KayLynn Flanders On The Importance (Or Not!) Of A Cover Reveal

I love talking to authors. Our experiences are so similar, yet so very different, that every one of us has a new story to share. Everyone says that the moment you get your cover it really hits you – you’re an author. The cover is your story – and you – packaged for the world. So the process of the cover reveal can be slightly panic inducing. Does it fit your story? Is it what you hoped? Will it sell? With this in mind I put together the CRAP (Cover Reveal Anxiety Phase) Interview.

Today’s guest for the CRAP is KayLynn Flanders who has a degree in English Language and editing, and has been a freelance editor and book designer for over ten years. Her debut novel, Shielded, a YA fantasy, will be published by Delacorte (Penguin Random House) July 21, 2020.

Did you have any pre-conceived notions about what you wanted your cover to look like?

Yes! I’d been keeping a folder with covers I liked for several months before I got my cover art. The folder was mostly filled with cloaked figures not facing the reader, daggers, and epic landscapes. And blue—for some reason, I’ve always been drawn to blue covers. One thing I was sure I didn’t want was a face on the cover. But I was proved wrong on that one, because my main character’s face is on my cover, and it’s more epic than anything I ever imagined for my book! 

How far in advance from your pub date did you start talking covers with your house?

The first time we talked about covers was when my editor sent me concept art. It was about fifteen months before publication, and the concept art was so stunning I yelled, “No way!” out loud and startled my kids. 

Did you have any input on your cover?

Yes! While the concept art was pretty set, my editor was really open to any feedback I had. Further along in the process, I had a few concerns about some of the finishing details, but we went back and forth until everyone was happy.

How was your cover revealed to you?

By email! Because there was so much back and forth, the final wasn’t a surprise, but the tagline was! It was one I hadn’t seen, but I’m really happy with it.

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Was there an official "cover reveal" date for your art?

I actually didn’t have a big “cover reveal” for SHIELDED. I saw my cover on Goodreads one day (that was a jolt to my heart, let me tell you), and revealed the cover through my own social media a few days later in November of 2019. The response was phenomenal, though, and I was actually glad I hadn’t stressed about organizing a big reveal. One thing I love about my cover is it creates an emotional response, so it was easy for me to post it and see people’s reactions as they hit like and share. 

How far in advance of the reveal date were you aware of what your cover would look like?

I saw the final cover about two months before the reveal to everyone else, and the full jacket a few weeks after the reveal. 

Was it hard to keep it to yourself before the official release?

Yes! I wanted to splash it everywhere, yet there was a tiny voice that wondered if others would like it as much as I did and wanted to keep it to myself instead. It’s been the lock screen on my phone ever since the reveal. 

What surprised you most about the process?

I was surprised at how much input I got, and how much back and forth there was. I know that isn’t the case with every publisher, but I appreciated having a little bit of a say in things. 

Any advice to other debut authors about how to handle cover art anxiety?

Don’t worry too much about fancy cover reveals. The cover comes out really far before the actual book, with plenty of time to build good publicity—your book’s success doesn’t hinge on the reveal. Also, if you’re given the opportunity to give feedback on your cover, spend time talking things over with your agent so you can know what to focus on asking. Your agent has a really good perspective on publishing, and has probably seen way more covers than you have.

Essential Tips for Beginning Writers

By Nicholas Spade

 A writer is a noble and exciting profession. It arises at the intersection of vivid imagination, broad knowledge, deep feelings, a talent to use the power of words, and the ability to meet readers’ expectations. The art of writing opens numerous opportunities in the modern world. These skills can come in handy for custom writing help, online essay services, academic paper help, college paper assistance, etc.

The same can be said about online essay editing services and edit service for college projects; a professional writer can replace an editor and edit texts too. 

Today everyone needs quality text content: students who have issues with writing assignments; enterprises, promoting businesses on the Internet; common readers looking for engaging stories, and many others. So, you can always find a job in this sphere. All you need as a beginning writer is a desire to start and some useful advice from experts.

Tips for writers: ultimate beginner’s guide

Understanding of the writing art is the first step to your creative achievements. When you know enough theory, everything is getting easier.

#1 Choose your sphere of writing

Nowadays, the concept of the writer is rather wide. It is not restricted to classical literature, crime fiction, journalistic articles, or something like that. One can create business books, technical descriptions, advertising texts, content for social media, etc.

There is no need to dwell on one direction. You are free to opt for a couple of variants. Say, provide writing help service at Writing-help.org and, meantime, establish a personal blog.

#2 Develop your skills

No matter what path of development you have chosen, you must:

●      know your subject perfectly (both theoretical and practical aspects);

●      convey ideas and thoughts in an interesting and understandable manner;

●      feel the readers expectations and write precisely what they need;

●      avoid grammar mistakes and adhere to a proper style.

#3 Learn common writing techniques

Work on your writing style. Obviously, it is all up to the purpose of your texts. For example, if you deal with creative tasks, leverage comparisons, alliteration, metaphors, exaggerations, etc. By doing so, you will make your stories bright and memorable.

#4 Avoid cliches

The value of any text lies in its uniqueness. Phrases that are often repeated sound dull and uninteresting. The thing is trite expressions lose their freshness and power. That is why readers get bored, and they close your article or book. The English language has enough words to express all the range of emotions. Having felt their beauty and power, you will create your own one-of-a-kind story.

