#WEP HOW TO BE A #WIDEAUTHOR - Article 4 of the 'How-to' series

 Hello everyone! Denise and Sonia here! Time for our ...

Do you want to make your books available to readers in every format, in every online store and library, in every country? If yes, it's time to go wide for the win!

This month we have the immensely talented Jemi Fraser sharing with us how becoming a 'Wide' Author works. As I understand, with several publishing opportunities today, it is a wise choice to make to go 'wide' instead of being exclusively on Amazon. How we should navigate through the process, what are its benefits and challenges - Jemi brings it all here for our readers. 

Over to Jemi!

Being a Wide Author

First off - what does being a wide author mean? A wide author is one who publishes on more than one retailer and doesn’t belong to an exclusive program (for example, Amazon's Kindle Unlimited).

I’ve chosen to be a wide author for several reasons. While I’m still a relatively new author (started publishing in 2020), I’m very happy with my choice to be wide.

For me, being wide makes me happy because:

 1. My books can be available in libraries. Libraries have always been one of my happy places. Once I decided to be an author, I knew I wanted my books available to all libraries (FYI - Patrons often have to request books by indie authors as these are not stocked automatically).

2. Because my books are available in libraries, I get a yearly check from PLR (Public Lending Right). Not all countries have a PLR program, but if you do, check into it. It’s a great program and a nice boost in the spring!

3.  My books are available in countries that don’t have access to Amazon. My readers and newsletter subscribers come from all over the world and several have mentioned they are thrilled to be able to access my books through their favourite retailers.

4.  I like not having to rely on one company for my income. In this economy, the more streams of income coming in, the better!

5.   Several retailers (Kobo, Google Play, Barnes & Noble) allow indie authors access to special promotions and will promote indie authors right alongside trad authors in these promotions. This is a far cry from when indie authors were treated as second-rate.

6.  Some of those same retailers also allow you to use coupon codes you can create and share as you wish. I haven’t tried these yet, but they’re on the to-do list!

7.   There are distributors like Draft2Digital (D2D) that help indie authors access any retailers and libraries (for a small % of royalties earned). They also have special promotion arrangements with some retailers. And they're always ready to answer author questions.

I know some authors are a little intimidated by going wide. They feel that there is too much to learn.

Personally, I didn’t find it too challenging or time-consuming. While every retailer’s dashboard is different, they are all pretty clear and easy to use. If any particular retailer is too frustrating (here's looking at you, Apple), then the author can choose to use a distributer like D2D to access those retailers.

Once you have your accounts set up and you’ve published once, it becomes easy. I can upload a new book on all the sites in less than thirty minutes. Do set up your accounts well in advance though as some retailers take time to verify banking data.

A question I’ve been asked by other authors is, “What do you say to readers who want your books in an exclusive program?”

I’ve never been asked that by a reader. Not once.

If I was, I’d point them to their local library. Authors are paid a small fee every time a book is checked out. Not only is it a win for both the authors and the readers, it helps support our libraries!

I’d also point them to Kobo Plus. Kobo has a subscription program for those who like to pay a monthly fee and have access to all the Kobo Plus books. Like Kindle Unlimited, authors can choose to enrol their books in this program or not. The best part about this subscription program is that it is NOT exclusive. The program isn’t available world-wide yet, but it’s growing with the UK, USA, with Australia and NZ being added recently.

So, those are my top reasons for being wide. Any questions? I’ll do my best to answer!

Jemi Fraser writes small-town romantic suspense filled with hope, heart, and humour. Her stories combine her love of mystery with the satisfaction of a Happy Ever After. Love is always worth the risk!

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If you'd like to read more about going wide, go HERE to read more from that creative Joanna Penn.

Or VISIT/JOIN the Wide for the Win Facebook Group HERE.

There are lots of helpful articles available on this topic. You might know of some. Please share in comments.

Or tell us in comments about your experience publishing wide.

Or feel free to ask Jemi questions.

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TWEET THIS ARTICLE IF YOU LIKE TO 'X'

Read all about #publishing #wide. #wideforthewing.@DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @SoniaDogra16 @jemifraser #amwriting 

https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/09/wep-how-to-be-wideauthor-article-4-of.html 

Denise and Sonia for:

#WEP WINNERS : AUGUST 2023 CHALLENGE - CHOCOLAT

 Hi! This is Sonia and Denise for the team, to sum up the August Challenge and to announce the winners!

To begin with, a big thank you to all participants for joining us in August and for blowing us away with their nuanced, intricate, brilliant responses to the prompt. We had some first timers for 2023 and the overall reading experience with the range of genres and plots was certainly gratifying. Why don't you read them for yourself if  you haven't already to check the incredible range of talent pool. 

Here is a round up of all the entries.

1. Denise Covey -  Food is a memory trigger extraordinaire!

2. Nilanjana Bose - Engraved: a double scoop sundae romance story in a story

3. Yolanda Renée- Solace is found in the simplest gesture

4. J Lenni Dorner- Elves trade with chocolate, but that's poison to wolves

5. Sonia Dogra- The Circuit of Life

6. Jamie Dorner- Chocolate and Death: A tragic, controversial, trigger-heavy, realistic fiction.

7. Bernadette Braganza- The Workshop After Christmas : A behind-the-scenes look at Santa's workshop during the year.

8. Olga Godim- How to grow cocoa trees on Mars. 

9. Pat Garcia- After working throughout the night making her sweet round dark chocolat balls, she had wanted to stay home, but Friday afternoon was the usual time she went to Mass.

10. Carole Stolz- The Sinking and the Sweet: To a young woman depressed and without means after a shipwreck, salvation comes from an unexpected encounter.

11. Hilary Melton-Butcher-  Like water, like chocolate... both lifelong intimate companions...

12. Damyanti Biswas- Stay in your lane.

13. Jemi Fraser-  Brownies: Not quite how mom used to make.

14. Ornery Owl- Fudge: Treat the patient, not the chart!

15. Donna- Guarding the chocolate-finding a way from fascism to hope

16. Shilpa Gupte- A Bittersweet Tale of a Chocolate Pastry : The Hunger Games

17. Beth Camp- Memories: One day we'll return to Paris

18. Roland Clarke- Chocolate Pots: The Night Witches taste from the past and discover new delights.

19. Kalpana Misra- Chocolate Queen writes a letter to the Carrot Queen.

20. Silver Tree- Chocolate in Renaissance Times: A world without chocolate would be a sad world indeed; thank God for the adventurous ones who brought chocolate home from distant lands!

SHORTLIST

This month we had an eclectic mix of genres, ranging from poetry to romance, contemporary to nonfiction. The interesting part is that the shortlist isn't really 'short'! It goes on to show that we have a great bunch of writers who make the task pretty tough for the team. 

With six members in the team, it's not easy to reach a consensus. As they say, readers are a subjective lot. All the WEP members have good reasons to support their choices, before a final list is sent to our judge, Nick Wilford.

For the prompt 'Chocolat', here is the not-so-short shortlist (in no particular order)!

Shilpa Gupte 

Hilary-Melton Butcher

Beth Camp

Kalpana Misra

Carole Stolz

Pat Garcia

Jamie Dorner

Damyanti Biswas

BUT...We love our WEP writers and see you all as winners! Sometimes the attention to craft combined with explicit research delights our writer's heart. Thank you for a feast of Chocolat!

COMMENTING

WEP is a supportive writing environment where you are welcome to try new ideas, take risks, and put forth your latest WIP for feedback. Commenters are asked to be respectful, sensitive and to keep comments positive. 

If you have trouble commenting on blogs, please continue to leave a comment here (we're fortunate that Google hasn't messed up our commenting here) or on our C-Box. And if your blog comments are down and you have a blogger blog, consider changing your comment settings to Pop-ups, not embedded, temporarily, until google provides a fix.

This month's prize is from Christine Rains

LINKS:

Website

Facebook

Twitter - X

Goodreads

AND NOW IT'S TIME TO CONGRATULATE THE WINNERS!

WE HOPE YOU AGREE THE BADGES ARE BEYOND AWESOME!

THANKS, OLGA GODIM!

And, the Oscars go to...

Three winners, three Oscars!

AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION, THE WINNER OF THE JUNE 2023 CHALLENGE 

~CHOCOLAT~

IS

CONGRATULATIONS SHILPA!

Shilpa's short and effective flash, A Bittersweet Tale of a Chocolate Pastry, blew us away!

Nick says, "Succulent and heart-breaking at the same time - showing the societal divides that still exist through a device as simple as a pane of glass."

Shilpa, please post this badge on your blog and link it to your winning entry. Tweet (X) it/Facebook it if you desire to share the love! Use the critique prize from our loyal supporter Christine Rains or pass it on to the next winner if you can't avail yourself of it in the next few months.

