It is the perfect gift, a book with all the Grandma’s recipes. Those recipes all the generations have enjoyed in the family meetings. A gift that every member of your family will appreciate, even the younger generation that probably are not very interested in cooking at the moment. You can be sure that in a few years they will look at this book you give them and smile thinking of those meetings of the whole family in which the grandmother cooked proudly to have everyone sitting at her table.

It is a gift they will always keep, it will be packed carefully each time they move home. It is a gift that will go from hand to hand, generation after generation, and that will always carry the memory of those who devised it: You.

What are you waiting for?  You could go to have tea with your grandma with a pen and a notebook and start working on it. After a few meetings and hours talking with your grandma, you will be able to start writing your book. Then just choose a nice cover, binding style and it will be ready to be published on Bubok and, who knows, it could be a best seller!

You have received the best news of your life, you are going to be parents! The nine months of pregnancy are chaotic. You spend your time working, asking permission for medical reviews , buying clothes well in advance (by the illusion that entails), painting the room…

And suddenly the day comes. It is the most gorgeous baby you’ve seen in your life. The baby has the most beautiful eyes in the world. You have thousands of thoughts that, almost certainly, will be forgotten. And you don’t  want that to happen.

You decide to write a blog with day to day about the baby that has filled your life. You include your photos, and share with family and friends this beautiful stage of growth and integration into life. Your baby will know exactly what he/she did every day, and your thoughts of their existence.

With Bubok this blog can be a printed book, something physical that the baby will be able to read and enjoy when he or she grows up. It’s one of the best gifts you can give to someone, his/her life told in a book.

This book will be kept forever and your son/daughter probably thinks: one day I’ll do the same for my children. A personalized book of your baby!

Good conflict ultimately comes down to value. It can include significant events and emotions, however values and morals are what will drive your conflict from beginning to end. What do you value in life?  The things you value can be portrayed through all of your characters – the goodies and baddies.

Examples of common values include:

• Money / Wealth
• Friends
• Family
• Organisation
• Educational success
• Justice
• Compassion
• The environment
• Honesty
• Power
• Humility

When the good create conflict

It is not only villains who create conflict in a story. It is very common for two positives to conflict each other such as marriage and love.  Both of these appear to be positive things, but in many romances, people often marry the wrong person, while their heart lies with another.  Wealth and love also collide in many stories.  Do you marry for wealth, or love?  Will money bring happiness or only true love? These kind of conflicts are very common and can be developed throughout the book.

Characters will often fail while trying to balance a range of positive values, however it is how you bring the story together at the end that will end the conflict. Will your hero be wealthy?  Fall in love?  Mayrry?  Get the job?  Will the villain’s lies be caught out? Will Justice be served? Will friends and family come to the rescue?

Just by looking at the list above, there are many possible scenarios for conflict and the resolution of this conflict.

To create conflict within your own story, ask your­self the following questions:

•  What does your main character value?
• Do any of their values cause potential conflict?
• How can these conflicts be revealed and resolved?
• Are any single values conflicting against themselves?

Villains and conflict

When you use values to create conflict, it is not always necessary to have a central villain. You may just need someone who doesn’t share the same values and forces your character to question him/herself. However, villains are often fun to portray and everyone loves a good villain getting what they deserve.

To create the perfect villain, work out the values you want your main character to have ad then twist these values until they are almost recognisable and let both characters battle it out.

You need your story to stand out if you want to be a success and you want your writing style to stand out. A good way to achieve this is through using all of your senses. This way, you will actually find it much easier to control your reader’s emotions and thoughts. Show them your world through taste, touch, smell and sight. For example, certain words are associated with certain smells such as Camembert, strawberries, freshly cut grass etc. Your readers will associate smells with whichever words you choose to use.

Let your readers walk in your character’s shoes by actually suggesting how their sensory organs should be used. They will then feel and maybe even think like your character.

This all sounds very simple, however you need to be aware of the best way to do this. In order for this technique to actually succeed, you should include information for all the senses right at the beginning of your book.  You will then have to include more details regularly and every time there is a new scene or chapter.

Never take for granted the fact that your character may see something. Describe it in detail using sensory words when possible and always make sure that the descriptions are coming from the character’s perspective. For example a poet may see things differently from a scientist.

Describing taste can be a bit tricky, but try not to ignore it. Try to research how other authors convey it and follow these guidelines.

Writing a book using your senses may be very different to what you are used to, however don’t let it take away from your story. This style of writing is designed to help you not inhibit you! Once you get to grips with it, you may find that it improves the quality of your work and your actual story telling ability.

This is not a problem – as long as you always keep the beginning of the story in your mind. Stronger endings are always ones which are linked to the start. You don’t need to follow a completely smooth path on your way to the end, but you do need to remember where you came from and know where you’ve been. The start and finish are, in a sense, mirror images of each other; the beginning asks a question and the end should answer it. This is the key to every successful story and those who fail to answer the questions risk failing to reach their goal of becoming a successful author.

Of course, many successful books and stories have ambiguous endings, however it is a big risk to take and even though questions may be left unanswered, not all are and the story still follows a path arriving at a situation linked to the beginning.

Asking the right questions at the start will allow you easily answer them at the end. However, what is are these very important questions? The first one that needs to be asked is the hook question – the purpose of which is to grab the reader’s attention instantly.  It may be answered shortly after asking it, but it needs to make the reader to want to turn page after page.

The question that is to be answered at the end is the story question and one with themes running the whole way through the plot. Common questions include:

• Will they fall in love?
• Will justice prevail?
• Will the baddies be caught?

More specific questions will of course be related to each character and their own situations, but again need to be asked at the start of the story and answered at the end.

Once this question(s) has been asked, you need to make a note to ensure you answer it at the end. Don’t get carried away by sub-plots as answering the question is the only way to reach continuity. Time the answer right (not stating it too soon and not dragging it out so that there it becomes boring).

You will need to give the questions and their timings some thought before putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) but by giving yourself planning time, you can develop a strong plot with well-developed characters.

Is this right?

With the invention of text language, many people shorten words and use abbreviations that quite often need a translator to decipher. This new speech is having a direct impact on the use of spelling and grammar in everyday life and unfortunately, many people are choosing to ignore fairly basic rules.

Spelling and grammar are the basic building blocks for the construction of speech and writing. It forms what we say and how we say it. Spelling is obviously much less of an issue with the spoken word, but the lack of grammatical skills can cause confusion. When it comes to the written word, if either spelling or grammar is not there, the intended meaning may be completely lost.

Ultimately, the importance a writer places on spelling and grammar comes down to how serious they want to be taken and how successful they would like to be. If a writer is being paid for his/her work then they have a responsibility to do it to the best of their ability. However, even if they are not getting paid but hope to self-publish a book, bad grammar and incorrect spellings could be the difference between success and failure.

Everyone makes mistakes and it is virtually impossible to ensure that your own writing is 100% error free, however, there are editing services available to everyone regardless of the standard of their writing and in order to become a successful writer, the skills of an editor should certainly be considered.

For many people, the odd typo is expected when they read and it is easily forgotten. However, if a sentence or section doesn’t make sense after reading it over a couple of times, there is a chance that they will read no further and could put them off reading any more of your work. Remember that no best-seller would ever have become one with bad spelling and grammar!

The more serious you take your writing, the more importance you will place on spelling and grammar and the more serious you will be taken. Ultimately, you have the chance to earn far more money with good grammatical skills.

If you would like to improve your spelling and grammar, there are steps you can take:

• Read, read and read – the more you read, the more you will improve your vocabulary. You will also become more aware of spelling and grammar rules.
• Always re-read your work – once you have finished a section, take a break and re-read it. It may surprise you just how many mistakes you unintentionally made first time round.
• If you are not using an editing or proofreading service, once you have finished the book, take a break and read the entire thing before publishing. Make sure your facts are accurate, your writing is consistent and you catch as many typos as possible.
• Ask for help – asking a friend or family member to read over your work will also be of great benefit. A fresh pair of eyes will spot mistakes that you may not be able to see.
• Read out loud – this may sound strange, but one of the best ways to see how your work sounds is to read out loud. You will be able to hear when the spelling and grammar is incorrect.

If you are self-publishing, why let yourself down with spelling and grammar. It will be noticed by your readers and could affect your future career. No matter what career or skill you are pursuing, everything starts with learning the basics. In order to write well therefore, it is vital to understand the fundamental core of writing – grammar and spelling.

Before you start on your nationwide marketing campaign, you need to consider who or what your direct competition is. Most of us automatically assume that our main competition is other authors, especially within the genre of our book. However this is not simply the case.

Of course, you will be competing with many other writers, but you are also faced with the challenge of other entertainment options. You want someone to pick up your book instead of watching a movie or having an early night in with a take away and book instead of a meal out.

Books are largely personal and optional purchases with people spending their budgets on a range of different items. Therefore, your sales message has to convince a potential buyer that they would be far more entertained by reading your book than they would be doing something else.

If you have self-published and are selling your book in actual bookstores, you will be facing competition from other authors as well as music, magazines, games and DVDs. Many bookshops are also becoming trendy coffee shops. Therefore, it is really important that you stand out from the crowd; whether it is through a unique and eye-catching cover design, or through self-promoting, readings and signings.

When it comes to online sales, social media, blogs and online reviews will all help you reach your target market. If people don’t know your book is out there, they need to stumble across it while looking for something else. Again, you need to convince them that your book is worth the money despite perhaps not being what they were actually looking for.

Your work, unfortunately, is not finished when you type your last word. If you really want your book to be a success then you need to make sure it sells. Selling is all about targeting your competition and standing out. Therefore, it’s really important that you never assume that your competition is just another book in your specific genre. Look outside the box and see what you come up with.

To make sure your book becomes a masterpiece inside and out, Bubok has launched Editorial Services and Editorial Packs that range from book editing to promotional help.  Every service has an initial cost and is provided by Bubok professionals who are specialised in a specific field.  

The difference between Editorial Services and Editorial Packs is as follows:

Editorial Services:

This is a list of the most common services that an author will need in order to publish and promote his/ her book. You can purchase one or more services individually. The Editorial Services are divided in separate sections that cover book registration services, editing services, promotion and other additional services you might need.

If you need more than one service to publish your book, we advise you look at the Editorial Packs:

These 3 packs are designed to be cost effective and cover  everything from basic publishing needs to personal author websites where you can promote not only your book,  but also yourself as an author.

Don’t forget, publishing at Bubok is free and it will always stay this way! The services are just an additional option for anyone looking to take their publishing  to the next level.

Self-publishing has helped a great deal of authors publish their work. Many of these might otherwise have never written a book or certainly not got round to publishing. It hjas opened up the doors to so many people and completely changed the face of the industry.  Moving forward, self-publishing is going to grow and grow and therefore by addressing your fears early, you can enjoy the benefits much earlier.

Staying stuck in any kind of rut is never fun and self-publishing gives authors the chance to get out of their rut. Below are common fears and the best way to address these fears. Once you have read them all, only you can decide how to move forward.

I’M NOT READY

The biggest worry we hear from wannabe authors is that they’re not ready to write or publish their work. All too often however, they are more than ready and simple worried about taking the plunge. The best thing to do is to pick a date when you will begin writing and stick to it. Create a schedule and stick to it. Create a publishing date and stick to it.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT

Another common fear is that people either don’t know what to write about or have so many ideas that they simply cannot decide. The best way to decide is to research and ask your potential readership. Speak to friends and family first, asking them which they prefer and then carry out a wider poll of your target audience. You will soon have a much clearer idea of what people want.

WHAT IF NOONE BUYS IT

Of course you don’t want to spend months writing a book that nobody buys. While there are no guarantees that people will buy your book, there are many ways you can help yourself. You need to promote your book through channels such as social media, blogs, websites, book signings and general marketing. If however you have listened to your audience, as per fear number two, there should be an eager audience waiting for the publishing date.

IT’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH

This is a common skill with writers all over the world; both novice and successful authors. The key is to whether you are happy with it.  If you are happy with what you have written then the chances are so will your target audience. Let friends and family have a read of some of your chapters and give them a synopsis of the story. Judge their reactions and ask for their honest feedback. Once you are all happy, you’ll be ready to publish.

DIGITAL MARKETING AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY SCARES YOU

Again, this is a very common fear. If the thought of tweets, status updates, websites and blogs sends fear right through you, remember that you are not alone!  Also remember that if you are computer literate, you will have no problem at all. your book can be uploaded in a word document and all you will need to use social media for is your own marketing. If you’re not already, sign up to the most popular social media sites and get connected with friends and family while you are writing. You will soon see that there is in fact nothing to them. The self-publishing proicess itself is very simple. On Bubok’s website, we guide you through every step with detailed instructions and have a support team on hand should you have any queries.

I DON’T HAVE A BIG FOLLOWING

The key to this is network, network, network.  Grow your social media followers while you are writing. Follow people with similar interests and that you think may be interested in your book and they will hopefully follow you back. Post links to your blog and website if you have one and join in discussions and threads on forums.  Here at Bubok, we have our own author’s community that you will become a part of as soon as you sign up. Speak with fellow authors for advice and promote your book with us. You might not like the idea of marketing, but you will get used to it. There is no need for a big hard sell. Often a softer approach is far more successful. Let your book do the talking and ask friends and family to help create a buzz around it.

Hopefully your fears will have been addressed. If you are still nervous, face your fear head on and get writing. No one can buy a book that isn’t written. Part of your success will come with the completion of your first book. Becoming a published author has never been so easy; don’t let your own fears hold you back!

Held for 10 days between 18^th and 27^th October, a range of different events are staged across the town attracting high profile authors, the press and the general public. The festival has a notable set of patrons including: Elizabeth Buchan, Michael Buerk, Adele Parks, Michael Rosen, Sandi Toksvig, Fay Weldon, Timothy West and Jacqueline Wilson.

Famous guests at this year’s event include Judy Finnigan, Jenny Eclair, Rachel Allen, Nicci Gerrard, Sean French (Nicci French), Lindsey Davis and Simon Scarrow. Choose from a selection of workshops hosted by experts in writing and literature, interviews with authors, interesting presentations and discussions and the much-loved Reader’s Day.

Families will love Family Day at The Electric Theatre, Puffin Post’s 45th birthday celebrations and Saturday Science. Children of all ages are welcome and it’s a chance for the younger guests to really fall in love with reading and meet some of their favourite characters.

It is a must visit for anyone interested in literature and especially budding author’s as established and up and coming authors visit the festival throughout the 10 days. Reader’s Day is a great chance to meet and greet with a selection of authors and to question them about anything you really want to know. Get a step ahead…

Guildford is just 30 miles south of London in Surrey and very easy to get to. For more information and to book tickets, please visit http://www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk.