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Tag Archives: Books

Speakipedia Podcast #34: Allison Shapira

Speakipedia Posted on January 7, 2025 by juanJanuary 15, 2025
Speakipedia Podcast #34: Allison Shapira

Transcript:  Dave Bricker (00:01) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakipedia.com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk and smart strategies from visionary … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #33: Lucille Ossai

Speakipedia Posted on January 3, 2025 by juanJanuary 8, 2025
Speakipedia Podcast #33: Lucille Ossai

Transcript:  Dave Bricker (00:02) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakipedia.com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk, smart strategies, and amazing stories from … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #32: Lois Creamer

Speakipedia Posted on December 10, 2024 by juanDecember 18, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #32: Lois Creamer

Dave Bricker: Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakipedia.com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk, smart strategies and amazing stories from visionary speakers … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast 30: Patricia Fripp

Speakipedia Posted on November 24, 2024 by juanDecember 4, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast 30: Patricia Fripp

Transcript Dave Bricker (00:07) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakepedia.com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk and smart strategies from visionary … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #29: Susan Ford Collins

Speakipedia Posted on November 19, 2024 by juanNovember 27, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #29: Sussan Ford Collins

Dave Bricker (00:06) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakipedia.com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk, smart strategies, and amazing stories from visionary … More ☛

Swim With Whales

Speakipedia Posted on October 31, 2024 by Dave BrickerNovember 4, 2024

Do you swim with whales? When we want big clients and big opportunities, we get in the water with them! And that’s what we’ll do in this coolest-ever business retreat. Check an Item Off Your Bucket List Spend six days … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #27: Marilyn August

Speakipedia Posted on October 25, 2024 by juanNovember 13, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #27: Marilyn August

ï»ż Transcript  Dave Bricker (00:05) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakepedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk, smart strategies, and … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #26: David Murray

Speakipedia Posted on October 21, 2024 by juanNovember 6, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #26: David Murray

Transcript Dave Bricker  (00:05) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakepedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker , bringing you straight talk, smart strategies, and … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #25: Rob Shanahan

Speakipedia Posted on October 10, 2024 by juanOctober 30, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #25:Rob Shanahan

Transcript:  Dave Bricker (00:07) This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by Speakipedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk, smart strategies, and amazing stories from visionary speakers and thought leaders. From the heart of small town … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #23: Mitch Mitchem

Speakipedia Posted on September 13, 2024 by juanOctober 16, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #23: Mitch Mitchem

Transcript  Dave Bricker (00:00) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakipedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk, smart strategies, and amazing … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #22: Paula Rizzo

Speakipedia Posted on September 12, 2024 by juanOctober 9, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #22: Paula Rizzo

Transcript Dave Bricker (00:07) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakipedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk, smart strategies, and amazing … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #19: Humphrey Bower

Speakipedia Posted on August 26, 2024 by juanSeptember 18, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #19: Humphery Bower

Dave Bricker (00:00) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakipedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk, smart strategies, and amazing stories … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #18: Pauline Butcher Bird

Speakipedia Posted on August 22, 2024 by juanSeptember 11, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #19: Pauline Butcher Bird

Dave Bricker: Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakipedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk, strategies, and amazing stories from visionary … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast # 15:
Simone Vincenzi

Speakipedia Posted on July 29, 2024 by juanAugust 21, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast # 15:Simone Vincenzi

  Transcript Dave Bricker: Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by Speakipedia.com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk and smart strategies from visionary … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #14:
Andrea Gold

Speakipedia Posted on July 16, 2024 by juanAugust 14, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #14:Andrea Gold

Transcript:  Dave Bricker (00:07) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business?  This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakepedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk and smart strategies from … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast # 13:
Rick Lozano

Speakipedia Posted on July 5, 2024 by juanAugust 7, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast # 13:Rick Lozano

Transcription Dave Bricker (00:07) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speekipedia Media, brought to you by speakipedia.com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk and smart strategies from visionary … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast # 11:
Will Bowen

Speakipedia Posted on June 25, 2024 by juanJuly 23, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast # 11:Will Bowen

Transcription Dave Bricker (00:06) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media, brought to you by Speakipedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk and smart strategies from visionary … More ☛

Storytelling Wizard (Demo)

Speakipedia Posted on June 25, 2024 by Dave BrickerAugust 16, 2024
Storytelling Wizard

by Dave Bricker Load a demo and view the AI-generated results. Intro Setup Protagonist Transformation Conflict Steps Characters The Story Introduction If you have zero carpentry skills and you purchase a table saw, you’ll likely lose a few fingers by … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #10:
Johann Callaghan

Speakipedia Posted on June 24, 2024 by juanJuly 16, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #10: Johann Callaghan

Dave Bricker (00:01) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakipedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk and smart strategies from visionary … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast # 9:
David H. Lawrence the XVII

Speakipedia Posted on June 21, 2024 by juanJuly 10, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast # 9:David H., Lawrence the XVII

Transcript Dave Bricker (00:01) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakypedia Media brought to you by Speakypedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk and smart strategies from … More ☛

Thank you book request

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by juanJune 13, 2024
Thank you book request

Thank you for your interest in Dave’s books. you’ll receive an email shortly with the link to download the PDF

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Publishing Straight Talk

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Publishing Straight Talk

There are plenty of good reasons to self-publish, but not all are profit-oriented or even rational. Before you invest in your book, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself some serious questions. Why did I write my book? … More ☛

Writing is Design: Avoid Writing Clichés for Better Prose

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Writing is Design: Avoid Writing Clichés for Better Prose

Since time immemorial, clichĂ©s have sneaked in the door when we least expect them to. They’re low-hanging fruit for writers who abscond with them quickly instead of striving for excellence. But to the trained eye, writing clichĂ©s stick out like … More ☛

Nonfiction Writing and the One-sided Sales Conversation

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 14, 2024
Nonfiction Writing and the One-sided Sales Conversation

Business, technology, and how-to books can be viewed as one-sided sales conversations. Though the author may hope to sell products or services, what’s usually being sold directly to the reader is an idea—a strategy or philosophy that can be used … More ☛

Book Design Basics: Choosing a Book Font

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Book Design Basics: Choosing a Book Font

Selecting a book font seems simple enough, but important subtleties and fine points of typography are not obvious to the average writer. This article offers insights into fonts suitable for book typography. Though it won’t turn the average author into … More ☛

Rethinking Book Cover Design

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Rethinking Book Cover Design

Book cover design tells the story of the story. It must convey the spirit and intentions of the author authentically, and it also has a few practical chores to perform. If a book cover design is to accomplish these things … More ☛

Publishing Advice – Practices & Principles

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Publishing Advice – Practices & Principles

The following publishing advice is based on my own experiences and those of my clients. I hope you find it valuable and encouraging, even if it changes your expectations. I’ve written and published 12 books. I’ve guided many remarkable people … More ☛

Want a Traditional Publishing Contract? Do Your Homework

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Want a Traditional Publishing Contract? Do Your Homework

This article discusses the pros and cons of traditional publishing. Abandon your biases, study the business of publishing, and choose the publishing method that best suits you and your book. Perhaps the biggest myth in publishing is that as a … More ☛

Writing is Design: Two-Word Writing Clichés

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Writing is Design: Two-Word Writing Clichés

Two-word clichĂ©s are perhaps the least obvious kind. Unless we’re vigilant, they sneak into our prose, steal color, mask our individual writer’s voice, and make us sound like millions of other writers who mindlessly employ the same worn out word … More ☛

The Perfect Book Sales Page

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
The Perfect Book Sales Page

Tom Morkes published The Perfect Book sales Page on his blog. I’m usually the first person to reject formulaic approaches to book marketing. Many well-written books are horrible products. But what I like about Tom’s template is that it forces … More ☛

Publishing Scams and How they Work

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Publishing Scams and How they Work

Many self-publishers start their book projects with unrealistic expectations and misunderstandings about how publishing works. A huge industry has arisen to prey on writers who are unsure of the path. This article explains the basics of how publishing scams work … More ☛

Book Giveaways: Are They Worth it?

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Book Giveaways: Are They Worth it?

Should you give away books for free? The value of book giveaways can’t be assessed by formula. The prevailing mythology suggests that the goal of publishing is to sell books, but the huge majority of indie publishers don’t do the … More ☛

How to Produce Audiobooks with Amazon ACX

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 14, 2024
How to Produce Audiobooks with Amazon ACX

This article explains how to produce and market a professional quality audiobook using Amazon ACX. Through ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange), I was able to audition voiceover talent, choose a professional producer, review the work in progress, and make my audiobook … More ☛

Self-Publishing Scams: Keep the “Self” in Self-Publishing

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Self-Publishing Scams: Keep the “Self” in Self-Publishing

Here’s an addendum to Publishing Scams and How they Work. I wonder why so many authors, after spending thousands of hours working on a book, fail to conduct a few critical hours of research that will save them thousands of … More ☛

