2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge and Assembling Your Publishing Team

A to Z Official Announcement: Please read and follow the sign-up instructions outlined below so you sign onto the list correctly! 

 

The brainchild of Arlee Bird, at Tossing it Out, the A to Z Challenge is posting every day in April except Sundays (we get those off for good behavior.) And since there are 26 days, that matches the 26 letters of the alphabet. On April 1, blog about something that begins with the letter “A.” April 2 is “B,” April 3 is “C,” and so on.

 

You can use a theme for the month or go random – just as long as it matches the letter of the alphabet for the day. We recommend short posts, turn off Word Verification, and visit five blogs (or more) a day beginning with the one after yours on the list.

 


To streamline legitimate blogs from advertisement blogs, the Co-Hosts will be visiting each blog on this list throughout the Challenge. Blogs on the list showing no activity once the Challenge starts will be removed.

 

There are categories for those looking for like-minded blogs. Select ONE category code and enter it after your blog’s title/name. The code applies to your blog, not your theme for the Challenge and is purely optional. However, if your blog has adult content, you MUST mark it (AC) or it will be removed from the list. Codes are as follows:

 

1. WRITING : (WR)

2. BOOKS: (BO)

3. FILM : (FM)

4. PHOTOGRAPHY: (PH)

5. GARDENING: (GR)

6. CRAFT: (CR)

7. ART: (AR)

 8. MUSIC: (MU)

9. CULINARY: (CU)

10. LIFESTYLE: (LI )

11. FASHION: (FA)

12. PERSONAL: (PR)

13. SOCIAL MEDIA: (SO)

14. GAMING: (GA)

15. EDUCATION : (ED)

 16. POLITICS: (PO)

17. HISTORY: (HI)

18. SCIENCE: (SC)

19. HUMOR: (HU)

20. TRAVEL: (TR)

21. MISCELLANEOUS: (MI)

22. ADULT CONTENT: (AC)

 

 Be sure to grab the badge and display it in your sidebar so we know you are participating and link to the A to Z Blog.

 

For more information we recommend you follow the A to Z Challenge Blog and the hosts:

 

 Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out: http://tossingitout.blogspot.com

Alex J. Cavanaugh: http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com

Author Stephen Tremp: http://authorstephentremp.blogspot.com

Tina @ Life is Good: http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com

Damyanti@Amlokiblogs: http://amloki.blogspot.com

Jeremy @ Being Retro: http://www.beingretro.com

Nicole Ayers - The Madlab Post: www.madlabpost.com

M. J. Joachim's Writing Tips: http://mjjoachim.blogspot.com

Heather M. Gardner: http://hmgardner.blogspot.com

AJ @ Naturally Sweet: http://frodofrog.blogspot.com

Pam @ An Unconventional Librarian: http://unconventionallibrarian.com

 

We also have a Facebook Page. The email address is infoatoz2014@gmail.com


The Twitter hashtag is #AtoZChallenge.

 

As an A to Z Co-host, I’m looking for a few good men and women (minions) to help with the particulars of being a co-host. This includes, but is not limited to, tracking the usage of wormholes, stealing and storing nuclear material to open said wormholes, lying to Congress regarding said nuclear material, and helping me visit and leave comments to my allotted portion of A to Z participants during the challenge.

 



Captain Minion

If interested, please sign the disclaimer below and email me at Stephen.tremp@yahoo.com or leave me a note in the Comments. We'll have some really cool unique badges too. Your help is much appreciated. Captain Minion thanks you!

 

Be the first one on your block to sign up for the 2014 A to Z Challenge below!
 
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And Now A Word From Nutschell: Assembling Your Publishing Team: Indie authors have many roles to play: author, editor, designer/artist, formatter, distributor, sales/marketing representative, and accountant/project manager. I listed The Many Roles of an Indie Author in my January 4th post.

 

So how do you go about assembling your publishing team?

 

First: figure out what roles you truly need to delegate. For Story Sprouts, co-editor Alana and I determined that what we needed most was a book cover designer, an editor, and a formatter.

 

Second: search for a professional through personal connections, word of mouth, research, or various freelance sites. Our research gave us an idea of how much we would need to spend, so we chose one that fit the lower end of our budget. 

 

Alana’s sister is a graphic designer. Keela Jacks of Garrigues Graphics did a wonderful job creating the cover art for Story Sprouts. She listened to our suggestions and patiently worked on the color and design to our satisfaction.

 

Our book was formatted by the amazing Rachel Morgan of Morgan Media. Rachel is a bloggy friend highly recommended by many authors and bloggers. Rachel is a whiz at formatting and also creates book covers and other promotional materials.

 

We didn’t know any developmental editors/copy editors so we took to the net. Alana posted a job offer on elance.com, and we chose an editor from several freelancers who responded.

 

Erin Elizabeth Long of Biblio Tech Books is a YA author who has a decade of experience in editing. She did a beautiful job, working in a timely, efficient manner and taking a logical, sensible approach to organizing the book’s content.

 

If you do decide to self-publish, remember your most important job is to write. All other tasks should be delegated if they interfere with your role as an author. Although it may cost money, assembling your own publishing team saves you tons of time, and in the long run may also save your sanity.

 

STORY SPROUTS: CBW-LA WRITING DAY EXERCISES & ANTHOLOGY 2013 BLURB: What happens when linguistic lovers and tale tellers workshop together? Inspiration. Wonder. Discovery. Growth. Magic.

 

KINDLE & PRINT COPIES AVAILABLE THROUGH AMAZON

 

LINKS: Learn more about Story Sprouts at HERE Join the Children’s Book Writers of Los Angeles at HERE Find Nutschell at:

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And don't forget to sign up for the 2014 A to Z Challenge below!