, such as the Kindle. Createspace is free to self-published authors for its Print on Demand services (POD), which means the book is only printed when it is purchased. Self-Publishing Your Novel for Free Publishing on Createspace is a different experience to publishing on Kindle (or KDP Amazon – Kindle Direct Publishing). You will basically need 3 things: a typo-free, perfectly crafted novel, a synopsis (blurb or sales pitch for the novel) and a book cover. Firstly the novel. Take care the desired font is used. Times New Roman, Aerial or Bookman Old Style are most often used. I favour font sized point 10 for my novels but 11 or 12 might be more suitable for children’s fiction. Take a look at other novels to see how they are formatted and copy a styl...

There has been mixed reactions to Amazon Studios’ terms and conditions in their developmental agreement. Well, I have been doing a lot of cogitating and research before uploading my screenplays onto their site. Let’s look at the contentious issues that may deter other untested screenwriters from uploading their screenplays onto Amazon Studios and tackle them one by one. 1 Uploading onto Amazon Studios opens your screenplay up to getting messed up by other writers. (Other writer meaning those who have an Amazon Studios account like you, not Amazon Studios itself.) Well, the option ‘closed’ has been added to ‘with permission’ and ‘open’, meaning you keep total control over the drafts of your screenplay. Having no collaborators, means you keep all monies from prizes, option extensions or purchases for yourself and you retain complete control over your screenplay. Of course, your screenplay will still be ‘messed with’ by other writers and/or producers within Amazon Studios if they dec...