So often, I read in FB groups, authors who want to (or think they can) do it all. I have been a small business for over twenty years and one thing you learn - Do Not Wear All The Hats. I know we all want to save money, but most authors are not good at things like: cover art, book layout, ebook conversion. It is similar to a small business trying to be their own accountant or lawyer, most of us have no business doing that. Plus, it is a lot of work just doing what you do know how to do without adding all of the other hats. When my husband and I had our small contracting business, I would tell people that my 'official' title was CEO, but I was the Janitor and everything else in between.

I recently read this great article:
No, You Don't Need to Be Great At Everything–And Why You Shouldn't Try         


In his article he states the following:
In fact, when we insist on doing tasks that we’re only halfway skilled at doing, we’re actually hurting ourselves. And it’s a one-two punch. Why?

• It takes us twice as long as someone who’s properly skilled—and our work won’t even be as good.
• We’re distracted from the tasks where we could make our most valuable contribution.

This is so true. An author who tries to do their own cover art, book layout, ebook conversion, are spending a lot of time in the learning curve phase, only to forget most of it by the time they go to do the next book, which means, they start all over again. Hire an expert, not only because it's what they bestt, but it will also frees you up to do what you should do best–WRITE.

When Fifty Shades of Grey came out, it made some people really take notice, especially Traditional Publishers. The book, and the author, received a lot of criticism from the literary world, but the most important thing about the book, the main thing that everyone should have paid attention to: The READERS. The popularity of the book spoke louder in volume than any of the critics. And, quite frankly, it should. 

The article, Fifty Shades of Grey: the series that tied publishing up in knots, touches on how Fifty Shades of Grey not only turned things around for self-publishing and caused quite a stir with Traditional Publishing, the article also addressed the most important factor in selling books - The Reader.

I see this question in writing forums and writing groups all the time, "Would you rather be a so-so writer, like, E.L. James of Fifty Shades of Grey and make money, or be a literary genius and only make a few cents?" Why do we have to choose? Not al of us are going to be E.L. James or Stephen King. Not all of us are going to Hemingway. But we can be ourselves and write, follow our passion, and if others take pleasure in reading what we wrote and we make a few bucks along the way–That is Fantastic.

Self-publishing has opened doors to all kinds of writers and would-be writers. Some do it just for the pleasure of writing, some attempt (and some succeed) to make money at it. What is important to you? Do you just want to write and share it with some friends and family? Or, do you hope to make a few bucks, even become the next big sensation? Either way, just write. The Self-publishing world is open for both.

by Karla Locke

As writers, we oftentimes, channel our characters. It was Memorial Weekend and I was possessed, so much so, after two days of intensive writing, I was exhausted. Apparently my character had a lot to say that weekend. 

Worn out, I took a break, it was during that break when my character disappeared. Where she went, I have no idea. Not one peep did I hear from her for over two weeks. Then she snuck back, passing on small hints of what was going to happen next. Just little tidbits to tease me with. 

I am getting close to the end of book (hopefully, unless she changes her mind some more), and so I started thinking about the ending. I had an idea or two of what might happen, my character must have been close by and listening, because she informed me of the ending.

It was then that I realized we must be getting close. Soon we will write – THE END.