INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Reverse stencils work similar to regular stencils, except that you will be putting paint around the shape instead. Here's a list of what you will need:  Cardstock Craft knife Double-sided tape or repositionable spray adhesive Foam roller or paint sponges Acrylic paint or wall paint Paint pan or paint palette Paper towels You can also use template plastic, or blank stencil sheeting as well.  You can find template plastic in the quilting section of a fabric store. You can find blank stencil sheeting in the stencil section of an arts and crafts store. You can also spray the back of each shape with repositionable spray adhesive. You can create a grid or checkered pattern. You can also use a completely random pattern. If you are using shapes of different sizes, consider arranging them in an asymmetric clump. Keep the larger shapes towards the center, and the smaller shapes towards the edges/ends. Don't pour out a whole lot, or the paint will dry out before you can finish using it. You can always pour more paint out into your paint pan or paint palette. If you are painting a large area, consider using wall paint. If you are painting just a small area, any acrylic paint will do.  If you are using a paint roller to apply the paint, you might find a paint pan easier to use. If you are using a small paint sponge, you might find a paint palette easier to work with. This will prevent you from applying too much paint all at once. If you apply too much paint at one time, the paint may not dry or cure properly. It may also end up with a bubbly texture. Because of this, it is much better to apply many thin coats of paint rather than one thick coat. Simply roll the foam paint roller across the entire wall, including your shapes. If you want a softer look, you can gently tap around your shapes with a paint sponge. Wait for the paint to dry, then apply a second coat. If you are taping the paint on with a sponge, you can even use a slightly lighter or darker color. If you remove the shapes after the paint dries, you will risk accidentally chipping the paint. Gently peel the shapes off using your fingernail. Look over your design, and fill in any gaps using a thin brush and some extra paint. If you got paint where you don't want it to be, wipe it off using a damp Q-tip. Most acrylic paints will dry within 20 minutes to two hours. Latex wall paints have a different composition and may require four to six hours to dry, if not more. Refer to the label on the can or bottle for more specific drying times.

SUMMARY: Gather your supplies. Cut shapes or designs from a piece of cardstock. Put some double-sided tape onto the back of each shape. Arrange the shapes in any pattern you want on your wall. Pour some paint out. Dip your paint roller or sponge into the paint and tap off excess paint onto a folded sheet of paper towel. Start painting over your shapes. Apply a second coat, if necessary. Remove the shapes before the paint dries. Make any touchups using extra paint and a thin paintbrush. Allow the paint to dry fully.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: A web page is a great place to centralize information about your book, such as teasers, launch dates, book readings in your area, and author information. When the book is out, you can also include links for people to purchase the book directly from the site.  Your webpage should include the title of the book as its URL, if possible, or be closely related to it and easy to remember. For example, if your book is titled "How to Kiss a Frog," you might want to use the web domain www.kissafrog.com. This makes it easier for people to remember the site address. If you're not familiar with webpage design, a simple template website that provides free blogs should work fine. Check out this helpful wikiHow article for more information on how to build and design your own website. You can also use a Facebook group or product page in addition to, or in place of, a more traditional website. This is probably a good idea if your audience is younger and tech-savvy, and likely to appreciate having updates on your book in their Facebook feed. You should start marketing your book among family and friends before it is even completed, in order to build anticipation before your launch date. The book cover can be used to represent your book every time you post about it online. It should catch the attention of potential readers and give a hint about the genre, contents, and appeal of the book itself.  Since your book is digital only, its book cover is also digital only. In other words, it is just a representative image that you can use online to represent the book itself. It can be any photograph or image. If you have digital media skills and can use tools like Photoshop without much trouble, you might consider doing this yourself. You can also contract the work on websites like Fiverr.com, where it only costs $5. Before the book is available, create a blog or vlog (video blog) entry to post to the book's website. Don't be afraid to brag; now is the time to talk up how awesome this book will be and why people will want to read it. Talk about its unique features and what makes it helpful, interesting, entertaining, or useful.  Don't just write one entry; post about the book frequently. Remember that your website is a reflection of you as a writer, so don't hesitate to make your blog writing engaging, fun, and similar in style to the book itself. Be sure to proof read; having a blog can backfire if your writing is rife with typos and grammatical errors that might make readers question your writing skills! Your book's website should have a feature where individuals can sign up for email updates about the book. Get people to sign up for the email list in advance of the book's release, and that way you will have a ready-made client list when the book is available. Try not to overuse the email list, as most people will not appreciate it and probably view it as spam. Instead, save the email list for important announcements and to drum up business when the book is ready. Once you have a solid presence including a web page, Facebook or other social media presence, book cover, and email list, it’s a good idea to start spreading the word among your family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances.  Try posting on Facebook or Twitter about your book progress and link to your book's Facebook group or website. You can also ask family and friends directly to support you by "sharing" the URLs to your pages on their own social media feeds, or through email or word of mouth. Although it's important to post and talk about your book, be careful not to overdo it; you don't want to drive people away with your zealous promotion.

SUMMARY:
Create a web page for your book. Create an enticing book cover. Blog or vlog about the book. Create an email list. Spread the word in your social circles.