Self Publishing for Professionals

Transform Your Expertise into a Bestselling Book

Ready to transform your expertise into a bestselling book that resonates and sells with your target readers? Your expertise and voice make your book unique even if similar topics exist, but expertise alone doesn't create a good book without the right strategy. I cover mining your expertise for book-worthy content including years of professional experience, repeated client questions, frameworks or methodologies you've developed, industry insights others lack, case studies, success stories, and mistakes you've learned that others can avoid. The key is identifying what people consistently seek your advice about, what problems you solve better than others in your industry, what knowledge gaps you can fill, and where your passion intersects with market need. The right angle requires focused topics rather than broad expertise since niching down doesn't lose authority but attracts audiences who love your specific brand of work. I use my book From Idea to Outline [https://www.amazon.com/Idea-Outline-step-step-professionals/dp/B0GVNTS58Q/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] as an example, designed specifically for busy professionals outlining their books in a weekend rather than generalizing for bigger audiences. Structure your expertise into a book framework by moving from knowledge to narrative since readers need a journey from point A to point B, not just information dumps. Create signature frameworks that are memorable and actionable ensuring the framework becomes associated with your brand. Organize chapters with logical flow building on complexity, keeping chapters under 6000 words and total chapter count ideally under 15 for nonfiction business books. Balance theory with practical application through exercises, worksheets, action steps, and pro tips. Choose clarity over cleverness for titles and subtitles using keywords your audience searches, testing three options with target audiences, and understanding that Amazon keyword rules prohibit using any words from your title or subtitle in your keyword fields since those words won't show up for purchase discovery. Keep writing, keep dreaming, and keep creating. Your book is waiting to be born! Ready to write your authority-building book? Book a Path to Publishing Discovery Call [https://cal.com/write-for-you/discovery-call] and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book! Podcast Resources Looking for support to self-publish your book? Join me in my Skool Community [https://www.skool.com/publishing-for-professionals-9809] filled with leaders who are adding “author” to their bio. Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today! [https://write-for-you-ghostwriting.kit.com/book-clarity-blueprint]

How to Market Your Book Before It's Even Finished

I’ve got another Book Blueprint episode for you, today! Welcome Stephanie Jordan, author and speaker who retired from her 27-year cosmetology career and has written multiple books including The Narcissistic Bride of Christ [https://www.amazon.com/Narcissistic-Bride-Christ-Characteristics-Narcissism/dp/195844104X] and her upcoming Legacy Builders. Stephanie asks how to get people interested in your book. I explain the ideal approach is to start marketing three to six months before your publishing date since you don't need a finished book to market. The critical foundation is knowing your audience, which is why I created my Book Clarity Blueprint [https://write-for-you-ghostwriting.kit.com/book-clarity-blueprint], helping authors flesh out their purpose, message, and target reader before investing time and money. When you publish as an expert without professional editing, readers see errors and lose trust in your credibility, questioning why they should hire your services if you won't invest in a professional book. Remember, damaged reputations are harder to rebuild than the upfront editing investment. Stephanie shares her nightmare first editor experience where the editor sent scathing emails about hating her book and would have destroyed it if Stephanie hadn't protected her voice. This never should have happened—editors who dislike your genre shouldn't accept projects, and authors can send 500-word samples for free editing to test compatibility before committing. She asks how long should you promote a book before moving on to the next one? That depends on your goals and whether you have a single book or series. For her situation, I recommend continuing to promote her book at conferences and events matching her "flavor" of Christianity rather than Barnes and Noble. In addition, she should start marketing her new book in May, telling current followers they can pre-order on Amazon, creating natural overlap where fans of the first book discover the second. Keep writing, keep dreaming, and keep creating. Your book is waiting to be born!

How to Win Book Awards and Use Them to Skyrocket Your Author Credibility with Melanie Johnson from Elite Online Publishing

Melanie Trela Johnson, the visionary founder of Elite Online Publishing, has taken over 3000 authors to number one bestseller status and is herself an 18-time Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author. Melanie explains how Elite Online Publishing differs from traditional publishers by providing high-level service throughout the entire publishing journey, handling the publishing triathlon of writing, publishing, and marketing so authors can use their books as credibility and marketing tools. She emphasizes that finishing your book isn't the finish line; you’ll need to promote your book. Book awards involve applying to specific competitions where groups of readers evaluate your book alongside others in the category and decide if your work merits gold, silver, or bronze recognition, with even silver awards meaning you're above everyone else in that category just like Olympic medalists. The key is researching thousands of available awards to find ones with categories matching your book's niche, then applying to multiple categories within each award to maximize chances. Most awards charge fees and require physical books since evaluators spend time reading submissions. Awards provide lifelong credibility since this title further distinguishes you from authors without awards. Books are never too old for awards as long as content remains current, so authors can use awards for a new announcement, which reignites interest. Awards don't happen immediately, like bestseller launches, since many competitions announce results five to six months later, creating natural promotional opportunities. Basic requirements include quality professionally edited content, beautiful covers, proper titles and subtitles, professional formatting, established sales and reviews. Elite Online Publishing works with authors to provide book awards services, bestseller launches. Keep writing, keep dreaming, and keep creating. Your book is waiting to be born! Ready to write your authority-building book? Book a discovery call [https://cal.com/write-for-you/discovery-call] and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book! Podcast Resources Looking for support to self-publish your book? Join me in my Skool Community [https://www.skool.com/publishing-for-professionals-9809] filled with leaders who are adding “author” to their bio. Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today! [https://write-for-you-ghostwriting.kit.com/book-clarity-blueprint] Visit Melanie at Elite Online Publishing [https://eliteonlinepublishing.com/] Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have. The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereto based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.

Traditional vs Hybrid Publishing Explained by a Professional Book Editor

In this special Book Blueprint episode, I welcome Dave Letterfly-Notar, a five-time published author with three memoirs and two guidebooks who takes readers into the traveling circus world through his passion for horsemanship, adventure, and artwork. Dave started writing as catharsis 37 years ago, evolved into marketing essays for his art career, then, he was encouraged by professors who helped him craft his first book ten years ago in his mid-forties. Now he's completed his next manuscript about his relationship with a horse and their adventures together, professionally edited and ready, but he wants to publish through traditional publishing rather than self-publishing again. My first advice for finding an agent is checking Publishers Weekly [https://www.publishersweekly.com/] for reputable agents. The critical factor is finding an agent who specializes in your genre and subgenre. Traditional publishing takes three to five years, even with an agent, so patience is essential. I also introduce the hybrid publisher option where authors maintain more creative control including choosing editors. Dave doesn't need an agent to submit to publishers, though agents shortcut the process by knowing which companies want specific book types. The mindset shift Dave needs is keeping his animated, passionate storytelling approach, since that sells publishers. His advantage is understanding the publishing process as a seasoned professional, making him easier for publishers to work with. I offer book coaching services for author support since promoting books is harder than writing them, and Dave's positive service-minded paradigm from his recovery journey 37 years ago drives his mission helping readers transform obstacles into growth. Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born! Ready to write your authority-building book? Book a discovery call [https://cal.com/write-for-you/discovery-call] and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book! Podcast Resources Looking for support to self-publish your book? Join me in my Skool Community [https://www.skool.com/publishing-for-professionals-9809] filled with leaders who are adding “author” to their bio. Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today! [https://write-for-you-ghostwriting.kit.com/book-clarity-blueprint] Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have. The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereto based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.

Never Hire the Wrong Book Editor With This 22-Question Checklist

Here are the 22 crucial questions to ask before hiring a book editor, based on a thorough questionnaire a prospective client sent me that covers major considerations when vetting professional editors for your self-published book. The fundamental questions covered in this episode include: genre expertise, comparable books edited, and what excites editors about your manuscript, though many ghostwriters have NDAs preventing public client lists. Voice preservation questions are critical, including how editors maintain your voice while strengthening clarity, pacing, and story structure. My process involves onboarding sessions, listening to podcasts if available, editing chapter one, then meeting to make corrections before continuing to ensure I capture voice accurately. This prevents the devastating mistake where authors hire editors, don't see them until the book is finished, then discover their book isn't what they wanted, requiring complete rewrites. Practical business questions address turnaround time, flat fee versus hourly rates, availability, contracts, NDAs, communication preferences, and references. I work on flat fees including two passes and three 30-minute meetings, typically book two to three weeks out, provide contracts through client intake forms, sign NDAs since confidentiality is key, stay available via text for quick questions and email during standard work hours, and provide references once prospects shortlist me. The dealbreaker question reveals what makes editors turn down projects. I'm easy to work with as a fellow author and creative who gives clients final say in their books, preserving voice while offering professional advice they can accept or decline because the author always has the last call on which content stays in their book. Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!