October 2019 - Forever Young Autobiographies

How to get your own book printed without going crazy!

3 simple steps to deciding paperback vs hardcover + book trim sizes + types of paper

Getting ready to publish your book can feel amazing.

You are on top of that writing mountain that has taken you months, if not years to climb.

The end is in sight!

While you will be excited to finally hold your book in your hand there is one last step: publishing.

If you decide to hand write, home print or email your life story to family and friends – terrific!

But if you want to use a book printer, like I’m doing for my grandmother’s story, printing is one last learning curve you need to scale.

A printer does just that – prints.

They typically won’t guide you through all the different printing options from sizing to paper and cover type.

That’s all up to you to decide.

In this article I go over how to get your own book printed by highlighting some of the key printing terms, explaining what they mean and why you need to know them.

Book review: Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee

Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee, Allen & Unwin, headshot Goodreads.com

Amazing Allen and Unwin memoir by a Queensland courts judge’s associate

Australian memoir Eggshell Skull has been on my reading list for a number of reasons.

Author Bri Lee writes about working in many Queensland cities and towns where I have lived.

And as a print journalist for many years I know the courthouses she refers to and also some of the cases.

But I’ve also been eager to read Eggshell Skull because it has been winning awards since it was published by Allen & Unwin in mid 2018.

It was shortlisted for the 2019 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards in non-fiction, winning the 2019 People’s Choice Award, and also won the 2018 People’s Choice at the Nib Awards for research in writing, plus the 2019 ABIA for Biography of the Year.

The publisher describes the work as “a haunting appraisal of modern Australia from a new and essential voice”.

Keep reading to find out more about Lee’s first book and be inspired to start writing your own life story …

Book covers: How to create a memorable cover design

What a print designer knows about front cover design and book cover layout

First published October 19, 2017: This article has been updated and improved.

It’s a funny thing but often the front page of a newspaper is the last page to be sent to the press.

Frequently it is left to the end, right before deadline, for breaking news.

But after working on thousands of page ones as a newspaper designer over the years, I know page one is prime real estate: it is the paper’s ‘shop window’.

The same can be said for your autobiography, memoir, biography or life story project.

A great book cover will intrigue and interest your readers to turn the page.

Here are three key points to keep in mind when you are designing your ‘page one’.

Writing break: The secret weapon of writing tips

Quick and easy writing advice to write a better book

This past year I’ve been getting back into surfing.

Usually the first half of my surf goes well.

Then I start to get physically tired and stuff up.

When this happens my trick is to take a break or try again tomorrow.

The same idea can be applied to your writing, whether you are working on an autobiography, memoir, biography or life-story project.

Taking a writing break is my secret writing tip for good writing.

Here’s why you need to take a writing break today!