Page Layout: Illustrated Books and the Rule of Thirds

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Page Layout: Illustrated Books and the Rule of Thirds

This article explores page layout strategies for books based on the Rule of Thirds. A grid system based on traditional guidelines ensures harmonious proportions and placement of objects on a page. Page layout for books is governed by a range of factors. Trade … More ☛

Fine Control Over Justified Text

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Fine Control Over Justified Text

Page layout programs like Adobe Indesign and Quark, allow typographers to exert fine control over justified text to remove gaps and “rivers.” The default settings produce “pretty good” results—better than a word processor—but a few small tweaks will dramatically improve … More ☛

English Pet Peeves

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
English Pet Peeves

Discussions of English Language pet peeves provide an entertaining forum for the expression of ire. In fact, if a “pet” is something we cherish, and a “peeve” is something that annoys us, “pet peeves” are what we love to hate. … More ☛

Simulating the Appearance of Traditional Print

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Simulating the Appearance of Traditional Print

Digital typography offers capabilities that printers working with hot lead type and wood type could only dream of. Digital type can be stretched and resized infinitely, justified within unusual boundaries, or wrapped around almost any shape. And yet, traditional letterpress … More ☛

Encouragement for Those On The Path to Better Writing

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Encouragement for Those On The Path to Better Writing

So many writers get discouraged. This stinks. I quit. Others are overconfident. They’ve always had “a gift for words” so they fail to submit their prose to an editor‘s scrutiny. I recently shared an email exchange with an editing client … More ☛

Book Design – Revisiting Classic Layout for Print and EBooks

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Book Design – Revisiting Classic Layout for Print and EBooks

Book design has changed since publishing became a gigantic industry. Typesetting was once performed by trained craftsmen who apprenticed to masters before inking their own plates. Phototypesetting arrived in the 1960s and by the late 1980s, digital publishing transferred the … More ☛

Creative Nonfiction, Memoir, and the Nature of Truth

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Creative Nonfiction, Memoir, and the Nature of Truth

A few years ago, I attended a nonfiction–writing workshop where I was told by the instructor that to qualify as nonfiction, a work must adhere as strictly to truth as possible. But such an edict rests on the naĂŻve assumption … More ☛

A Manuscript is Not a Book: Ten Tips for Manuscript Preparation

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 18, 2024
A Manuscript is Not  a Book: Ten Tips for Manuscript Preparation

In my work with writers, I come across many common technical problems with manuscripts. These usually spring from the best of intentions as the writer attempts to create the feel of the finished book within the manuscript. Though they’re trying … More ☛

Not Selling Books? Did you do the Math?

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Not Selling Books? Did you do the Math?

You threw a grand party but nobody came. Your novel is so good but you’re not selling books. What happened? You were supposed to appear on Oprah’s show. Terry Gross isn’t calling you for an interview. You may be an … More ☛

The Grammar of Book Design

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
The Grammar of Book Design

Are images analogous to words? Is what makes a sentence sound “right” the same thing that makes an image “pop” or a jazz solo “burn?” The similarities are noteworthy but the differences are important. Just as the best of writers … More ☛

Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover – Part 3

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover – Part 3

This third installment of Judging a Book by its Cover looks at great book cover designs that won the 2012 Design Observer 50 Books-50 Covers award. Part 1 explored how most book design rarely rises above “competent.” Part 2 looked … More ☛

Blogging to Build a Speaker or Author Platform

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Blogging to Build a Speaker or Author Platform

How can speakers, indie writers, and self-publishers use a blog to build a platform? This article explains how to publish online content to build community around your books. Build a Platform: Set up Your Blog A blog (short for web … More ☛

Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover – Part 2

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 14, 2024
Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover – Part 2

Part 1 of Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover critiqued “professional” covers taken from Amazon’s Editor‘s choice list. Read that article first as it provides background for this one. The article looked at design elements that worked … More ☛

How Many Spaces After a Period? Ending the Debate

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
How Many Spaces After a Period? Ending the Debate

Few subjects arouse more passion among writers and designers than the debate over how many spaces should follow a period. If you adhere to a style manual, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that doesn’t specify a single-space. Chicago and … More ☛

What’s a Professional Editor Worth?

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
What’s a Professional Editor Worth?

What do you think a professional editor‘s pay scale should be? Assume that a proofreader would be at the bottom of the scale and a developmental/line editor would be at the top. An examination of the work editors perform sheds … More ☛

Co-Publishing – Alternative Path or Another Trap for Writers?

