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Why Kindle?

September 23, 2009 by Kat Gautreaux, Account Manager One of the services that Wheatmark offers to authors is Kindle formatting for their books. For those not familiar with Kindle, it is an electronic reading device sold by Amazon and wirelessly transfers formatted books, newspapers, and other reading materials to the device.

I often hear grumblings about the Kindle by paper enthusiasts that they don't want to read on a screen, some unfriendly words about "youth" and how they are ruining things, and also about how technology is going too far.

I, too, wasn't completely sold on eReaders until I recently went on a long trip.

When I'm on airplanes, I tend to read what I call "junk food" books. Generally thick paperbacks with detectives, serial killers, and maybe a good love scene--these books are a fast read for me and I can read two of them in just one flight across the country. That's TWO nearly 400 page books I have in my carry-on luggage.


(Yes, I read these stuff.)

If I had a Kindle, I could have loaded the books up on the device before I left, from the airport, and even from the cruise ship I was on. A typical John Sanford "Prey" series novel is about 10.4 oz. The Kindle is 10.2 oz. With huge amounts of data storage, the Kindle is a great way to pack light.

In fact, on the cruise ship I kept seeing Kindles everywhere! I saw passengers demonstrating them excitedly to other passengers in the elevators, one gentlemen surreptitiously reading his under the table at dinner, and on a lazy day at sea while reading on the sundeck I counted 20 Kindles being used.

I was surprised. Most of the passengers on the ship were retirees (or older--the ship should have been christened "Heaven's Waiting Room") who were spending their free time traveling. This was a demographic that, in my experience, doesn't always warm to technology like ducks to water.

I asked one lady how she liked her Kindle and she couldn't stop raving about how easy it was to have all her books on it, how she could increase the font so she didn't have to wear her glasses all the time, and how it was such a pleasure to use.

There is a market out there for Kindle-formatted books and it will continue to be a factor in book sales. Yes, there are other electronic reading devices out there, and some of them, like the Sony, come in tempting colors, but the Kindle is setting the standard with more than 350,000 titles available for it.

Many Wheatmark authors have elected to have their books formatted for Kindle and they are seeing the results in their books sales.

If you are interested in having your book formatted for the Kindle, ask your account manager about getting a quote today!

Copyediting: A Touch of Chicago Manual of Style

September 15, 2009 by Kat Gautreaux, Account Manager

One of the drums that we hit constantly around Wheatmark is the “you need professional editing” tom.

Wheatmark offers several different levels of editing for authors. We also have an editorial analysis that will determine what level of editing you really need.

The differences between the editing options can be confusing. In order to better understand them, let’s use a high-end department store as a parallel.

Developmental Editing

The most in-depth level of editing is the developmental edit. Think of the developmental edit as a personal shopper service some department stores offer. The client hires the personal shopper-who keeps track of every season’s best looks-to provide incredible personal service and say, this is what looks good on you and here is your size.

A developmental edit does the same thing. During the developmental edit, a content editor makes comments and suggestions to help the author develop the content of their manuscript. Not a light undertaking, the developmental edit requires several passes, revisions by the author, more content editing, and finally one last copy edit before it goes to layout.

Heavy Copyediting

The next most in-depth level of editing is the heavy copy edit. The heavy copy edit is like a swanky shoe department. It turns a keen eye to organization, sentence structure, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and a myriad of other style issues. Like the shoe department, there are a lot of styles to look at and the salespeople in the shoe department know their inventory the best. They also can suggest fashions that will look good with your footwear choices and make recommendations about which shoes you might prefer based on your current wardrobe.

That level of attention is what you get with the heavy copy edit: gold star service that doesn’t try to restyle you from the ground up, but instead offers you ways to enhance your story.

Medium Copyediting

This is the straightforward copy edit. An editor will check your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style, and occasionally make adjustments to your sentences. This is like shopping in the men’s or women’s activewear departments. Mostly you get attentive salespeople who will help you find colors and sizes, but don’t get too involved with your personal wardrobe selections.

A medium copy edit will not include in-depth commentary and suggestions. An editor might provide a few comments here and there, but overall they will be putting the final polish on your manuscript without interfering with your story ideas. Just like clothing salespeople, they won’t talk you out of the hideous silk-blend golf shirt with puppies on it that you are buying as a Father’s Day present. They’ll just help you find your dad’s size.

Light Copyediting

The last level of copyediting to talk about today is the light copy edit. For starters, light copyediting is only available to manuscripts that have been designated acceptable for that service through the Editorial Analysis. In terms of detail, the light copy edit is akin to shopping on the department store’s website-you get mostly the same items as in the store, but because you don’t need as much attention, you can easily buy online. The light copy edit offers all the same services as the regular copy edit, but the work will not be as extensive because your manuscript is fairly clean.

Interested in getting started with an Editorial Analysis? Just fill out the Project Assessment Form about your book to get started.

What Makes a One-Sheet a “Must-Have” Marketing Tool?

September 01, 2009 by Wheatmark, Admin

Guest article by Barbara McNichol and Karen Saunders

You meet someone who could hire you for your expertise and services. In the spirit of getting to know you, that decision-maker asks, “What do you speak about?” or “How do you help organizations?” or “Which groups have you worked with?”

These questions become your opening to convey how you assist people and why you’re the one experienced to do so. That’s exactly what a one-sheet does, too. To convey that you’re a “must-have” expert, your one-sheet needs to be written and designed as a “must-have” marketing tool.

Answers Key Questions

Your one-sheet, in effect, succinctly answers these seven questions that decisionmakers would ask you in person at a first meeting:

1. How would you describe your area of expertise?
2. Whom do you work with and give presentations to?
3. What are the benefits of hiring you—
  a. for the leaders of the organization

  b. for the participants in the ranks

  c. for organizational progress
4. What have you done that makes you an expert?
5. Which groups have you worked with before?
6. What did participants think of your contribution?
7. How can you be reached for more information?

Well-crafted words on your one-sheet answer these questions in the form of seven corresponding “must-have” elements:

1. Topics/Programs
2. Target Audience
3. Benefits (especially in headlines)
4. Biography
5. Client List
6. Testimonials
7. Contact Information

Gives the Piece Personality

Even if you have all of these elements in place, what turns it into a stronger “must-have” piece that represents you? In a word: Personality.

For example, Doug Butler’s one-sheet features these basics with lots of showmanship (view this sample one sheet on the Writing & Editing Services page at www.BarbaraMcNichol.com). Its overall look reflects the “personality” that participants want from him, achieving that appeal through special graphic effects:

*  four-color photos of Doug portraying his Cowboy Wisdom theme
*  graphics of cowboy symbols: a guitar, a horse, a lasso, a badge, a cowboy figure wearing a hat, bandana, and chaps, a spurred cowboy boot
*  a Cowboy Code message that stands out on the page
*  benefits in the headlines
*  a bio framed by a color photo that adds credibility for his message
*  a list of target audiences, a sampling of clients, and comments from them
*  a well-designed company logo and easy-to-find contact info
*  an NSA logo to show affiliation with a group that’s recognized by decision makers
*  a tag line: e.g., “Forge a firm foundation with Doug’s tried-and-true Cowboy Code”

Through these words, themes, and graphics, Doug extends his warm personality to additional marketing pieces—his web site, business card, handout materials, and so on. Together, they create a “must-have” look that appeals to decision-makers in the organizations he wants to reach.

About Barbara McNichol and Karen Saunders

Writer/editor Barbara McNichol perfects the written word for clients while graphic designer Karen Saunders makes them look great in print! Contact Karen at 888-796-7300 or visit www.macgraphics.net; contact Barbara at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).