Resources

Throughout the 10-week Writer’s Challenge, lots of resources will be uploaded to this page to help you along the way.

From WordPress to Website

How to turn your WordPress blog into a Website using Weaver II themeOur last handout walked you through setting up hosting with Hostgator and installing a WordPress blog. Now it’s time for the one a lot of you have been waiting for: how to tweak WordPress so it looks like a ‘normal’ website!

This PDF walks you through the process I followed to build a new website, Write a Kindle Book, via a WordPress installation.

I suggest you read through the PDF on setting up a WordPress blog on Hostgator, and then follow up with this one. The two ‘how-tos’ will, together, help you through the process of creating a website in WordPress.

If you run into trouble, you’ll find more help on the WordPress Weaver II theme website, and in many forums and blogs on the Net. WordPress is everywhere!

Right-click here to download How to Turn Your WordPress Blog into a Website.

 

Hostgator and WordPress How-To

How to Set Up Hosting with Hostgator and Install a WordPress Blog

Organising a web hosting service and setting up a blog can seem almost overwhelming if you haven’t done it before. It’s much easier if you have an illustrated guide! It’s also really easy to set up a blog, and many writers opting to just use a blog instead of trying to work out how to use website creation software. (WordPress is commonly used as a website platform these days anyway.)

This ‘how to’ guide will:

  • Show you, step by step, how to set up hosting at Hostgator.
  • Show you how to install a blog on your domain with just a few clicks.
  • Give you a promotional code that will save you 25% on your first web-hosting cycle.

If you’ve been putting it off… now would be an excellent time to start!

Right-click here to download your Guide to Hostgator and WordPress.

 

Publishing with Smashwords

Smashwords is another option for writers who want to publish their own ebooks.

They claim to be the world’s largest indie (independent) ebook distributor, with over 100,000 titles published by 40,000+ authors and publishers. They distribute to Apple in 31 countries, Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo, Baker & Taylor, Diesel and others.

85% of the net goes back to the author/publisher/agent, and you get free ISBNS and free ebook conversion to 9 formats. You can update your book at any time, and you get access to marketing and selling tools (such as the Smashwords Coupon Manager).

This report walks you through:

  • Creating Your SmashWords Account
  • Managing Your SmashWords Account.
  • Getting Paid
  • Quick & Easy Distribution, and
  • Understanding Income Graphs &  Stats

Right-Click here to download the Smashwords Report

Publishing On Kindle

Here’s a resource that I know many of you have been waiting for. This report on selling your book on Kindle contains basic advice that applies whether you’re marketing and selling fiction or non-fiction.

Kindle Publishing ReportRead through it to get a basic idea of how you can publish and sell your book on the Kindle platform. It covers the following topics:

  • Getting Started
  • Publishing Your Book
  • Book Status – Review, Publishing & Live
  • The Power Of Author Central
  • Linking Multiple Pen Names
  • Securing Your Author URL
  • Optimizing Your Books
  • Sales Information & Ranking
  • Reviews

Right-click here to download Kindle Publishing

Social Networking WorkbookSocial Networking Workbook

When you’re learning all about social networking, it helps to have input from as many different sources as possible. (The ‘saturate yourself’ theory!) This social networking workbook looks at:

  • Creating Your Social Networking Plan
  • Choosing Your Social Networking Sites
  • Creating Your Profile Page
  • Interacting with Others: “DOs and DON’Ts”
  • Managing Your Time Effectively

Right-click here to download your Social Networking Workbook

 

 

Social Networking Checklist

Creating and Implementing Your Social Networking Strategy Checklist

OK: You’ve done all the background reading, and you (sort of) think you know where you’re going with Social Networking. Now here’s something to help you stay organised and manage your time: a handy social networking checklist.

Right-click here to download your Social Networking Strategy Checklist

 

IrfanView – Free software that you can use to resize your images. You can then save them for the web in an even smaller file size.Essential for your website or blog!

Writing4Success Guide to Essential Time Management

 

Essential Time Management

One of the key factors preventing people from achieving their goals is an inability to manage their time. You have probably struggled with this at some time yourself… but to give yourself every chance to accomplish what you want during the 10-Week Writer’s Challenge, download and read through the Writing4Success guide to Essential Time Management.

Right-click to download Essential Time Management.

 

 

Pinterest 101Pinterest 101

What is Pinterest? Basically, Pinterest is a social network that allows its users to share what’s important to them. – but what they share must have a picture somewhere on the webpage (such as a photo from a book launch, or a book cover). This will be what’s displayed or “pinned” on a virtual bulletin board in Pinterest. You can have “pinboards,”  that are a collection of “pins” that revolve around a common theme. Users can share their tastes and interests with others and discover like-minded people.To read all about it…

Right-click here to download “Pinterest 101″

 

Effective Marketing Strategies for PinterestEffective Marketing Strategies for Pinterest

Pinterest is the fastest-growing standalone website in history. It passed the 10 million mark in January 2012, and Pinterest has now become a top traffic driver for brands. Any business would be wise to learn what it can about Pinterest early in the game.

Effective Marketing Strategies for Pinterest will help you to understand how you can use this new social marketing website.

Right-click here to download Effective Marketing Strategies for Pinterest.

 

Twitter for Beginners. Twitter for Beginners

Charlene Kingston has created an excellent eBook on Twitter. To download it to your computer, right-click the following link and choose a location on your computer.

RIGHT-CLICK to Download Twitter for Beginners.

 

Getting Started with Social Media by Charlene Kingston

 

Getting Started with Social Media.

Another excellent guide from Charlene Kingston. This is available only to those who sign up for her newsletter, but I highly recommend it if you want a clear guide to print out or to import into your iPad for easy reference.It discusses the uses of social media for business (and writing is a business!) and looks at social media tools like blogging, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Go here to get your copy:

http://socialmediadiyworkshop.com/subscribe/