What is the GDPR and What Does It Mean for Authors?

by Cyle  Young @CyleYoung

On May 25^th, 2018 the European Union’s new data privacy law goes into effect. The GDPR or General Data Protection Regulation applies to any person or business operating or storing information of EU citizens, and not only to EU-based companies and organizations.

Any author with an international following, fan base, or email subscriber list needs to take notice. The GDPR will change the way that you do business as an author. Most companies who service emails on the behalf of authors—think companies like MailChimp and ConvertKit—have taken steps over the last few months that will enable compliance to the GDPR.

Diversity - The Current State of the Publishing Industry

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

In the over politicized culture of today, these next few paragraphs will either excite you or frustrate you. And for some of you reading this, you may feel a little bit of both.

2018 Emerging Publishing Trends Aro/Ace

Edie here. This is a difficult post to share and was difficult for Cyle to write. However, we cannot hide our heads in the sand when it comes to these issues. How we choose to address them (or not) in our writing is a personal matter. But we must stay informed. Please read this post with this in mind and share your thanks to Cyle for being brave enough to address this issue. 

2018 Emerging Publishing Trends Aro/Ace
by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

Following the overall cultural sway of 2017, the publishing industry-at-large made a heavy push for LGBTQIA+ characters and authors. This trend was a continuation of 2015-2016 initiatives that began at a large number of publishing houses and imprints.

But every trend doesn’t last forever. Companies are still searching for diversity amongst their stories and authors, but 2018 has seen a significant foray in Aro/Ase characters, plots, and authors. This is not a new concept as some favorite characters in popular culture and media are generally recognized to be Aro/Ase.  Some of the more well-known characters associated with Aro/Ase are Queen Elsa (Frozen), Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory), and the doctors from Dr. Who. Many of J.K. Rowling’s character in Harry Potter also display some Aro/Ase characteristics.s

The Battle Against Facebook Engagement Baiting

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

Facebook is one of the primary social media tools for authors. It doesn’t matter if an author is self-published or traditional published, Facebook provides significant opportunities for growing and sustaining platform while supporting and launching book sales.

But things are about to change!

Look for the “Lean” in Publishing

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

The most arduous of being a published author is actually the “process” of becoming a published author. Aspiring writers have to jump through so many hoops—writing conferences, writing retreats, endless platform building, elevator pitches, critique groups, and workshops.

2 Writing Podcasts You Need to Know (But Probably Aren’t Listening To)

Don't neglect your publishing education.

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

Do you want to make $100,000+/year writing books? If so, these are two podcasts you need to start listening to today. Podcasts provide a wealth of free information, news, and strategies for helping you achieve all of your writing goals.

But, most people don’t listen to podcasts, or at the very least, they aren’t listening to the right podcasts. The “right” podcasts will teach you in “real-time”. They will give you excellent information, statistics, research, and ideas.

If you want to start or continue on your journey to making a living at writing books, these podcasts will be a great help and support to you on your journey.

Finding Unbiased Beta Readers for Your Manuscript

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

Looking for Beta "Stranger" Readers for your manuscript.

Last year, I wrote a series of short stories. I wanted to self-publish them in order to build my newsletter mailing list, but I needed to find unbiased Beta readers who could give me “real” feedback.

I didn’t want to ask my friends and family, for fear they would give me the standard pat on the back or false approval.

2 New Apps to Help Writers Reach Readers

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

Have you  heard of the relatively new chat story craze?

Tap is a mobile phone app that drops you right into a story and you experience the story by reading someone else’s texts. Many of the chat stories fall within genres that are easy to wrap around short snippets of dialogue. Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Comedy, and Horror dominate the app.

What Is BookBub—And Why Do Authors Need to Know?

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

As an agent, I often come across authors and industry professionals who have no idea what BookBub is. 

BookBub is currently the single best promotion opportunity for any eBook and it is highly sought after by authors and publishers in the “know”.

3 Best Things About Being a Literary Agent

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

I love being a literary agent. The last 1.5 years has been a whirlwind of flurry and excitement. It’s also been jam-packed with thousands of hours of work for me and my team, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Being an agent is not for everyone. Daily doses of rejection have become the norm and for many people that level of disappointment would do them in. I’ve just decided to accept every rejection as another opportunity to sell my clients manuscripts to a different publisher! 

Amazon's New Policy Change, From Play It Again Sports to Read It Again Books

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

Beware Amazon's New Policy Change!

In 1983 Play It Again Sports launched in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and within five years the store burst on the national scene through franchising opportunities. The stores' used sporting equipment resale concept found quick success as many customers looked to cash-in on low prices.

Many sports require equipment that has a lifetime much longer than the average participants age or developmental phase which creates an ever-growing pool of used sports equipment.  The chain soon blossomed to over 400 stores nationwide because of low product investment and high profitability. This same business model has allowed many movie and video game resale stores to find similar success.

3 More “Hot” Amazon Subgenres or Trends?

Note from Edie. Neither Cyle nor I is advocating writing in some of these trends. The purpose behind this post is to make sure we've got our eyes wide open to the trends swirling around in the publishing waters. 

by Cyle Young 
@CyleYoung

Every few months it seems that the hot genres, subgenres, and trends changeover. Some previous trends cool off, while others heat up.

There is a significant correlation between popular movies and television show release dates and the desire for readers to purchase books of similar style, content, and feel.

3 “Hot” Amazon Subgenres or Trends?

by Cyle Young 
@CyleYoung

As both an author and agent, people are always asking what are some “hot” Amazon subgenres or trends. This is always a loaded question and one that is very difficult to answer.

I recently reviewed some interviews from some of the biggest traditional publishers on this topic. Most of them refused to give an answer, and those that didn’t dodged the question.

What Is Amazon Marketing Services, and Should I Be Using It? (Part 2)

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

Amazon Marketing Services (AMS) allows you to advertise your book utilizing a targeted keyword strategy. 

But first, you must answer two important questions.

• What type of ads do I run? 
• Where do I find the keywords to use?

What Is Amazon Marketing Services, and Should I Be Using It? (Part 1)

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

Amazon Marketing Services (AMS) is the newest marketing opportunity that you can utilize as an author. You must have an Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) account to participate. The best benefit of AMS is that your advertisements will be seen by buyers who are kindle readers.

Unlike Facebook Ads, which can cost you hundreds of dollars in advertisements to people who do not own a kindle, AMS offers you the opportunity to define your audience to a very specific group of people—readers who use kindle apps or platforms, and readers who buy books on Amazon.

You can be assured that by using AMS you will have the best opportunity to acquire sales from kindle readers. No other advertising platform can offer such a defined market—not even the infamous, Bookbub!

One of the great benefits to AMS, is that it allows you to customize the keywords that you are targeting. For one of my recent adds, I imported a list of over 1000 keywords and phrases that covered every conceivable and searchable term or chain of words related to my topic.

AMS reports specifically on the success of each keyword, showing you how many impressions the keyword delivered, how many clicks came as a result of the keyword, and how many sell throughs were associated with that keyword. No other marketing platform can give those kind of specific details.

Every promotion and marketing service has its strengths and weaknesses, but for an author with books listed on Amazon, AMS is currently providing excellent results. I highly suggest it at this time.

Be forewarned, as with any marketing opportunity, overtime as more people begin to use AMS it will become less effective at delivering results, but for now it is still providing a wonderful return on your investment.

Should an author begin using Amazon Marketing Services?

Yes, Immediately.

Comment below with any questions about AMS, and/or comment about your results with AMS if you have used it so far.

TWEETABLES
What is Amazon Marketing Services, & Should I be Using It? @CyleYoung (Click to Tweet)

Literary agent @CyleYoung explains the benefits of using Amazon Marketing Services (Click to Tweet)

Don't Miss Part 2!
What is Amazon marketing services, and should I be using it? (Part 2)

Cyle Young is thankful God blessed him with the uniqueness of being an ADD-riddled…SQUIRREL!...binge writer. Not much unlike the classic video game Frogger, Cyle darts back and forth between various writing genres. He crafts princess children’s stories, how-to advice for parents, epic fantasy tales, and easy readers.

Does Platform Trump Writing Ability - Who Wins the Debate?

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

As a literary agent, I routinely get asked which is more important platform or the quality of the writing?

For writers who are looking to get published, this is an important question to debate. It may be the most important question.

The correct answer is not as easy as it may seem. The winner of this important debate between platform and writing ability can change more frequently than the tide. For the purposes of this post, I will look at this great debate from a traditional publishing perspective as it pertains to unpublished authors. For self-publishers, a third-party candidate weighs into the equation—marketing/networking.

No Free Passes in Publishing

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

The publishing industry doesn’t give any free passes. Ever opportunity, conversation, meeting, email, and phone call has a price. Nothing is free for anyone.

What is the price? Time.

Time is the most valuable currency that a writer, publisher, editor, or agent has to give. Those emails, phone calls, etc. also have a finite price tag. Someone is on the clock somewhere, but those dollars are not as precious as time.

5 Ways to Write Using the Five Senses—Touch

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

Different body parts experience the sensation of touch in unique ways. Fingertips have heightened levels of sensitivity, but the tip of an elbow is desensitized. 

Depending on how you touch on object with certain body parts the feeling or experience will be different and should be described relative to the sensation.

5 Ways to Write Using the Five Senses—Smell

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

I don’t know about you, but every time I smell cinnamon rolls in the oven, I am transported back to 1980’s. My thoughts drift to waking up on Sunday morning to the sweet smell of breakfast baking in the kitchen. My stomach growls. My mouth salivates, and I can almost hear my mother rustling the dishes.

What a great memory from my childhood.

Smell has a powerful effect on our memories, and to be a great writer you must harness the power of smell along with your other four senses.

5 Ways to Write Using the Five Senses—Taste

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

Now that we’ve taken a deeper look at two of the senses, sound and sight. Let’s take a more in depth look at one of the hardest senses to describe in some settings—taste.

All great authors write using the five senses, and the best know how to incorporate just a touch of taste to highlight an emotion, experience, or mood, or to fill out a setting. These masters draw their readers deeper into the world, scene, or setting of a story by embracing utilizing the five unique qualities of taste savory, sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.