Moving Forward!

Moving Forward!

One of the most important aspects of being a writer and illustrator is keeping the momentum going.  I am about the release my next book, The Delightfully Delicious Dilemma, as soon as things are finalized with my publisher.  Just because I have another book ready to release, does not mean that I should stop production. I need to keep moving forward.  I am now focusing on my third book, the sequel to The Boy Who Cried Ug!.  I am further along than what I thought.  I have 6 pages done with plenty more to go.  This will be the longest e-book that I have created in terms of illustrations.  I have included a picture of my planning panel on the wall of my studio.
Quick Tip for Writers and Illustrators:   Have a space in you home designated to complete your work.  You need a space that you can leave your work and come back to it at any time.  I see my stories like scenes in a movie.  I complete a "dummy book" a quick sketch of the story. Usually the "dummy book" is made up of 8-10 pages of copy paper folded in half and staples.  I make revisions time and time again to the "dummy book" to make sure it flows.  Once I am satisfied with what I have, I begin planning my e-book through quick drawings and sketches better that before.  I will often write notes next to my drawing which may include quotations, onomatopoeias, figurative language, story patterns, etc.  I then move on to final drawings and polishing my writing.  Then the real work begins!

TAXES! Don't Go Into Your Shell!

TAXES! Don't Go Into Your Shell!

Sorry!  I said that I would talk about taxes yesterday and I was distracted.  Who would blame me?  Who really wants to talk about taxes?  When it comes to royalties and running a business, I have learned that the most important thing is keeping expenses separate from your personal account.  I have been doing this for two years and this year I am going to incorporate jeremycolebooks.  There are so many tax write offs for LLCs. 
Quick Tips for Authors and Illustrators:
1) Keep organized...Be sure to organize your expenses and receipts according to categories.  If you have a home office, this means utilities as well. (office supplies, art supplies, technology, phone, utilities, entertainment (meetings), etc...  Don't throw any receipts away.  You never know what you can write off and receipts are your proof.
2) Have a separate checking and savings account for your business.
3) Make sure that you have a great accountant.  I have been filing taxes with the same person for years.  He already has all of my information for my personal and business.  As long as he is affordable, it makes the process easier.
4) Show a profit in your 3rd year.  I have shown consecutive losses two years in a row because I have invested a lot of my personal income.  If your publishing isn't picking up a substantial profit by the third year, you may want to rethink your business model or consider something else.  You may have to change your approach with your business end.
5) Pay taxes on substantial gains on a quarterly basis.  You don't want to get hit with a big IOU to the IRS!

The Delightfully Delicious Dilemma

The Delightfully Delicious Dilemma

http://www.jeremycolebooks.com/Books.html

I am to the point with things that I am just about to go ahead and release my next e-book.  The e-book has been done for a while and would be easy to convert over to a print publication.  I have a real talent with overdoing something or rethinking things too much.  When I released my first e-book, I was just having fun.  I didn't have to worry about anything because I didn't have anything to lose.  Now that I have a website, fans, reputation, supplemental income, success, etc... BLAH! BLAH! BLAH!...I worry about losing what I have established.

Don't ever lose sight of why you are writing or illustrating.  I was blessed to be very successful with my first e-book to the point where I am scared of failing.  It's easy to get caught up in all of the ideas other people have or promises that companies may make you.  It can take away and distract you from your talents.  Focus and do what you were designed to do.

Quick Tip for Authors and Illustrators:  Don't get caught up in all of the hype, keep focused!
 

The Importance of a Website - Celebrating 10,000 Hits

I haven't been blogging for a while because of various personal reasons, but I have realized the importance of my website and directing traffic to my website.  We are celebrating 10,000 hits at jeremycolebooks.com.  In two years I have learned lots and my website has been and will continue to be a valuable marketing tool.  I am going to be more frequent with my blogs.  This year I plan on accomplishing more in my publishing than I have in the past two years.  Tomorrow I will talk about TAXES!

Quick Tip:  Have a simple inexpensive website up and ready to go before you release your first book.  Your website needs to be your central location of all marketing and connections to everything else.  Have whatever social media you are connected to point back to your wesite.  When you are ready for a pro to take it over, you will already have a fan base.  10,000 going strong, not too bad.

Marketing,...UGh! UG!

Marketing,...UGh! or UG!

This is the worst part about publishing!  Like most authors and illustrators, I just want to draw and write.  That's the easy part.  This is the tough stuff, MARKETING.  I tend to let this side of the business go and people don't hear from me for awhile.  Fans will tend to lose interest.
I had to postpone the illustration for the 500 Ug! Fan Club to take a break and being autographing materials.  Be sure to join the 500 UG! Fan Club at my website www.jeremycolebooks.com.  This will be your last opportunity to get a copy of a second edition.

Quick Tip for Authors and Illustrators:  Come up with a way to connect with the world around you.  Because of the internet, it's a global market.  Hey, I have a fan base in Japan thanks to Facebook and the internet.  Don't forget, when you come up with a plan, you have to have the time and resources to maintain it!  Best of Luck! - JC

500 UG! Fan Club Update...

500 UG! Fan Club Update...
500 UG! Fan Club Memberships are selling,... These will be the last of the second edition!  I need to finish this print! (Included in the membership) Be sure to visit my website, jeremycolebooks.com for more informaiton on how to join.  I will post updates of the print during the day today.

   

  

 

 

GOAL! 2013

GOAL! 2013

Have you joined my 500 UG! Fan Club? - Click Here!

2013 is about vision and goals at jeremycolebooks!  I have been successful with two years in the publishing business, and it's time to crank it up and start making some serious profit.  My vision with jeremycolebooks is simple and impacting:

"Inspiring kids to read, write, and illustrate!" 

 

The main goal for jeremycolebooks this year:

"To reach as many people as possible about jeremycolebooks!  To inspire as many kids as possible to develop their talents of reading, writing, and illustrating!  Inspire kids to use the gifts that they have been given and blessed with."

 

Of course, I have other goals that go along with this business, but I firmly believe that if I stick to my vision, the rest will come.  Don't forget to write those goals down!

Quick Tip for Authors and Illustrators:  Many "wanna be" authors and illustrators come to me wanting to know how to publish.  It's very simple: GET THE STORY DONE!  Most of the people who approach me, don't even have there story written or illustrated yet.  Most of the time it's an idea, or they just started on their idea.  Writing and illustrating the story is the easy part.  If you can't get that done, you might as well "hang it up".  There is no reason to go through a summary of the entire process of publishing, unless you have your story completed.  Currently, I am consulting two authors of completely different genres.  When I talked to them both, we started with the basics: "Have you completed the story?"  One of the authors already has a paperback version of his book.  We are focusing on the next step.  The other author:  It gave him focus and direction.  He is realizing that he is just getting started.  Simply put:  GET THE STORY DONE!