#5 Observe and research

Any writer is a researcher, in a way. You have to study various information to create a new unique text. Facts and statistics are essential to prove a certain point of view and ensure a convincing tone. Besides, when watching current situations or analyzing previous events, you can notice new patterns, and, thus, come up with fresh ideas.

#6 Strive to create a special atmosphere around your stories

Writing talent implies the creation of vivid images. They arise from the author’s personal life experience, thoughts, suggestions, etc. While reading, people get a picture of described events and characters; and your job is to give them bright impressions. This is how you can win attention and stay in the memory and hearts of readers. This skill is helpful for writing both fiction and content for commercial purposes.

#7 Love what you do

Make sure that writing is your passion; otherwise, you can face burnout. Do not start a career of the writer, if it is not your cup of tea. Apart from creativeness, this profession includes a lot of routine tasks. To cope with all of them regularly, you need to like the process of creating texts.

How to become a good writer: practical advice

#1 Start writing

Aspiring authors are often afraid to make the first attempt. Yet, realize that you will never become a writer if you only read posts on how to do it. The practice is extremely important in this case, as it hones writing skills and broadens the vocabulary.

Writing has to become your good everyday habit. Make short notes on papers, type texts on your social media, compose texts in Google Docs. The point is to record your ideas regularly.

#2 Do not forget your ideas

Fix all your insights and thoughts. Do not hope that you will remember them after a while. Write all your suggestions in a notebook, use a smartphone, or any other gadget. It is not necessary to type everything. Try to record voice messages or use  voice input. Thus, you will have a good database of personal reflections.

#3 Train your concentration

Focus on the main goal and pay attention to details. Say, if you get a writing assignment to describe your personality, do not write a lot about your family or friends. Learn to concentrate your efforts on priorities. This approach enables you to write effectively.

#4 Organize your daily routine

Professional authors have a bunch of orders every month. Meantime, a lot of them work on a freelance basis. If you want to earn good money from writing, make a schedule and take away all the distractors.

Your working place must be in a calm place; or, at least, use headphones. Forget about social media, TV-series, and chats with friends while writing. Take this profession seriously, and soon you will succeed in it.

#5 Present yourself on the Internet

You can start a blog, contribute content as a guest writer, or even write a book and sell it on Amazon. The thing is to demonstrate your talents and get feedback from readers. Moreover, you can also use your publications as a portfolio.

Expert advice from Writing-help.org: Give links to published articles in your further online texts (if appropriate). It helps content to go viral.

#6 Experiment with writing styles

You can create various types of texts. Do not be afraid to try your hand at media writing, compose an analytical article, help your younger brother with his essay, etc. By doing so, you develop the mindset, look for a favorite niche, and establish an individual writing style.

#7 Find new angles

When you write about a particular issue, try to be objective. Look at the problem from various points of view. Sometimes unexpected suggestions turn into valuable ingenious ideas.

#8 Stay alone with your thoughts

Students often prefer to study with music in headphones or at cafes. It is all about a pleasant atmosphere that gives good vibes. Still, try to write at least one article in silence, and you will feel the difference. Your efficiency will rise, and the text will be more meaningful.

#9 Use contemporary online programs

We recommend Grammarly and Hemingway. The first one is perfect for catching typos, and the second one is good to correct stylistic mistakes. Modern applications enable people to check texts fast, as well as give an outside perspective. However, do not rely fully on them, as even the latest algorithms cannot detect specific nuances.

Of course, you can work with a professional editor. Yet, good spelling and grammar remain the essential skills for any writer.

#10 Find like-minded people

It is a good idea to join a group of writers. Look for professional and amateur communities on social media, blogging platforms, writing conferences, etc. The feeling of belonging gives psychological support and confidence. Besides, you can exchange experience and knowledge. You need someone to discuss new trends and share problems.

Sources of inspiration for writers

As a beginner, you might often face writer’s block. If the muse does not come to you, buy a ticket to the concert or a cinema. Some rest and new impressions work well in this situation. Here are some more variants:

●      prose and poetry,

●      other art forms (painting, photography, theater),

●      modern blogs,

●      trips and nature,

●      communication with interesting people,

●      meditation.

Experts from Writing-help.org are always ready to support your aspiration to become a writer. If you have any issues making the first steps in this career, go to their online company. These guys have created a blog to bring inspiration and give useful tips. You are also free to order any cheap writing or related service from their specialists.

Nicholas Spade, a freelance content creator, blogger, essay writer at  Writing-help.org, editor at Essay-editor.net. Uses the magic of words and the science of psychology to help students and businesses. Finds inspiration in documentary films, poetry, and journeys.

Indie Marketing Guru David Gaughran Shares Tips For Indie Publishing Success

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Today's guest is David Gaughran, author of the historical adventures Liberty BoyMercenary & A Storm Hits Valparaiso, and has helped thousands of authors to self-publish their work via his workshops, blog, and books such as Let’s Get DigitalStrangers to Superfans, BookBub Ads Expert, and Following.

In May 2020, he was one of the recipients of the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award. The SFWA President said, “David Gaughran has been doing yeoman’s work for years, alerting indie writers about predatory schemes and warning them about changes in independent publishing. His work makes the science-fiction and fantasy landscape safer for writers.”

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