And so the journey begins...

[aldoraine]

I stumbled upon BHW while trying to find ways to drive traffic to a website for my business. This place is awesome. If you ever feel like you've hit a lazy streak, just hop on here. Every one is so motivated, and the ambition is infectious. I thought I was motivated, but you guys have me beat by far: which makes me want to work harder. There are so many resources on this website, it's ridiculous.

I've decided that the Kindle e-books will be my first major project in IM.

My long-term goal: 50 books uploaded on Amazon by the end of August. I know it's a lot, but you have to set the bar high.

My goal for the month: 5 books uploaded on Amazon. Honestly, as long as the writers can churn them out, I'm pretty sure I can do more than 5. We will see though.

What I've done today: Well, I started this journal haha. I literally just started this earlier today. I have hired 5 writers from odesk, and I'm waiting on one to get back with me.

• 1-Mystery writer: this guy actually sent me the idea for his book in his application, and it sounded like something I'd like to read. So, I hired him haha. Good sell on his part.
• 2-Romance: I think these will do well. I know a TON of women with Kindles.
• 1-Scifi guy: I'm contracting him to do a 4-5 book series. I like the series idea, because I think it will increase customer retention. Scifi guys love series.
• 1-Erotica: Housewives love these books, especially with 50 Shades of Grey being so hot right now.

What I'm doing tomorrow: Tomorrow I will create Facebook pages for the authors, maybe buy some friends for them. Also, I am going to get the story synopsis from each writer, and start working on the covers. I would like to have the covers done before the books. This will keep me from becoming idle while waiting on the books to come in.

It's amazing what you can get people to do on odesk. That place is a gold mine for every thing. The only thing you really need to watch out for is hiring someone from India, as their English is sort of broken. I think for now I will shy away from hiring them unless their messages are perfect. I'd hate to edit a book in broken English.

I like to read, so I don't think this project will be that bad. I'm more worried about making the covers, though. Does anyone have ideas on a tool to make the cover easier?

 

[mak3r]

Good luck in your journey!

 

[WayneInc]

Good Luck for your Journey

 

[monkid]

Wish you best of luck with your journey! Keep us updated with your journey.

 

[imperial444]

Nice job buddy. You are on some other things here with your traffic ideas. I hope you start getting sales real soon. Subbed to your thread

 

[SMMCity]

Good Luck with this Journey!

 

[aldoraine]

Nice job buddy. You are on some other things here with your traffic ideas. I hope you start getting sales real soon. Subbed to your thread

Thanks! Yeah, I have an Amazon Affiliate store I purchased. I plan on driving traffic to that by outsourcing a little SEO, and then flip it later on in the year. I would do the SEO myself, but I'd like to put 90% of my effort into this venture.

I haven't done much today. I contacted some more writers. My first story should be finished in 4 days according to the writer. I want to have 10 regulars on my team. If I have 10, then I can get the 50 books a lot faster. However, I do have a feeling that some of the writers will be garbage, and I'm not going to put my effort into pushing a garbage book. I'm shooting for quality AND quantity.

I won't be able to get to the profiles until tonight. I work full-time second shift, so I have to be in work in two hours.

On a side note, I was talking to my mom about my Kindle venture, and it gave her an idea. She has tons of cookbooks at her house. So, she's going to do some different types of cookbooks, and I'll help her put them on the Kindle store. Who knows, maybe we can get mom on BHW haha

 

[japemethe]

Setting the bar high is a good thing though in my opinion. Then you have something that you can strive for. Wishing you the best of luck.

 

[Salexes]

Well I have some really grwat cover designers from fiverr.
I could send you the links to them via PM.

Did you use a prewritten Ghostwriter contract if yes where do you found it ?

You searched for writers via odesk right? what did you wrote in your job offer ?

 

[aldoraine]

Salexas,

I've contacted a couple of people on Fiverr as well(great minds think alike!), but thank you for the offer.

On odesk I just put up that I would pay someone to write short stories. You'll get a lot of responses. Make sure you sift through, and avoid the guys that have bad grammar. Also, be a little picky on who you pick. Quality over quantity.

Here's a quick contract I found online. Delete what you need to from it:

CO-WRITER/GHOSTWRITER-AUTHOR AGREEMENT OVER A BOOK
By this memorandum of understanding, signed this _____________ 2008; both the parties described herein under as PARTY A, represented by ______________, address, _____________________________________ also described as the ‘author'; and PARTY B, represented by ___________, address ____________________________________________________________________________________, also described as ‘ghostwriter', do hereby agree to all the terms described and given below:

1. Party A is commissioning Party B to begin the project of writing a book on the subject: _______________________________________________________.
2. The tentative working title of the book shall be_______________________________________________________'. This title is subject to change subject to mutual consent of both the parties.
3. The deadline for completion of this book is _______ days after the signing of this agreement.
4. Party A agrees to pay Party B a consolidated sum of $_________ for the project that will include the following:
   1. Writing the content of the book on the guidelines of Party A.
   2. Getting it edited by a pro-editor before submission.
5. The fees of the co-writer/ghostwriter will be paid as follows:
6. 50% advance to get the project started.
7. 50% within 10 days of complete work submission (irrespective of whether Party A found time to go through it in 10 days or not).
8. Party B (ghostwriter) is subject to NO royalty or commission on the sales of the book. He is only entitled to the one time fees of $_________.
9. Party B (ghostwriter) will maintain full confidentiality about this project.
10. The book will be __________ pages long.
11. Party B agrees that he will not take the help of any plagiarism, meaning he will avoid using borrowed material in this book exactly as they are found elsewhere.
12. Party A will own all copyrights for this book, including sale and distribution rights.
13. Party A will have full freedom to set the retail price of this book, deal with any publisher, and may even distribute it free of cost if she wishes. Party B will have no say on setting the price of this book.
14. Party A can request party B to make a reasonable number of changes and edits during the period of production of this book and within 7 days of completion of the book.

Both the parties do hereby agree to the terms laid and set above.

Signature
Party A (author)
————————————————————————————-


Signature
Party B (ghostwriter)
Date:

 

[nightbat]

Good luck with this journey! Will be following.

 

[aldoraine]

What I've done today: Not much going on today. I contacted another 10 writers. I would like to have 10 total writing stories for me right now. Currently, I have 5 working.

The goal is to have books finishing around the same time so that I can order the covers from one person, and get a package deal. Also, if they are finishing at the same time then I can sit down and do everything at the same time. That will allow me to learn a lot faster than just getting one book a week. If I can get ten books within two weeks, I would be excited. I am guessing at least two writers will flake during the process. So, making sure I am recruiting is key.

What I'm doing tomorrow:I will probably just get in touch with all the writers to make sure they are on track(retention). Also, I may contact more writers...

Write now, the process is slow. Once the books start coming in it will be a lot busier posting, and promoting. I have an Amazon Affiliate site I may start promoting in the mean time. Just SEO, and some blog posts. I have a guy building a targeted Twitter following for it. Also, I need to update some of the products. I bought it, and the person who made it put a lot of the cheap stuff in the highlighted areas. I want to get the big ticket stuff highlighted.

 

[TJchiller]

Good luck on your journey! Hope you not only reach that 50 book goal of yours, but also that some of them, if not many sell very well! Will keep an eye on this thread.

 

[skyrider008]

Best of luck.

 

[aldoraine]

Just a little update...

Like I said, I thought I would lose a couple of writers, and I did. I have hired two more though. So, net I still have 5 writers. It's hard to find writers that will do it for a decent price. Most people want 50+ for a story. That is too much for me. I still have to pay $5 per cover after the writing is done.

Slowly but surely...

 

[innozemec]

Best of luck with your journey bro!

 

[Shogunv2]

Still alive?

 

[aldoraine]

Yup! Still alive, and kicking!

I'll give everyone a little update. The journey is going a little slower than I thought it would. The writers are taking more time than I expected. I received one story lastnight, and two are being delivered today. So, within the next few days I will have 3 stories up. I'm not sure if I will get to 10 by the end of the month, but we will see.

I think I can get 5 for sure by the end of the month, but 10 might be a stretch as my writers are friggin slow. Anyway, I'll give every one an update once I get these three books up, and promoted.

Thanks!

 

[aldoraine]

So, I have two stories ready to go up. I have to spend some time tonight after work(I have a regular full-time job) putting them up on KDP. I had three but one was from an Indian guy with awful English who wrote a creepy erotic novel about a guy cheating on his wife with his daughters best friend. Not no, but hell no. Bad quality.

I also started contracts with 9 new authors. So, hopefully they will start rolling in soon. I feel like after the first round the authors will start churning them out.

 

[aldoraine]

Well, I just had my first three books turned in. I should have a couple of more today or tomorrow. I am well short of my ten books uploaded by June 1st, but you have to focus on what you have accomplished and plug the holes caused by your mistakes.

I won't be able to upload the books until after work tonight. I have a feeling it will be a long night. Why can't there be more hours in the day.