₦airaland Forum

In all walks of life, the role of women cannot be underestimated, they are said to be the bedrock of a society and they remain vital in the growth of the home, workplace, business and many more. Women have been placed in this space as natural nurturers, with grace, brain and brawn, and immense influence.

Today, the 8th of March of every year is set aside by the United Nation to celebrate women globally and most especially iconic women who have made landmark achievements in Nigeria. There are women in Nigeria that have affected the society in their own great way positively. Among them are Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Folorunsho Alakija, Chimamanda Adichie, Ibukun Awosika, Joke Silver, We cannot forget Dora Akunyili, and many others. Happy International Women’s day to all women out there.

This year’s theme is tagged “Be Bold for Change”. Many women including those mentioned above have demonstrated this theme in different areas of life.


Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/be-bold-for-change/

On a daily basis, most of us are fond of reading newspapers and magazines. With the varied audience for the two mentioned publications, one could imagine their writing styles and hence, the need to explore their diversities. There are some fundamental differences between the two kinds of writing, and if you’re like me and think you can do both, there are a few things you should know.

Newspaper articles consist of timely reportage of events as they unfold, therefore the writing follows a chronological structure called the inverted pyramid. The most important news element comes first in the lead, while a subsequent paragraph continues with less important down to the least important. Therefore it is arranged from ascending to descending order. The news writer ensures that when writing, the following questions must be answered:


Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/getpublished-writing-styles-for-newspapers-and-magazines/

Writing success boils down to hard work, imagination and passion—and then some more hard work. Use these tips as an inspirational guide—or better yet, print a copy to put on your desk, home office, refrigerator door, or somewhere else noticeable so you can be constantly reminded not to let your story ideas wither away by putting off your writing.

Tip 1: “Introduce your main characters and themes in the first third of your novel. If you are writing a plot-driven genre novel make sure all your major themes/plot elements are introduced in the first third, which you can call the introduction. Develop your themes and characters in your second third, the development. Resolve your themes, mysteries and so on in the final third, the resolution.” — Michael Moorcock

Tip 2: “In the planning stage of a book, don’t plan the ending. It has to be earned by all that will go before it.” — Rose Tremain

Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/10-great-writing-tips-from-authors/

Writing success boils down to hard work, imagination and passion—and then some more hard work. iUniverse Publishing fires up your creative spirit with 20 writing tips from 12 bestselling fiction authors.

Use these tips as an inspirational guide—or better yet, print a copy to put on your desk, home office, refrigerator door, or somewhere else noticeable so you can be constantly reminded not to let your story ideas wither away by putting off your writing.

Tip1: “My first rule was given to me by TH White, author of The Sword in the Stone and other Arthurian fantasies and was: Read. Read everything you can lay hands on. I always advise people who want to write a fantasy or science fiction or romance to stop reading everything in those genres and start reading everything else from Bunyan to Byatt.” — Michael Moorcock

Tip 2: “Protect the time and space in which you write. Keep everybody away from it, even the people who are most important to you.” — Zadie Smith

Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/20-writing-tips-from-fiction-authors/

Having a website as an author is necessary; this is because it is a platform where your readers can get to know more about your books, as well as connect with you. However, it is not enough to just have a website, there are some must-haves every author needs on their website. Allow us to present them to you below:

An about page: This might seem obvious, but aside from having an about page, there are some important elements that must reflect in this section, such as where you reside, your picture and a short professional bio. If you are a fun type, then your about page shouldn’t portray you as a very serious person. Your page should portray you as you really are.

Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/5-things-every-author-must-website/

The title of your book is one of the most important decisions you would have to make before publishing. This is because a book’s title contributes to the sale of the book, and as a result, must be chosen wisely. Whether you are writing a novel or nonfiction, below are guidelines for choosing a book title:

1. Consider the theme of your book: When you want to choose a title for your book, it should obviously have to do with what the whole book is about, and something that readers can connect to, after they have read the book.

2. Be descriptive not poetic: There is always the temptation to play with words and be poetic about the title of your book. However, you need to resist that temptation; especially if you want others to connect with the title of the book, and if you don’t want to be the only one buying the book. So instead of being poetic with the title of your book such as: pan, pot and pins; consider using: How to be a good wife.

Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/choose-bestselling-book-title/

Every organisation conscious about its brand recognises that corporate identity comprises a varied selection of small, but very important, essentials that conjoin to send out a single, powerful message about its brand.

When it comes to corporate publishing, it is always important to understand that every printed material, in whatever forms it is produced, contributes to your corporate outlook. The ability to combine resources and communicate this powerful message to clients, investors, employees and other stakeholders is what distinguishes a reputable brand from the also-rans.

Through a strategic mix of ideation, creativity, conceptualisation, designs and the right technology, we transform your corporate publications into tools that help you achieve marketing objectives as well as long-term customer loyalty.
Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/corporate-publishing-is-more-than-just-printing/

There is the story of a traveller at Calais who was going one dark and stormy night to the lighthouse there. Whilst standing, looking on, the keeper of the house boasted of its brilliance and beauty, observing there were few such lights in the world beside.

The traveller said, thoughtlessly it may be, “What if one of these burners should go out tonight?

“What!” exclaimed the keeper, “go out, sir? “Oh, sir,” said he, “look at that dark and stormy sea. You cannot see them, but there are ships passing and repassing there to every point of the compass. Were the light to go out from my inattention, in six months, news would arrive from every part of the coast, that such ships and crews were lost through my neglect! No, no! God forbid that such a thing should ever occur. I feel every night, as I look at my burner, as if all the eyes of all the sailors of the world were looking at my lights, and watching me!”
Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/light-bulb-principle-remove-bushels/

Do you find yourself at sea in your attempt to choose your big idea for the next project?

Finding ideas for business, life and other career related issues presents itself as a hard task master. It’s worse when there are multiple concepts bugging the mind. This is so because creativity benefits from limitations. Nonetheless, you can scale through this process by applying the principle of differentiation and derivatives in Mathematics. The goal here is not to bore you with arithmetic and symbols. We will only pick the principles and apply them to our discourse.

Okay. Let’s roll. What is differentiation? How did scientists come about this principle?

In Isaac Newton’s Day, one of the biggest problems was poor navigation at sea. Prior to the development of calculus, the stars were vital for navigation. Shipwrecks occurred because the ship was not where the captain thought it should be. There was limited understanding of how the Earth, stars, and planets moved with respect to each other. Calculus (differentiation and integration) was developed to improve this understanding.

Derivatives are used to determine the maximum and minimum values of functions such as cost, strength, amount of material used in a building, profit, loss, etc. In other words, the essence of differentiation is to express the distinguishing qualities or differences between functions.
Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/using-differentiation-find-big-idea/

One of the biggest challenges for indie authors is getting their book in front of readers. There are millions of books published every year, and unless you’re very famous independently of your book, odds are that you’re nervous about how to get people interested. That’s where digital marketing comes in. You’ve probably heard this term before, especially as you travel down the road of independent publishing. You’re probably asking questions like: What does digital marketing entail? How does it get books in front of readers? And how could it work for me?

Digital marketing is simply getting your book information in front of Internet consumers, typically in the form of online advertising. So why should an indie author develop a digital marketing strategy?

People Are Online

Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/why-should-authors-care-about-digital-marketing/

Writing for Successful Publication

Before he worked as Director of Marketing for iUniverse’s parent company Author Solutions, Keith Ogorek was an aspiring author. He developed six tips for writing to successfully publish your book:

1. Set a date you want to hold a finished copy of your book – Before you start, pick a date on which you want to hold the first copy of your completed book. Choose a significant day like your 50th birthday; your wedding anniversary or a day that coincides with a life event like a speaking engagement.

2. Pay attention to the best time/place for writing productively – Pay attention to the time and place that allows you to do your most productive writing. One author found that he worked best in the morning, stating that he could get more done in the hour between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. than he could in the three hours between 2 and 5 p.m

Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/writing-for-successful-publication/

What I like about the book industry is that someone has an idea and then shares it. Something didn’t exist, and then it does. Writing makes ideas happen. It’s one of the purest forms of capitalism. From nothing comes something, and that something can be tweaked, prodded, and then sent out into the world. This year alone, The Hate U Give and All-American Boys reshaped my understanding of prejudice. That’s real power, with real currency.

Books and Ideas Matter

Ideation—and nudging something to percolate—is exciting. At this stage (post conception, right around the time you undertake the task of creation), if you’re a first-time author, it’s in your interest to:

Make sure your concept is original. Google it or search for it on Amazon. Happening upon something similar doesn’t dismiss your idea and isn’t a reason to scrap it, but it helps to know what already exists and shape how yours is distinct.
Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/the-book-publishing-process-from-ideation-to-creation-to-publication/

Studies show that the clothes we wear affect our behavior, attitudes, personality, mood, confidence, and even the way we interact with others. Similarly, authors can and should dress themselves and their books for success and here’s how.

Dressing for success in book marketing is not about the clothes you put on, but putting your best foot forward in other areas of your presentation to help ensure success. Developing a professional, well-dressed brand will build your confidence and establish trust with your readers and other professionals you interact with as you market your books. You can take the following five steps to build your professional image and boost your marketing confidence.

1. Present a Professional Image
A professional image is about dressing sharply. As an author, your website, business card, letterhead, and social networking sites are where your audience receives their first impression of you. Make sure these look clean and professional.

Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/dress-for-success-5-tips-to-brand-yourself-and-your-book/

Have you published your book?

Whatever your answer is to the question above, this article is for you. If you are yet to publish one, this will inspire you to get your hands on the keyboard, and publish your eBook. And if you have published one: print or eBook, join the ride and let’s make some cool money.

The 21st Century is the most interesting and engaging age so far. With the progressive development in technology, science and other fields, many are becoming more inquisitive, eager to know and learn more. Though Africans are believed to have a poor attitude towards reading, the tides are changing now.

Nothing has ever been proved more wrong in recent times than the common saying: “The best way to hide something from Black people is to put it in a book.” The question now is not whether Blacks read, but where they read. Guess what? ‘Mobile reading revolution’ has taken over many developing countries, boosting the reading culture in the region.

Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/make-money-online-ebook/

You have just completed your thesis, a term paper, a letter to a new client, a press release, or your latest book. You’ve read it and re-read it, but are just not sure it’s right. You’re not certain you have communicated your ideas clearly and effectively. There are words and sentences you’re not happy with, but you’re not sure how to fix them. This is the point when you need a professional editing service.

Good writing comes from good editing. A professional editor does more than correct mistakes; they can help you turn lead into gold! Here are 10 reasons to hire a professional editor:

1. A fresh pair of eyes
You’ve spent hours, perhaps days, weeks, or even months creating your document. Whether you’ve dashed off a press release or spent months crafting a thesis, it can be difficult to edit your own work. A fresh pair of eyes can more easily see any overlooked issues. Perhaps you’ve used “thus” five times in two paragraphs or have consistently misused a word. A professional editor will help catch any errors.

Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/10-reasons-to-hire-a-professional-editor/

I recently completed a 100-day experiment on Medium where I wrote and published every day. I was aiming for 100 days, but made 93, which I still think is pretty good.

While it didn’t go quite as I expected it would, I did get something very valuable out of it — a daily writing habit. Since I’ve struggled to write daily for most of my life, this was no small feat.

Maybe you can relate: I’ve always written, just sporadically. I would wait for the muse to arrive, or like the saying goes about exercise, if I felt the urge to write, I would lay down until it went away.

But 100 days of publishing fundamentally changes your mindset.

It becomes so much a part of you that not doing it feels weird, like you left the house and forgot to put on pants.
Read more at; https://www.issacharprojects.com/develop-writing-habit-100-day-challenge/

Writing a book can be a romantic notion for many aspiring authors, but it is a process that requires time, dedication, and perseverance to get to the finished product. The thought of simply giving away your newly published book, which you poured your energy into for months—maybe even years—can seem like the most absurd idea ever.

However, with nearly 8,000 books published every single day in a market that continues to be increasingly crowded, authors—especially new authors—have to pull out all the stops to reach readers and get their books noticed. And the best way of doing this is through getting your book into the hands of as many readers as possible. This is where giveaways come into play.

There are a variety of different ways and reasons to give your book away, and to best position your book for success at launch, a combination of each of the strategies below is recommended.
Read more...........http://www.issacharprojects.com/why-you-should-give-your-book-away/

Your book is great, those who know you personally and have read your book might know that, but how about those who are yet to read your book? How do you convince them that your book is great and they should go ahead and get their own copy—through reviews right?