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Co-Publishing – Alternative Path or Another Trap for Writers?

I recently published a post about the difference between vanity publishing and true self-publishing. Fundamentally, the article defines a publisher as “someone who takes the risk on a book.” Vanity Presses represent themselves as publishers and accept royalties while the … More ☛

Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by Its Cover – Part 1

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 16, 2024
Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by Its Cover – Part 1

Nothing screams “amateur” like a poorly crafted book cover. The standards for book design aspired to by trade publishers are not all that high, but self-publishers routinely fall short of them. If you want your book to be taken seriously, … More ☛

Reality Checklist for Self-Publishers

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Reality Checklist for Self-Publishers

One question that loops endlessly on writers‘ forums is “How can I sell more books?” The question is a natural one, but for many self-publishers, it betrays a certain lack of awareness about the publishing business. Lest I sound holier … More ☛

Self-Publishing & Vanity Publishing: Confuse Them and Pay the Price

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Self-Publishing & Vanity Publishing: Confuse Them and Pay the Price

What is true self-publishing? What is the difference between self-publishing and “vanity publishing” or “subsidy publishing?” How do these differ from “traditional publishing?” Don’t publish until you understand these terms; that knowledge can make or break your book. Learn about … More ☛

Proposed Standards for Book Typography

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Proposed Standards for Book Typography

The word processor has placed new burdens on writers to understand how to use italics, big and small capitals, dashes, hyphens, initials, etc. Writers who do their own typesetting often produce mediocre results. Likewise, trade publishers sacrifice typographic aesthetics when … More ☛

Why You Need a Professional Editor

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Why You Need a Professional Editor

After completing the final draft of a manuscript for my fifth book, I wanted a reality check. I hired a professional editor and learned something important about self-publishing. No matter how capable you are as a writer and proofreader, you … More ☛

Gatekeepers and Self-Publishing

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Gatekeepers and Self-Publishing

Indie publishers complain that the mainstream publishing establishment acts as a “gatekeeper.” Many readers rely on big publishing houses to filter out low quality books—even though trade publishers regularly print celebrity crap with impunity. Indie publishers often see themselves as … More ☛

Straight Talk About Book Reviews

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Straight Talk About Book Reviews

Book  reviews are critically important. Have you ever read a book hoping it would get better, only to find that it never did? And how do you tell if an independently published book is any good? So many are poorly … More ☛

Self-Publishing: Art or Business?

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Self-Publishing: Art or Business?

The very idea of “book marketing” is vague. It’s like subsuming advertising and fine art sales into a single realm of “image marketing.” And in tacking marketing on as the de facto second phase of writing a book, a lot of worthy artists’ resources are placed in jeopardy.

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Indie Publishers, Bookstores and Readers – the Indie Ecosystem

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Indie Publishers, Bookstores and Readers –  the Indie Ecosystem

Indie publishers are everywhere and so are indie bookstores, but apart from their names, the two have little in common. “Independence” is a feelgood concept, but it’s often presented without any reference to that which a publisher or bookstore is independent … More ☛

Book Design Basics – Dashes, Hyphens and Dots

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 16, 2024
Book Design Basics – Dashes, Hyphens and Dots

This section on dashes, hyphens and dots goes beyond typographic aesthetics to explore how we can communicate more effectively as writers. The subtle intricacies of hyphens and dashes affect all authors whether they typeset their own books or not. Knowing … More ☛

Self-Publishing IS Real Publishing-The Difference is up to You

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Self-Publishing IS Real Publishing-The Difference is up to You

The notion of real publishing­ as opposed to self-publ­ishing and the stigma surrounding it is obsolete. I have no objections to traditional publishers but every one of them started off as a “self-publi­sher” with a first book. I have pretty … More ☛

The Single Most Important Contribution to Publishing

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
The Single Most Important Contribution to Publishing

Many readers still love to feel the subtle emboss of letters stamped on paper with metal type. I was rummaging through the garage and came across an old copy of The Progressive Road to Reading Book 2 by Georgine Burchill, … More ☛

Book Design Basics Part 1: Margins and Leading

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Book Design Basics Part 1: Margins and Leading

Book design is a lost art. Though book design discussions usually focus on covers, consider how much more time a reader spends staring at the text. An elegant book block is just as important. Decades ago, professional tradesmen practiced the … More ☛

Book Design Basics Part 2: Optical Margins, Indents and Periods

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Book Design Basics Part 2: Optical Margins, Indents and Periods

Part 2 of Fundamentals of Book Design explores optical margins, paragraph formatting and spaces. Read about margins, layout and leading in Part 1. The self-publishing revolution is (aside from the Internet) the greatest thing ever to happen to freedom of … More ☛

Self-Publishers Should Not Be Self-Editors

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Self-Publishers Should Not Be Self-Editors

Editing is one of the first hurdles you’ll encounter as an independent writer. Your fan club is your enemy. Encouraging friends who think it’s “wonderful you actually wrote a book” are not unbiased editors. A good editor will put your … More ☛

Book Distributors: What’s in it for Publishers?

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Book Distributors: What’s in it for Publishers?

There is a direct relationship between the number of sales you can expect from a book distributor and the value-added services they provide to publishers and readers. Publishers are best served to ally themselves with book distributors that do the … More ☛

Self-Publishing? Get Real(istic)!

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Self-Publishing? Get Real(istic)!

There are plenty of good reasons to self-publish, but not all are profit-oriented or even rational. Before you invest in your book, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself some serious questions. Understand what you’re getting into and define success at its proper place on the spectrum between retail sales and artistic satisfaction. With some clarity, planning and management of expectations, even a modest publishing venture can be rewarding and satisfying.

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Tips For Book Cover Design

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Tips For Book Cover Design

Most book designers make the same errors. One sore spot for me and with many of my university design students, is typography.

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Many Unhappy Returns – Think Outside the Bookstore

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Many Unhappy Returns – Think Outside the Bookstore

If you’re hoping to have mainstream bookstore distribution, using a Vanity Press may present some obstacles. Book buyers will likely tell you, “your book may be excellent, but you’re using a Vanity Publisher and the vast majority of their books … More ☛

Stop Picking on POD

Speakipedia Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 13, 2024
Stop Picking on POD

A great technology is getting a bad rap for the wrong reasons. Print On Demand (POD) technology is often mislabeled “Publish On Demand,” which consequently associates it with the Vanity Publishing world; a realm inhabited by a few reputable operators and a large number of scammers waiting to prey on naive writers. While it’s true most Vanity Publishers do rely on POD technology, the majority of reputable self-publishers and many small traditional publishers do, too. POD is entirely disconnected from matters related to whether you own your own ISBN numbers, share rights and royalties with a third party, own your cover artwork or choose one distribution chain over another. It’s just a digital book-manufacturing technology. After all the business arrangements are decided on, a file is sent to a POD printer and books are then manufactured to order in quantities as small as a single book. POD is just a printing technology—and it’s a great one.

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Speakipedia Podcast #8: Maureen Mahoney

Speakipedia Posted on June 5, 2024 by Dave BrickerJuly 3, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #8: Maureen Mahoney

Transcript Dave Bricker (00:05) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by Speakipedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk and smart strategies from … More ☛

Speakipedia Podcast #7:
Kelly Swanson

Speakipedia Posted on May 28, 2024 by Dave BrickerJune 26, 2024
Speakipedia Podcast #7: Kelly Swanson

Transcript Dave Bricker (00:07) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakipedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk and smart strategies from visionary … More ☛

Publishing a Book: Beware of Vanity Publishers

Speakipedia Posted on May 16, 2024 by juanJune 11, 2024
Publishing a Book: Beware of Vanity Publishers

Here’s a useful definition. Think of a publisher as an individual or entity that assumes the financial risk for a book. A publishing house buys your manuscript, pays you a small advance against hope for royalties, and earns a profit … More ☛

M&Ms, Rock Stars, and Divas

Speakipedia Posted on March 26, 2024 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

  What of M&Ms, rock stars, and divas? The rock band Van Halen had an infamous clause in their contract saying there could be no brown M&Ms backstage, or the promoter would forfeit the entire show at full price. It … More ☛

Protect Your Ideas: Copyright

Speakipedia Posted on February 13, 2024 by Dave BrickerJuly 25, 2024
Protect Your Ideas: Copyright

Ideas are “intellectual property.” I.P. includes print-based material like books and articles and scripts, music and video, and also logos and names. As authors, speakers, and thought leaders, we make our living from our intellectual property, and we rely on … More ☛

How Long Does it Take to Build a Speaking Business?

Speakipedia Posted on January 10, 2024 by Dave BrickerJuly 2, 2024
How Long Does it Take to Build a Speaking Business?

How long does it take to build any business? Celebrities and rock stars may find it easy to launch an enterprise based on name recognition. A few speakers are able to build a practice quickly when they retire as industry … More ☛

An Interview with Voice Artist Humphrey Bower

Speakipedia Posted on July 11, 2023 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

Find Your Voice 
 And Someone Else’s! Do you enjoy a good audiobook as much as I do? Australian actor Humphrey Bower voices hundreds of characters—men and women with accents from around the world. I’ve listened to over 350 hours … More ☛

Punch Up Your Elevator Pitch

Speakipedia Posted on March 4, 2023 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

The “elevator pitch” is an essential professional tool—a tool that should be kept razor sharp and as ready to deploy as a handshake and a smile—and yet, most professionals are woefully bad at introducing themselves. Have you ever attended a … More ☛

Change Your Pricing Story

Speakipedia Posted on January 10, 2023 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

  Should you charge $20 for your new book or $19.97?  Will dropping your price by three cents help you sell more books? What about smart consumers who are educated about sales and marketing? Will they think you’re being manipulative? … More ☛

Shared Stories and The Next Generation

Speakipedia Posted on December 6, 2022 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

Hooray for Hollywood! Well 
 maybe; maybe not. Movies about rock stars’ journeys and superheroes (Is there really a difference?) may amount to no more than the latest money grab by motion picture studios and music labels (Is there really … More ☛

Put a Price on Your Passion

Speakipedia Posted on August 30, 2022 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

How do you put a price on your passion? How can you charge a fair-but-high price for your services?   You’ve got a fantastic prospect on the line. The conversation is engaging. The relationship develops instantly. Your hopefully-soon-to-be client is … More ☛

Sound Advice for Writers & Publishers

Speakipedia Posted on July 26, 2022 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

The following advice on writing and publishing is based on my own experiences and those of my clients. I hope you find it valuable and encouraging, even if it changes your expectations. I’ve written and published twelve books, and I’m … More ☛

Hobbyist or Professional? Be the Best in the World.

Speakipedia Posted on July 12, 2022 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

Hobbyist or professional? True professionals dedicate their lives to being the best in the world at whatever they do—not some day, but today—every day. Not try, do. I have played guitar almost every day for almost forty years. I play … More ☛

Reading Aloud Doesn’t Have to Be Boring

Speakipedia Posted on April 5, 2022 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

Keep your lis­ten­ers’ at­ten­tion while read­ing aloud. The host an­nounces the next au­thor. She walks to the lectern, of­fers a syn­op­sis, and be­gins read­ing aloud. It’s not bad prose—and I can’t say that for every writer here—but after three pages … More ☛

Another Boring Speaker! The Problem and How to Fix It.

Speakipedia Posted on July 20, 2021 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

“This should be a great presentation,” said Jess as we walked into the Chamber of Commerce breakfast and grabbed a table near the platform. The speaker made a gazillion dollars taking startups public. He’s the CEO of
” “Why does everyone … More ☛

Superhero Stories

Speakipedia Posted on July 6, 2021 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

When I was young, I collected superhero stories and comic books. I was fascinated by the exploits of the same characters—Ironman, Spiderman, Superman, and others—who inspire movie-watchers today. The comic book was for me, the ultimate storytelling medium, a combination … More ☛

Story Themes: The Unlikely Teacher

Speakipedia Posted on June 8, 2021 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

The unlikely teacher is one of my favorite story themes,  partially because I’ve been fortunate to have had wonderful, unlikely teachers in my own life, but also because it suggests pathways and opportunities for us to transform our lives and … More ☛

Tempest in the Lizard Kingdom: A True Christmas Tale

Speakipedia Posted on December 21, 2020 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

In 1989, as a 25-year-old sailing solo on a 26-foot sailboat, I spent a surreal Christmas weathering a North Atlantic gale, at anchor in a not-so-sheltered place in the central Bahamas. This piece was originally published in my sailing memoir, … More ☛

I-We-You. Tips for Speakers and Writers

Speakipedia Posted on October 27, 2020 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

I-We-You. You’re addressing an audience. When should you switch from the inclusive “we” to the more personal “you?” When is it acceptable to use “I?” When talking about your own experiences, use “I.” Listeners will follow your story as long … More ☛

The “Become a Millionaire Speaker” Story

Speakipedia Posted on October 15, 2019 by Dave BrickerJuly 1, 2024

A friend asked if he should take a day off work to attend a free “Become a Millionaire Speaker or Coach!” seminar. No. Don’t quit your day job—even for a day. I’m sure the session offers hours of true and … More ☛

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