Books Archives - Speakipedia https://speakipedia.com/tag/books/ The Presentation & Storytelling Encyclopedia by Dave Bricker Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:58:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://speakipedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cropped-puzzle-globe-60x60.jpg Books Archives - Speakipedia https://speakipedia.com/tag/books/ 32 32 Rock Your Talk – Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 – 11AM https://speakipedia.com/rock-your-talk/ Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:43:07 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=617409 Master The Art of the Short Talk Craft Your Winning Pitch Dominate Toastmasters Contests Leap From the Page to the Stage   Dave Bricker, Rosemary Ravinal, and the City of Doral invite you to join an intimate group of creative … More ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #34: Allison Shapira https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-34-allison-shapira/ Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:35:33 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=616869 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #33: Lucille Ossai https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-33-lucille-ossai/ Fri, 03 Jan 2025 05:13:11 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=616854 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #32: Lois Creamer https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-32-lois-creamer/ Wed, 11 Dec 2024 04:06:24 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=616723 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast 30: Patricia Fripp https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-30-patricia-fripp/ Sun, 24 Nov 2024 16:42:53 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=616632 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #29: Susan Ford Collins https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-29-susan-ford-collins/ Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:17:39 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=616608 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 ☛

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]]> Swim With Whales https://speakipedia.com/whales/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 16:04:02 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=616493 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #27: Marilyn August https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-27-marilyn-august/ Fri, 25 Oct 2024 18:52:15 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=616391  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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #26: David Murray https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-26-david-murray/ Mon, 21 Oct 2024 16:06:08 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=616304 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #25: Rob Shanahan https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-25-rob-shanahan/ Thu, 10 Oct 2024 18:05:09 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=616140 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #23: Mitch Mitchem https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-23-mitch-mitchem/ Fri, 13 Sep 2024 20:10:06 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=615887 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #22: Paula Rizzo https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-22-paula-rizzo/ Thu, 12 Sep 2024 21:22:49 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=615880 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #19: Humphrey Bower https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-19-humphrey-bower/ Mon, 26 Aug 2024 17:07:14 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=615759 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #18: Pauline Butcher Bird https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-18-pauline-butcher-bird/ Thu, 22 Aug 2024 18:11:50 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=615754 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast # 15:Simone Vincenzi https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-15-simone-vincenzi/ Tue, 30 Jul 2024 01:26:38 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=615523   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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #14:Andrea Gold https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-14andrea-gold/ Tue, 16 Jul 2024 14:44:26 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=615044 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast # 13:Rick Lozano https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-13rick-lozano/ Fri, 05 Jul 2024 22:18:02 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=614987 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast # 11:Will Bowen https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-11will-bowen/ Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:29:11 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=613569 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 ☛

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]]> Storytelling Wizard (Demo) https://speakipedia.com/storytelling-wizard/ Tue, 25 Jun 2024 09:40:10 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=613561 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #10: Johann Callaghan https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-10-johann-callaghan/ Mon, 24 Jun 2024 22:02:25 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=613554 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast # 9:David H. Lawrence the XVII https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-9david-h-lawrence-the-xvii/ Fri, 21 Jun 2024 19:18:52 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=613517 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 ☛

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]]> Thank you book request https://speakipedia.com/thank-you-book-request/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:21 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=7034 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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]]> Writing is Design: Avoid Writing Clichés for Better Prose https://speakipedia.com/writing-cliches/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:20 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3099 Since time immemorial, clichés 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 clichés stick out like … More ☛

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]]> Publishing Straight Talk https://speakipedia.com/publishing-straight-talk/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:20 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=611998 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 ☛

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]]> Nonfiction Writing and the One-sided Sales Conversation https://speakipedia.com/nonfiction-writing-one-sided-sales-conversation/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:19 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=611570 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 ☛

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]]> Book Design Basics: Choosing a Book Font https://speakipedia.com/choosing-book-font/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:18 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=105508 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 ☛

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]]> Rethinking Book Cover Design https://speakipedia.com/rethinking-book-cover-design/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:18 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=153918 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 ☛

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]]> Publishing Advice – Practices & Principles https://speakipedia.com/publishing-advice/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:17 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=292615 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 ☛

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]]> Want a Traditional Publishing Contract? Do Your Homework https://speakipedia.com/traditional-publishing/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:17 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=611549 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 ☛

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]]> Writing is Design: Two-Word Writing Clichés https://speakipedia.com/writing-cliches-2/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:16 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4552 Two-word clichés 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 ☛

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]]> The Perfect Book Sales Page https://speakipedia.com/perfect-book-sales-page/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:15 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4531 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 ☛