Yes!

Research has shown that people tend to trust reviews of people they know and respect, especially when they want to purchase an item. So if you want to increase your book sales, it is critical that you make efforts to get fantastic book reviews and here is how to do it.

1. Start with Social Media and Ask Your Followers.
Odds are you have a social media account already and you have promoted your book on it. If you haven’t done so and you wonder why you should, you can read our blog post on 5 Reasons Why Social Media is a Must for Every Author.

Read more........http://www.issacharprojects.com/how-to-get-fantastic-book-reviews-to-influence-your-book-sales/

eCommerce is one of the fastest and easiest ways to make money as an author. This is because the customer experience can be a lot more fun and easier when readers buy a book from an e-commerce page. So, if you have your book on multiple e-commerce sites as well as your own, then here are ways to make the most of your page and ensure you make a lot more money:

1. Make It Visible. Ensure that your e-commerce link is in the faces of everyone. Anytime you mention your eBook either in your newsletter, on your website, blog, or social media ensure that the link to your e-commerce sales page is mentioned.

2. Be Honest. People who follow you on social media or who are your fans probably know you, so you shouldn’t be afraid to be honest with them. Tell, them that they will be supporting you if they purchase your book on your e-commerce page and the cost price is the same as any other e-commerce outlet.
Read more..............http://www.issacharprojects.com/6-ways-how-to-make-the-most-of-your-ecommerce-page-as-an-author/

Being a self-published author means embracing the DIY mindset when it comes to producing and selling your book.

It’s up to you to get your book’s cover designed, build a following on social media, and create an author site that attracts new readers.

You may be saying “check!” if you’ve already designed an author website. You might even be going for the “double check!” if you regularly update your author blog.

But simply having an author site won’t lead to more book sales.

To stand out in the sea of self-published authors, you’ll need to ensure your site content is fresh, valuable, and entertaining.

You’ll also need to try some tricks of the trade in the digital marketing realm to help you get viewership in more places.
Read more......http://www.issacharprojects.com/4-tricks-to-drive-more-traffic-to-your-author-site/

Print on demand is an exciting way to produce books and is relatively new—only about 15 years old. It has revolutionized book creation and the publishing market, from family books to work by creative pros, to mainline publishers and academics. With sophisticated digital printers, books no longer need an elaborate setup on traditional printers with plates and large runs. Color, sharpness, resolution, consistency—these have all increased dramatically since digital printing started. The difference between a digitally printed book and a traditionally printed book is nearly undetectable. Books are printed one at a time, and this is a game-changer. Here’s why you should consider print on demand.

1. No large, high-cost, upfront orders

Read more................ http://www.issacharprojects.com/3-reasons-to-print-on-demand/

A lot of authors want to write a book, sell it and make millions of money, but in reality, it doesn’t always work that way. The royalty you get from books can be so small that it might even be hard to break even on the money you spent in publishing your book. However, it doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways you can make money from your book because there are and we are glad to share it with you.

Be Like John Grisham: In this case, you can be like Grisham, Rowlings and the likes who give producers the opportunity to make a film adaptation of their book while they get tons of money in return. By giving producers movie rights, you can give your fans the opportunity to have a deeper experience of your book through the movie while you still get paid for it.
Become a Speaker:Publishing a book establishes your credibility as an expert in the field you have written about. Thus, you can use the opportunity from your book to get speaking engagements and speak about the content of your book to an audience, pull out life lessons from your book and educate people.

Read more.......http://www.issacharprojects.com/6-ways-to-make-more-money-with-your-book/

As an author, hosting a book signing event is a great strategy to promote your book, hook new fans and celebrate the endless night and day that you have put in to make your book a reality. If you want to host a book signing event, here is how to do it right and impress your fans at the event.

1. Book an Interesting Venue
One of the important aspects of a book signing event is its venue. Although it might be a little challenging to come-up the perfect venue, it will be worth it if you take the time to think of a venue that people would fascinate people and make the day memorable. You can choose to use a venue that portrays the theme of your book, or the title of your book. You can also rub minds with your friends or colleagues to decide the perfect venue for your book event.

Read more...........http://www.issacharprojects.com/impress-your-fans-at-your-book-signing-event/