~*~

THE RUNNER-UP OF THE JUNE 2023 CHALLENGE 

~CHOCOLAT~

IS

CONGRATULATIONS JAMIE!

Jamie's story Chocolate and Death was achingly beautiful while terrifying.

Nick says, "Hard hitting and hard to read, in a way. But worthwhile for raising such issues that many will be unaware of."

Jamie, please post the badge on your blog and promo any way you wish!

~*~

THE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD FOR THE JUNE 2023 CHALLENGE 

~CHOCOLAT~

GOES TO

CONGRATULATIONS CAROLE!

Carole's flash, The Sinking and the Sweet, brought a smile and a lovely twist to a beautiful tale.

Nick says,  "Tragedy and delight combined - and a testimony to the power of chocolate for sure!"

Carole, please post the badge on your blog and promo any way you wish!

Be in it!

A mock-up temporary cover created on Canva.

WEP 2024 FLASH FICTION ANTHOLOGY - to be released approx. May 2024.

All winners are automatically invited to submit.

Anyone involved in WEP in the past is invited to submit.

Nila is in charge of bringing this baby home. For now, any questions, please post in comments so all can see the answers.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES WHO LOVE WRITING FLASH FICTION:

 You are personally invited to submit a flash fiction piece of between 500 min - 1,000 words max to our upcoming anthology. This will be a work of prose fiction – no poetry, although a poem may be included within your predominately prose story.

 Many of the finer points of the anthology are still being finalized, but we have a concrete theme -- Gone!  Gone! Gone! All stories submitted will be written to this theme from which the WEP team envisage many possible genres - thriller, romance, fictionalized memoir, horror, crime, women's fiction, paranormal ... and others. By the August post, you will know all there is to know.

 What do we want? We want standalone, complete, previously unpublished stories - no extracts of a WIP or serialized story, photo essay or opinion piece. A solid flash fiction. This will be submitted to technical guidelines to be announced in August. This is when WEP will publish an Anthology Page on the site where you will see various ideas for stories, but none is binding. We stress - this is YOUR story, written YOUR way in your chosen genre.

 We aim to publish a high-quality eBook and print book. If your entry is accepted, you will be asked to perform further self-edits and the editorial team will do any final editing. WEP's raison d'etre is to improve writing, so the writing must be well edited and excellent overall.

 The Anthology is the culmination of the work and collective wisdom of 13 years of enthusiasm for flash fiction. Most of the current team have been with WEP in one role or another for the duration.

 We envisage submissions closing at the end of December ‘23.

GUIDELINES FOR NEW RELEASE POST!!

Hey WEP writer friends! 

If you'd like to promote your latest release, we offer a shout out.

email Denise: den.covey@gmail.com and 

CC Sonia -soniawrites2018@gmail.com 

and read more details on this here

Please join us for the Challenge in October! 

The Phantom of the Opera

Your host is Renee and she is excited to host October! She loves the creepy thrills, but all genres are welcome, not just horrot! 

If you're excited too, please invite your writer friends to join us. We'd like to read more awesome stuff. As they say, the more the merrier!

Click on our Challenges 2023 page for ideas for October. But we stress, write you entry your way! As we said in the June 1 post - 

"None of our prompts require any prior awareness or deep knowledge of anything." But most of us have a deep knowledge of chocolate and the way it adds sweetness to our life.

SHARE THE LOVE IF YOU WISH. IF YOU DON'T DO SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.

We announce our WEP AUGUST‘23 #CHOCOLAT #winners @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @jemifraser @SoniaDogra16 #amwriting #writingcontest #flashfiction #wepwinners https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/08/wep-winners-august-2023-challenge.html

#WEPFF AUGUST ’23 #CHOCOLAT #winners announced @DeniseCCovey @SoniaDogra16 @yolandarenee @jemifraser #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners #writingcontest https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/08/wep-winners-august-2023-challenge.html

Come congratulate our AUGUST ’23 #CHOCOLAT #winners! #WEPFF Challenge @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @SoniaDogra16 @jemifraser #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners #writingcontest https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/08/wep-winners-august-2023-challenge.html

Signing off for now

Sonia and Denise

for the team

#WEP August Challenge "#CHOCOLAT" - post August 16 - 18

Welcome to August's WEP CHALLENGE!

CHOCOLAT (Aug 16-18, 2023)

Hello! It's Sonia here, along with my co-host Denise, and we're excited for the August Challenge! This month's prompt is "Chocolat" based on the iconic movie title/poster. Before we get into the challenge, I'd just like to clear up a small point. The WEP Challenges are to flex the writing muscles and to enjoy the process. Please note,

None of our prompts require any prior awareness or deep knowledge of the film. 

We are a diverse community spread across the world, from Australia right round to America. The primary thing that binds us together is NOT any specialist knowledge of movies, art or books, but our love for writing. That's what we get together here to celebrate and to nurture and support. You don't have to be published or perfect (heck, who is?!) to write with us at WEP. All you need is love.  For writing.

WEP is open to all levels of writing - from newbie right through to published authors. Many published authors got their start by writing to WEP prompts. 

This year, our prompts happen to be based on movies but  I'll  say it again -

You don't have to know any background, nor watch the movie, nor write to that specific genre or plot. 

All you need to do is to bring your imagination and a writing device. Look at the title, look at the poster if you like and run with whatever element inspires you.  The suggestions are just that - suggestions. We're uber happy for you to ignore them and come up with your own interpretations.

   "Chocolat"+ YOU is all that's needed.  

We look forward to where this Challenge takes all of us!

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

The Story:

Set in a 1950s French village, during Lent, and based on a novel of the same name (author- Joanne Harris), Chocolat is the story of a "pagan" heroine Vianne and her battle against a repressive mayor Reynaud, who encapsulates the fear of change. No prizes for guessing the winner here, friends. It's the time of Chocolat!

But hey, we can put this story right behind us and allow the imagination to run wild!

The Possibilities:

Chocolat has many possible interpretations - base your flash on the confection itself, a chocolate shop, a café, a 1950's setting, France or French cuisine, a suspected witch, a character with magical powers/recipes, a romance between two disparate or the outsider versus insiders theme, settlers versus nomads, prejudice, morality, hedonism, entrepreneurship, Lent, Easter and resurrection - or spring festivals from other parts of the world. So many ways to go and get creative!

As always, over to you.

Go HERE to our Challenges 2023 Page to read about ALL our prompts for the year!

Post - August 16 - 18 2023

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 CRITIQUE PRIZE - 10k word critique

From Christine Rains

Christine says:

I am a writer, blogger and geek mom. I write paranormal romance and urban fantasy. I love a dark and gritty story. I have four degrees which don't help at all with motherhood, but make me a great Jeopardy player. Member of S.C.I.F.I and Untethered Realms.

Christine has four novels and several short stories and novellas published.

LINKS:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

.

Check out all our critiquers in the sidebar. If you're wanting a critique, or a professional edit, think of our generous critiquers who give of their time, gratis.

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COMMENTING

WEP is a supportive writing environment where you are welcome to try new ideas, take risks, and put forth your latest WIP for feedback. Commenters are asked to be respectful, sensitive and to keep comments positive. 

If you have trouble commenting on blogs, please continue to leave a comment here (we're fortunate that Google hasn't messed up our commenting here) or on our C-Box. And if your blog comments are down and you have a blogger blog, consider changing your comment settings to Pop-ups, not embedded, temporarily, until google provides a fix.

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

Be in it!

A mock-up temporary cover created on Canva.

YOU ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT TO THE WEP 2024 FLASH FICTION ANTHOLOGY - to be released approx. May 2024.

Submissions close on or before the end of December ‘23. So get your thinking caps on!

Nila is in charge of bringing this baby home. She has produced an Anthology Page. Check it our HERE.

All challenge winners are automatically invited to submit.

Anyone involved in WEP in the past is invited to submit.

You are invited to submit a flash fiction piece of between 500 words min - 1,000 words max to our upcoming anthology. This will be a work of prose fiction – no poetry, although a poem may be included within your predominately prose story.

All stories submitted will be written to the theme of  Gone!  Gone! Gone! Check the new Anthology Page to have your questions about the theme answered.

We aim to publish a high-quality eBook and print book. If your entry is accepted, you will be asked to perform further self-edits and the editorial team will do any final editing. WEP's raison d'etre is to improve writing, so the writing must be well edited and excellent overall. 

Don't forget to go to the new Anthology Page to read the full details!

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SOMETHING NEW! 

SHAMELESSLY PROMOTE YOUR NEW RELEASE!

 And... hello again! On behalf of the team, Denise & Sonia here.

At the WEP, we have an exciting, new section where you can keep an eye on all the new and upcoming book releases by members. New titles are luring and we have an eclectic list to help you find your next best read. 

So, friends, if you have a new release (maybe a few months ago) hitting the shelves, check out the GUIDELINES FOR NEW RELEASE POSTS above in Pages, follow carefully - we need you to speak big in few words with minimal editing from the team. Send it to:

den.covey@gmail.com CC soniawrites2018@gmail.com

We work on posts in advance, so the next opportunity for you is:

~~October 1~~

We'll need your copy in plenty of time to incorporate it into the post.

First, our friendly judge who always manages to judge WEP for us no matter how busy he is:

NICK WILFORD

THE BECALMER

Preorder your copy today! https://books2read.com/u/4j5V85

Amazon

In this YA sci-fi adventure, Harica is gifted with the ability to defuse conflicts using her mind. When she is recruited to assist in resolving a war via an arranged marriage, she discovers that the reluctant bride-to-be has similar powers. Princess Jasmila doesn't use her powers for good and when Harica arrives to help with the marriage arrangements, she fights back and sends Harica into a coma.

It is through this comatose state that Harica discovers a mysterious liminal space populated by others who share her gift. In this new realm, she learns to do things she never believed possible, but soon things spiral out of control.

In the face of a terrifying and seemingly unstoppable adversary, Harica wrestles with the decision to come to terms with the dark side of her gift. Will she take ownership of it or turn her back on it forever?

 

Nick Wilford is originally from Brighton, England and now lives in a quiet town in Scotland with his wife, three daughters and six dogs. He enjoys writing speculative fiction, exploring the things that cannot be seen and “making the impossible reality.” By day, he works as a freelance editor and also has the pleasurable (and often highly challenging, given the talent on display) job of judging the entries to WEP. Amazon Author Page

And the second author is our very loyal WEP contributor, 

JLENNI DORNER

PROOF OF EXISTENCE 

 

Goodreads

Amazon Kindle

 World-ending secrets and threats…

In Proof of Existence, the thrilling sequel to Fractions of Existence, Gwendolyn is held captive by the Eyes in the Shadows, a dangerous religious sect hell-bent on freeing humanity from the shackles of life. The Existence must reveal themselves to rescue her. She confronts her true identity, self-doubts, and her forbidden attraction to Xavier.

When Existence member Heath goes off the grid, his life becomes a bargaining chip. With the Eyes in the Shadows poised to end human life forever, the Existence must reunite and harness their full power to stand against the looming threat. 

Proof of Existence is a mythological urban fantasy where the choices of a few could determine the destiny of all.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J Lenni Dorner (he/him  or  they/them) 
Speculative Fiction & Writer's Reference Author, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, and Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge
Happily married and living in Pennsylvania (USA) on the original lands of the Lenni-Lenape people.
Sharing wisdom and knowledge passed on through stories is the goal of his soul.

Go ahead and grab your copies of these two fabulous books. And if you have a new release, get in touch with us now!

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* Did you catch our third 'How-to' post? 

 

'How-to-write-flash-fiction'

 

All published How-to posts are linked in the sidebar!

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We'd love if you'd Tweet or post to FB or any social media site where you network! If you avoid social media, we totally get you.

WEP movie #writingprompt August 2023s "Chocolat" @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @SoniaDogra16 @jemifraser https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/07/wep-august-challenge-chocolat-post.html Sign up & post-August 16th thru18th! #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF #poetry #nonfiction

Get your thinking caps on for August 2023s movie prompt "Chocolat" @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @SoniaDogra16 @jemifraser https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/07/wep-august-challenge-chocolat-post.html Sign up & post your entry August 16th thru 18th! #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

Join WEP @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @SoniaDogra16 @jemifraser, for the fourth movie Challenge of 2023, "Chocolat". Sign up and post your entry AUGUST 16th thru 18th https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/07/wep-august-challenge-chocolat-post.html #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction.

Check out the new #WEP #Anthology Page We are open for #submissions to all #WEP or #RFW members, past and present. @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee, @SoniaDogra16 @jemifraser 

https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/p/submit-to-weps-first-anthology-release.html

 

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Wishing you a fabulous August. 

Bring on the entries!

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Our next movie prompt is for October. How about this? 

It will be hosted by our very own much beloved horror queen, Yolanda Renee. Go HERE for ideas ...

Post - October 18 to 20, 2023

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Denise & Sonia for the team: