One of the things that also want to fulfill in my lifetime is to write a book. I am surrounded by book authors, editors, and writers and they have been encouraging me to come up with printed material. I'm flattered because they believe that I can write something that will encourage and inspire people. At this point in time, I still have no idea what to write about: a children's book, an inspirational book, or an academic book.

My son, Kib, is also dreaming of coming up with his own book. He has been writing short stories in his notebook, and now, he is exploring Wattpad. He is also writing blogs so that he can practice his writing skills more.

Years ago, I came across Kath Eustaquio-Derla on Facebook. I had been following her because she gives valuable tips and insights for aspiring writers. I had been wanting to attend one of her talks but unfortunately, the schedules conflict with my activities. 

Luckily, I was able to see her "Web to Print" webinar post. I immediately signed up because I do not want to pass another opportunity to listen to her. 

The webinar exceeded my expectations! I really learned a lot from her two-hour talk. The participants were also given an opportunity to ask questions.

In a nutshell, this is what I've learned from Kath Eustaquio-Derla's "Web to Print" webinar:

1. There are two routes to take in printing your book: traditional and self-publishing. Both have their pros and cons, so it is better to choose which one will work for you. While Ms. Derla is pushing for self-publishing more, she is not also limiting the author in choosing the traditional route. It really depends on your resources on which option will be better for you.

2. Read the contract thoroughly before signing. Make sure that the contract is both favorable to the author/writer and to the publisher. There are cases that the publisher gains more than the author/writer. Ask all the questions to the publisher first before signing the contract. There are instances where the author/writer will be stuck for life at the publisher should the author/writer decides to write a sequel of the book.

3. Send synopsis only, not the entire book. If you're pitching your novel or book to a publisher, DO NOT SEND everything until you have signed the contract. This is to protect your work from being plagiarized and for you to be credited properly. 

4. Hire an editor. In traditional publishing, editing is not a problem because they have their own editor, but in self-publishing, it is ideal that you hire an editor to check your work. A poorly-written book will tarnish your reputation forever, so invest in hiring one.

5. Write a book with at least 135 pages. According to Kath, a book with 135 pages is not so thick nor thin. The book should also have a dimension of 8.5 x 5.5 inches. Moreover, your book must also have at least a 12,000-15,000 word count.

6. Submit your manuscript in MS Word format to your editor. This is for easy editing. MS Word has edit history tracking, you can easily track the edits made on your manuscript.

Want to know more about writing a book? Read Kath's first-ever non-fiction book, "Appendix B: 8 Things You Really Need to Write, Self-Publish, and Sell Your Book (Fuck Passion)". This book will guide you on how to write and publish your first-ever book. 

Kath has lots of stories and experiences to share! I super love her for being bold and fearless with her thoughts about book writing and authorship. She supports aspiring writers, whether they have a good following or not. She is after the talent and not the popularity of the writer. 

Kath has a mentorship program for aspiring book authors! You may visit her website at www.paperkatbooks.com to know more.

Kath rarely gives a webinar due to her busy schedule, so if by chance you saw her setting up a schedule, sign-up and free your time! It's really worth it, I promise.

So, are you ready to write your book?