Introducing Booqla, A Versatile Self Publishing Tool

I've been interested in self-publishing for many years and have explored lots of different avenues, from handmade zines and books to ebooks and print on demand. When it comes to print on demand and ebook publishing, there are a lot of different ways to proceed. For example, you can hire a book designer for some or all of your publishing process. You can also utilize different software programs to design and format your book.

While I do know people who are talented in both writing books and completing the layout and publishing related tasks, many of us who want to write and publish aren't so comfortable in the design department. I've tried a number of different tutorials and software programs meant to simplify the process of formatting books for print or ebook downloads, and I've found some ways to complete my DIY publishing projects, but I have to admit that it's not exactly a simple process!

Enter Booqla. Booqla is a web-based, self-publishing tool which allows authors to import their manuscript in Word and instantaneously convert it to Epub format as well as Amazon's Mobi format. It also creates a print-ready PDF which can be edited to fit special requirements of printing companies (such as print on demand publishers).

The idea of Booqla is to limit the amount of steps an author has to take to publish their book, thus saving time and money compared to the price of hiring out the work of having your book formatted. Let's face it, there wouldn't be such a big market for self-publishing services for authors if everyone found it easy; Booqla fills a need in the marketplace by creating an easier to use DIY option.

Even better, Booqla stores your manuscript in their system to make it easy to edit it if you find changes that you want to make (this always happens to me, and then I have to go through different versions of my manuscript files on my computer).

Booqla also makes selling your book easier through an affiliate sales system. They have a "Minimart" which allows you to set up as many small webshops as you want, place them on any website or social media outlet you want, and use this tool to sell your books. You can easily create a share a small button to sell your books in all sorts of places, such as discussion forums on topics relevant to your book.

Developed in Sweden, Booqla is available in Europe, the Middle East, and the US. Learn more at www.booqla.com.

Introducing Englanti Editing, a Useful Site for Writers and Readers

Englanti Editing is a Finland-based business offering services for people who need documents, websites, and other materials edited. The cool thing about their website is that it also provides a variety of free resources for writers and readers.

The site showcases good writing and helps to promote the work of up and coming authors. On the Featured Books page, you can read about books from independent authors, learn about the authors themselves, and read excepts of their work. The genres/topics of the book vary, and I found some interesting selections including flash fiction, historical fiction, and a coming of age novel. Authors are invited to contact Englanti Editing to ask about having their books featured on the website as well as on Facebook.

Authors can also contact Englanti Editing to ask about having one of their short stories published in its entirety on the website. The site has a nice selection of stories, all of which are suitable for readers of all ages. You can also find author interviews by clicking the Interviews and Insights link on the site. I always like to find another website which features author interviews, so it was a pleasure for me to visit this link in particular!

Writers who visit the site are invited to participate in the Leaf Writing Challenge; writers can share stories written from the perspective of "a leaf being carried on the breeze," and the editors at Englanti Editing will feature selected stories on their website and also give award certificates to the best stories received by December of 2015.

It's always nice to find a business that gives back to its community--in this case, the business gives back by providing a platform to help authors get their work out into the world, and by providing readers a place to find new authors and works to enjoy. I'll be interested to see what other literary content EnglantiEditing.com features over time!

Meet Maximilian L Linhard of Affairs Today, A Global Business Journal

Maximilian L. Linhard is one of the founders and current CFO of AffairsToday LTD. He is studying towards his MA in Economics/Business & Management at the University of Glasgow.

Affairs Today is a student business journal that targets a global audience. Articles on the site are analysis-based, meaning that they provide insights into what is happening, why it is happening, and what the consequences will be. Contributors work with Affairs Today on a volunteer basis, new writers are always welcome. Read a sample article from the journal by checking out this interview with King Simeon II of Bulgaria.

1. What inspired the creation of Affairs Today?

While visiting the University of Edinburgh the CEO, Alexandre C. Gianasso, and I were looking for a business-related student publication. We noticed that all student publications were either too general or not student-operated. As both of us are entrepreneurial business students, we spotted the niche and decided to set up our own student business journal. To further stand out from the crowd of student journals, we decided that we are not just operating at our university or within the United Kingdom, but that we are a global student business journal.

2. How has the journal grown in its first year?

We started with two people last February. Over the first couple of months, we added a few contributors to the team. Real growth, however, occurred after we promoted our current COO, Ferdinand v. Götzen, from the role of contributor to editor-in-chief. Within a couple of month we incorporated Affairs Today Ltd., and increased our staff numbers. Now we have a constantly growing team of more than 20 contributors, and several managerial roles.

3. What are you looking for in contributors to your journal--and how does publication in Affairs Today benefit the contributors as well as the readers of the site?

All our contributors are students. That is the key point of the journal. We want to provide the best possible news analysis and content created by students. Besides being students, we are looking for people with drive who are motivated by the opportunity of achieving more than just getting a degree during their time at university. This drive together with a passion for writing and the topic they cover is what makes our contributor team special.

In return, they benefit from gaining first-hand experience in the field of journalism and developing their writing and analysis skills. Moreover, they are part of a growing start-up that might shape the journalistic scene of the 21st century.

4. What are your individual interests when it comes to your business and economics?

Personally, I want to awaken interest in students. A lot of students live their lives oblivious to current issues and what is going on in the world. I am confident that we can reach them by providing information from a student perspective. I also hope to show that there are reliable alternatives to established news outlets.

In terms of my interests in economics, I focus on financial markets and growth. Since the big crisis, the financial sector has been highly scrutinized. In addition, most mainstream media outlets have blamed only financial institutions for the crisis. This has been done by often misrepresenting facts. I hope to show that more factors were causing the crisis than just corporate greed and risk-taking.

5. Do you think that our global internet culture makes it easier for younger people to become involved in startups and other entrepreneurial business projects?

Definitely. Only 20 years ago it would have been impossible to set up a journal like Affairs Today without major financial support. Within a fortnight we managed to have everything running. That is all thanks to the global internet culture. Just looking around on a university campus also reveals how many internet-entrepreneurs there are. Two close friends of mine started their own internet-business and there are various meetings and conventions for students pursuing their dream for a tech start-up. Not only do they receive support from various sides, but most importantly from fellow-minded individuals. I think that we have to thank the global internet culture for that.

Thanks, Maximilian!

Learn to Write a Novel on DaftBlogger

The e-journal DaftBlogger is featuring a special series of posts on how to write a novel by South African author Gary Smith. DaftBlogger's slogan is "Making It Accessible," and this series of posts offers clear and useful content for anyone with an interest in writing fiction.

Gary Smith is contemporary artist and art critic focusing on post-secular thought. He serves as co-editor of the South African Writers' Network (SAWN). As a visual artist he works in media like oil and pastel, and as a sculptor he works in steel, ciment fondu, and fiber glass.

The postings in this series include topics like using mind maps and other idea-generating techniques and suggestions for shaping interesting characters and settings. Smith ends the postings with brief yet thought-provoking writing exercises. By reading these posts and writing 100 words at a time as you complete the exercises, you could build some intriguing short stories and, yes, a novel.

As a writer and writing teacher, I can recommend these posts and will be sharing them with my students.