I have put six years into studying BP and have put together a very simple guide to let those who have just gotten a diagnosis and don't know what in the world it means. Yes, you get drugs, but there are a lot of other things and changes you have to do and make in order to handle the disorder. My main goal is to educate and bring more awareness to this disorder because our children are suffering and their lives are going in bad directions that could be changed with a diagnosis. Not to mention the adults who, if even simply informed could help a child, friend or themselves. It is a great guide and I'm not sure how to get it out. It is in an e-book format and very inexpensive, but the information is priceless for the newly diagnosed or those who have a family member recently diagnosed. It can even help those who thought they knew it all. A correct diagnosis is critical. ADD, ADHD in many cases are really BP and the medications are totally different. Bipolar disorder, manic depression, mood disorders are all the same thing and no different than heart disease or diabetes. Awareness is the key. Please, if you have any suggestions let me know.
I am not familar with the publication of ebooks, but you may want to go to the local library and see if they have the Writer's Market. Most libraries have it as a reference book only, so take some paper and a pen. This book could give you some ideas.
Depending on the length of your guide, if it is short, you may want to check out some health and well being magazines. If they find the advice and information credible, they may print it.
As for online web-sites, there is Writingfordollars.com, Helium.com, and Lulu.com, which has been mentioned on this discussion forum. This is just to name a few. For more sites you may want to check out Writerdigest.com.
I hope you find this information helpful.
Reading your post I believe you have put a lot of heart and time into this and I want to wish you luck.
BP as in BiPolar? – Just to clarify, and for those who are not familiar with the ellipsis. (My word of the day.)
I have done several eBooks, and I have a background that includes sales and marketing (My fresh-out-of-high-school' first job which went down the path of becoming my 'first career'. Due to health issues and a change of direction, marketing took a back seat to taking, first care of myself and later, teaching others how to best take care of themselves. When I finally decided to give in and follow my heart into a writing career, I quickly realized that in order to make it in this industry, the majority of us have to be very willing and more than a ‘bit’ savvy when it comes to marketing and advertising.
Here are the three steps that I recommend you do. – [To Learn more “Insider Secrets”, a great place to start would be my 15 Day FREE Writing eCourse.]
1. Make a 'hard-copy'. Something that you can show/hand to people - then DO it! eBooks are still on the edge so to speak. Most people who will PROMOTE (and will hopefully BUY/DISTRIBUTE) your eBook will have their appetite more easily whetted by seeing the real-world product – just a glimpse while you give them your ONE MINUTE ‘elevator speech’.
2. Make/Design your eBooks calling card (or order them from someplace like VistaPrint.com. (A great bunch of people with TERRIFIC Prices and IMPECABLE Service.) Notice that I did not call this your ‘business’ card – these are two related but distinctly separate things, and each has their own keys and secrets for success. (I will be covering this in my 15 Day FREE Writing eCourse - if you are interested please let me know and I will let you know when it will start.)
3. Next comes, what I like to call the “Well, well, well” Step. I call it that for some pretty obvious reasons. What you have to do now is get WELL groomed /WELL dressed, WELL rehearsed and WELL rested, because you are going to be going out-on-the-town – not spending money on a good time (thought this can be a LOT of fun), but getting the word out about your book/eBook.
And please remember me whenever you hear a phrase that goes something like this: “Well, well! Who’d a guessed it? I’ve been wondering what you’ve been doing with yourself …” or “Well, that’s wonderful!” or “Well, Good Luck with the book!”
NOTE(s): WHENEVER I come across a topic that is covered in my 15 Day FREE Writing eCourse I TELL people that we will be addressing those issues. That’s called marketing, and it is something that every writer needs to do (at least till he/she can afford to hire someone else to do it for them. LOL)
The majority of your readers will need to hear THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH that the book is indeed online and available. But more importantly, the words that are first planted should be the ones you want to have associated with your work. In order to accomplish that, you MUST understand that the first words MUST come from YOUR MOUTH. This is your chance to ‘put a spin’ on it, your chance to ‘Build the Buzz’ your chance to ‘Sell the Sizzle’ BEFORE you ‘sell’ the steak. (Have you ever been in a restaurant where the MENU makes your taste buds cry out for something? That’s selling the sizzle!!! And you can learn TONS of ways to do it EFFECTIVELY in … I betch’ya guessed it! … My 15Day FREE Writing eCourse!
Well Tammy (and anyone else who happens to stop by), I hope this response has been helpful, and that you take the advice with you, and to heart, as you set out to promote your writing, now and in your bright and glorious future!
I also invite everyone who happens by, to let me know that you would like to be in the next class of the 15 Day FREE Writing eCourse. There are only 11 places left!
Keep Writing! Keep Dreaming! And Keep your eye out for the PS - like the one below.
Christine (grandmacurrie)
PS Please don't be upset with me - I will be posting the majority of this 'response' post as a 'new topic' - both for 'marketing purpose' (Guess where you can learn more about that! LOL WINK!!! WINK!!!) and so that more viewers will get a chance at perhaps learning a 'little something' helpful.
)
)