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]]> Book Giveaways: Are They Worth it? https://speakipedia.com/book-giveaways/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:14 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4471 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 ☛

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]]> Publishing Scams and How they Work https://speakipedia.com/self-publishing-scams/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:14 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3193 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 ☛

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]]> How to Produce Audiobooks with Amazon ACX https://speakipedia.com/acx/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:13 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4333 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 ☛

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]]> Self-Publishing Scams: Keep the “Self” in Self-Publishing https://speakipedia.com/self-publishing-scams-2/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:13 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4497 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 ☛

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]]> Page Layout: Illustrated Books and the Rule of Thirds https://speakipedia.com/page-layout-rule-of-thirds/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:12 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4136 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 ☛

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]]> Simulating the Appearance of Traditional Print https://speakipedia.com/simulating-the-appearance-of-traditional-print/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:11 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4084 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 ☛

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]]> Fine Control Over Justified Text https://speakipedia.com/justified-text/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:11 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4020 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 ☛

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]]> English Pet Peeves https://speakipedia.com/english-pet-peeves/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:11 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4051 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 ☛

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]]> Encouragement for Those On The Path to Better Writing https://speakipedia.com/writing-well/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:10 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3465 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 ☛

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]]> Book Design – Revisiting Classic Layout for Print and EBooks https://speakipedia.com/book-design-classic-layout/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:09 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3389 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 ☛

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]]> Creative Nonfiction, Memoir, and the Nature of Truth https://speakipedia.com/memoir/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:09 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3452 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 naïve assumption … More ☛

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]]> A Manuscript is Not a Book: Ten Tips for Manuscript Preparation https://speakipedia.com/a-manuscript-is-not-a-book/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:09 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=284 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 ☛

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]]> Not Selling Books? Did you do the Math? https://speakipedia.com/selling-books/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:08 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3363 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 ☛

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]]> The Grammar of Book Design https://speakipedia.com/book-design-grammar/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:07 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3023 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 ☛

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]]> Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover – Part 3 https://speakipedia.com/judging-book-cover-design-3/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:06 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2960 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 ☛

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]]> Blogging to Build a Speaker or Author Platform https://speakipedia.com/author-platform/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:05 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2818 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 ☛

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]]> Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover – Part 2 https://speakipedia.com/judging-book-cover-design-2/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:05 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2893 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 ☛

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]]> How Many Spaces After a Period? Ending the Debate https://speakipedia.com/how-many-spaces-after-a-period/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:03 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2660 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 ☛

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]]> What’s a Professional Editor Worth? https://speakipedia.com/whats-editor-worth/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:03 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2729 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 ☛

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]]> Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by Its Cover – Part 1 https://speakipedia.com/judging-book-cover-design-1/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:02 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2803 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 ☛

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]]> Co-Publishing – Alternative Path or Another Trap for Writers? https://speakipedia.com/co-publishing/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:02 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2570 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 ☛

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]]> Reality Checklist for Self-Publishers https://speakipedia.com/self-publisher-reality-check/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:00 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2383 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 ☛

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]]> Self-Publishing & Vanity Publishing: Confuse Them and Pay the Price https://speakipedia.com/self-publishing-vanity-publishing/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:00 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2437 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 ☛

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]]> Why You Need a Professional Editor https://speakipedia.com/why-professional-editor/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:59 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2144 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 ☛

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]]> Proposed Standards for Book Typography https://speakipedia.com/book-typography-standards/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:59 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2283 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 ☛

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]]> Straight Talk About Book Reviews https://speakipedia.com/book-reviews-straight-talk/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:58 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2196 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 ☛

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]]> Gatekeepers and Self-Publishing https://speakipedia.com/gatekeepers-selfpublishing/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:58 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2256 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 ☛

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]]> Self-Publishing: Art or Business? https://speakipedia.com/self-publishing-art-business/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:57 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=172 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 https://speakipedia.com/indie-publishers-indie-ecosystem/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:55 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=1708 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 ☛

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]]> Book Design Basics – Dashes, Hyphens and Dots https://speakipedia.com/book-design-part-4/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:53 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=1281 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 ☛

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]]> Self-Publishing IS Real Publishing-The Difference is up to You https://speakipedia.com/real-publishing/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:52 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=1034 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 ☛

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]]> The Single Most Important Contribution to Publishing https://speakipedia.com/publishing-contribution/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:51 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=1094 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 ☛

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]]> Book Design Basics Part 1: Margins and Leading https://speakipedia.com/book-design-part-1/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:50 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=826 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 ☛

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]]> Book Design Basics Part 2: Optical Margins, Indents and Periods https://speakipedia.com/book-design-part-2/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:50 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=930 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 ☛

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]]> Self-Publishers Should Not Be Self-Editors https://speakipedia.com/self-editors/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:49 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=560 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 ☛

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]]> Book Distributors: What’s in it for Publishers? https://speakipedia.com/book-distributors-publishers/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:49 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=650 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 ☛

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]]> Self-Publishing? Get Real(istic)! https://speakipedia.com/self-publishing-get-real/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:48 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=310 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 https://speakipedia.com/on-book-cover-design/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:47 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=143 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 https://speakipedia.com/many-unhappy-returns-think-outside-the-bookstore/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:47 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=202 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 ☛

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]]> Stop Picking on POD https://speakipedia.com/stop-picking-on-pod/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:11:47 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=297 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 https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-8-maureen-mahoney/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:00:15 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=8978 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 ☛

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]]> Speakipedia Podcast #7: Kelly Swanson https://speakipedia.com/speakipedia-podcast-7-kelly-swanson/ Tue, 28 May 2024 12:00:35 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=8648 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 ☛

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]]> Publishing a Book: Beware of Vanity Publishers https://speakipedia.com/publishing-a-book-beware-of-vanity-publishers/ Thu, 16 May 2024 18:34:03 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=8628 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 ☛

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]]> M&Ms, Rock Stars, and Divas https://speakipedia.com/rock-stars-and-divas/ Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:01:02 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=4770   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 ☛

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]]> Protect Your Ideas: Copyright https://speakipedia.com/copyright/ Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:26:44 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=7290 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 ☛

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]]> How Long Does it Take to Build a Speaking Business? https://speakipedia.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-build-a-speaking-business/ Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:33:40 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4743 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 ☛

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]]> An Interview with Voice Artist Humphrey Bower https://speakipedia.com/humphrey-bower-interview/ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 14:00:44 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=4532 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 ☛

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]]> Punch Up Your Elevator Pitch https://speakipedia.com/elevator-pitch/ Sat, 04 Mar 2023 15:00:12 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=4266 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 ☛

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]]> Change Your Pricing Story https://speakipedia.com/change-your-pricing-story/ https://speakipedia.com/change-your-pricing-story/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2023 15:00:11 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=4006   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 ☛

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]]> https://speakipedia.com/change-your-pricing-story/feed/ 1 Shared Stories and The Next Generation https://speakipedia.com/shared-stories/ https://speakipedia.com/shared-stories/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2022 16:00:12 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=1960 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 ☛

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]]> https://speakipedia.com/shared-stories/feed/ 3 Put a Price on Your Passion https://speakipedia.com/put-a-price-on-your-passion/ Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:00:26 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=3468 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 ☛

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]]> Sound Advice for Writers & Publishers https://speakipedia.com/writing-publishing-advice/ https://speakipedia.com/writing-publishing-advice/#comments Tue, 26 Jul 2022 15:00:26 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=3361 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 ☛

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]]> https://speakipedia.com/writing-publishing-advice/feed/ 1 Hobbyist or Professional? Be the Best in the World. https://speakipedia.com/hobbyist-or-professional/ Tue, 12 Jul 2022 14:00:30 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=1719 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 ☛

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]]> Reading Aloud Doesn’t Have to Be Boring https://speakipedia.com/reading-aloud/ Tue, 05 Apr 2022 15:00:01 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=1099 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 ☛

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]]> Another Boring Speaker! The Problem and How to Fix It. https://speakipedia.com/boring-speaker/ Tue, 20 Jul 2021 15:00:30 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=1393 “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 ☛

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]]> Superhero Stories https://speakipedia.com/superhero-stories/ https://speakipedia.com/superhero-stories/#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2021 15:00:54 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=818 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 ☛

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]]> https://speakipedia.com/superhero-stories/feed/ 4 Story Themes: The Unlikely Teacher https://speakipedia.com/unlikely-teacher-story-theme/ Tue, 08 Jun 2021 15:00:06 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=1370 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 ☛

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]]> Tempest in the Lizard Kingdom: A True Christmas Tale https://speakipedia.com/lizard-kingdom-christmas/ https://speakipedia.com/lizard-kingdom-christmas/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2020 16:00:41 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=3046 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 ☛

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]]> https://speakipedia.com/lizard-kingdom-christmas/feed/ 3 I-We-You. Tips for Speakers and Writers https://speakipedia.com/i-we-you/ Tue, 27 Oct 2020 15:00:53 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=3010 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 ☛

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]]> The “Become a Millionaire Speaker” Story https://speakipedia.com/millionaire-speaker/ Tue, 15 Oct 2019 15:00:35 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=2215 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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