Michelle Campbell-Scott

An index could be the thing your book is missing. Take a look in a library or bookstore and you will find few nonfiction books that don't have indexes. That's because publishers know how important the presence of an index is to readers - and therefore how vital it is for sales. Indies often don't realize this - and miss out on potential sales and potential good reviews. A book index is like a guidepost or map for your readers. It tells them what to expect from your book, where to find topics that interest them, and - importantly - what isn't in the book. This means that it reduces the chances of poor reviews and increases the chances of positive reviews. An index helps usability, which makes it more useful to readers. If you are an author thinking of creating your own index, you're in good company. There is quite a precedent for author-indexes (especially in the world of academia, where subjects are so specialist that it's hard to find a professional indexer with relevant experience). This book will guide you through the process and show you how to do it yourself in Microsoft Word. (Sorry, no Mac instructions.)This book is for you if... You need easy-to-understand instructions on how to create your own index for a non-fiction book using Microsoft Word;Your traditional] publisher is insisting on an index and expecting you to pay for it;You don't have a big budget;You aren't a computer or publishing expert;You don't want to spend weeks (or months) learning how to index. This book is not for you if... You need an in-depth, theory-based book. Many people like the jump-right-in, workbook approach. You are looking for something to help you become a professional indexer, or to win indexing awards. Most professional training courses and organizations often recommend Nancy C. Mulwary's Indexing Books. Also check out the American Society of Indexers (ASI) - www.asindexing.org - and other professional and standards organizations in other countries. You can find courses on indexing in local colleges, as well as online. If you do buy this print] book, you will have the opportunity of joining the forthcoming online course based on it - free of charge. You will be able to ask questions, receive help, and see in real-time what the creation of an index involves.

Need to take notes? If you can never find a pen but always have an electronic device, this digital version of shorthand might be for you If you need to take notes quickly for work, study, business, hobbies, or due to memory problems, Electronic Shorthand could be the answer for you. It's a quick and easy-to-learn method of notetaking on an electronic device - a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Unlike traditional shorthand, it doesn't involve learning a whole new language, it's similar to texting but with a few simple rules so you'll always be able to read your notes back It's intuitive, easy, and fun. It will enable you to take extensive notes, quickly and easily, and have them available anywhere in the cloud - without having to transcribe them or type them up afterwards. This is ideal for students and anyone who studies - online or off. The author used to be a school teacher and found that her smartphone-loving pupils adored their new skill. It helped them concentrate during lessons, and improving recall afterwards. It was phenomenally successful for pupils who are kinesthetic learners - those who need to move in order to focus. If your child is struggling in school, this could be a useful aid. It's also great for reporters - you don't need to invest years into learning Pitman, Gregg, or Teeline, and you won't need to worry about storing your notebooks or bits of paper. Journalists have traditionally had to learn shorthand but now, with digital devices, it seems a little archaic. Apart from in courtrooms, where devices are often banned. No problem, you can use electronic shorthand on paper, too. It isn't quite as fast as traditional shorthand but it's a LOT quicker to learn and you can build your speed up to be almost as fast as the dots and squiggles devotees. And, let's be honest, who really does get up to (and maintain - out of the exam room ) those 120wpm+ shorthand speeds anyway? Most of us are almost that fast with our thumbs on a smartphone. Business people love this method for taking down client briefs, networking/conference notes, and for organizing their lives. Your notes will be secure on your device and pretty unreadable to anyone who hasn't studied Electronic Shorthand. You don't need any software, the native Notes app or Evernote, OneDrive, GoogleDrive, or another Notes app is suitable. If you take notes on a computer or laptop, you'll be pleased that the book includes instructions for customizing Microsoft Word to make your notetaking even faster. The author actually invented this system for a medical secretary, who had to take notes on a laptop (they appeared on a screen ) in multidisclipinary team meetings and found it incredibly stressful, until she learnt this method. It wowed everybody Electronic Shorthand could save you hassle, stress, and confusion as you bring your notetaking into the 21st century by making it digital, fast, stress-free, and accurate.

Why This Book Could Really Help YOUR Book SalesPublic relations - PR - is a vital part of any author's marketing toolkit. Not just because it is free, it's extremely powerful and quite under-used. Yet it isn't difficult. PR is about being available, being friendly, and having information to send to people who ask for it. Those people could be reporters, bloggers, reviewers, or anyone who may be interested in your book, your message, and your author brand. How PR Can Help YouYou could get started on a PR campaign right now. All you need to do is write a press release and send it out online via a free online press release distribution service. Press releases are one of the most important tools of PR. Lots of authors struggle with this but it is a learned skill that you can easily pick up. You could even send out duff press releases and still get good backlinks and SEO for your site and social proof for yourself. Not that you'll have to, after reading this book It's all about social proof. You need to make sure that you're everywhere, should reporters decide to come looking for you. Your frequent sending of press releases and posting on social media should make that much, much more likely. Establishing yourself as an expert will also help that, too. Use the tips and techniques in this book to build your own personal database of reporters and other contacts, improve your social media skills (so you don't waste time but do reach the right people), and make sure that your author brand and reputation - both online and off - are the best they can be. This book will show you: What PR is - and what it isn't. How to find great lists of reporters using a little-known method. How to find the 'story' or hook in your book to turn it into a great press release. The best free press release distribution services. The PR possibilities of your website. How to set up a 'press room' on your website. The PR possibilities of social media. What to do next time you publish a book, for maximum PR exposure. and lots more. This book could be the missing part of your marketing plan.