Author: Cheri Breeding

Book Promotion, Cheri Speaks

Would You Consider Ingram Advance?

Ingram Advance is a publication read by wholesalers that lists published books.  Many self-publishing companies include a graphic advertisement in Ingram Advance as one of their many marketing services. By listing your book in the publication, you are announcing your new book to the people who are most interested in buying it. In addition to Ingram Advance, there are topic specific publications such as Children’s Advance and Christian Advance. These publications are similar to Ingram Advance, but they focus on a specific category of books.

I’m curious, which of these publications would you consider advertising in? Please leave comments.

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.
Cheri Speaks

The Truth About Copy Editing

You’ve probably heard that if you want your self-published book to be taken seriously, you should hire a professional copy editor. Before you do, there are a few things you should know.

There might still be errors.

How many times have you read a national publication or a book by a top publishing house and found an error? Even the best editors and proofreaders make mistakes.  While hiring a professional will significantly improve the quality of your book, don’t be surprised if one or more errors make it into print. An occassional error does not mean that the editor did a poor job; it just shows that editors are human.

You get what you pay for.

Copy editors charge per word, hour, page or project. The cost of the edit depends on the number of times the editor readers through your manuscript. If you only pay for a single line edit, the editor will only read your manuscript once. Therefore, there is a good chance that there will still be errors in your book. If you want a more thorough edit, you must pay the editor to spend more time on your book. When hiring an editor, be sure to find out how many times he or she will read through your manuscript.

Editors must be paid.

I’ve occasionally had to deal with writers who refused to pay for editing services because their manuscript was not flawless or the writer disagreed with some of the editor’s recommendations. Editors are professionals, and they earn their living by editing materials such as books. You cannot decide to not pay for services because they did not catch all of the errors, especially if you only paid for a single line edit. You need to be realistic about your expectations and respectful to the person working on your book.

 

Don’t let this information discourage you from hiring a professional copy editor. This service is an important part of the publication process, and it will significantly improve the quality of your book. However, you need to be realistic about your expectations. You cannot pay someone pennies to make your book flawless, and you cannot expect perfection every time. Copy editors desire fair wages for the time they spend on your book, and writers need to recognize that even the best copy editors make mistakes.

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.
Cheri Speaks, Choosing a Publisher

Self Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing

There are many similarities and differences between self publishing and traditional publishing. Before deciding which option is right for you, you need to understand the two types of publishing. Here is some information to get you started.

What Both Offer

The outcome of both types of publishing is the same: your book is published. Therefore, there are some services offered by both traditional publishing companies and self publishing companies. These services include:

  • wholesale distribution
  • automatic online listings with top online sellers
  • marketing support to help you sell your book
  • book orders are filled for you

What is Different

While the outcome is the same, the process is very different. For starters, authors who decide to publish with a traditional company must find an agent or submit query letters directly to publishers. This process can be daunting and discouraging since authors get more rejection letters than acceptance letters. Self-published authors must research companies prior to publishing, but they don’t have to worry about agents and editors determining the value of their book. They determine the value of their book.

Another main difference is the control. You determine the content, layout and price of your book. With this freedom, comes the responsibility to thoroughly review the galley proofs provided by your self publishing company. You will need to review the text and layout of the proofs.

When choosing a self publishing company, be sure to do your research. Find out what services the company offers. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to talk to other authors to find out their experiences. Be sure to find a company, whether traditional or self publishing, that matches your goals and values.

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.
Book Design, Cheri Speaks

What You Need to Know About Custom Covers

You’ve heard the cliché “A picture is worth a thousand words.” This is especially true in the publishing industry. The cover is the first impression a reader gets of your book. Therefore, it needs to be appealing and professional, but it should also reflect the tone and style of your book. If you have a specific vision of your book’s cover, you are probably considering a custom cover. However, there are two different types of custom covers. Here are the basics.

Regular Custom Covers vs. Illustrated Custom Covers

Regular custom covers are created with photos from a photo image site. Illustrated custom covers are drawn by professional illustrators. If you take a trip to the bookstore or browse book covers online, you will see that covers with photos and covers will illustrations are two very different styles. Also, illustrated covers offer more unique designs. The type of custom cover you choose depends on your vision.

Choosing a Cover

When deciding whether to choose a regular custom cover or illustrated customer cover, consider these questions:

  • What do I want my finished book to look like?
  • What do other books in my genre look like?
  • What insight has my market research provided about cover art?
  • What is my budget for cover art?

I’d love to know, do you plan on using a regular custom cover or an illustrated custom cover?

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.
Cheri Speaks

3 Ways to Use Market Research

A few weeks ago, I wrote The Importance of Social Media Research. Whether you are using social media or other methods, market research is an important part of the self-publishing process. So how should you use market research to help you create a saleable book? Here are a few suggestions.

Choose a Title

The title says a lot about a book and its author. It is often the first impression a reader gets of a book, so it is essential that you have an appealing title. You can use market research to help you choose a title for your book.

Pick a Cover

Unfortunately, people don’t listen to the old cliché “don’t judge a book by its cover.” An appealing cover will make your book more successful, but not all readers are drawn to the same style of covers. Market research will help you determine what your readers are interested in.

Decide on a Genre

You would think that deciding which genre your book belongs in would be an easy decision, but often the lines between genres are blurry. Market research will help you determine where your book fits among other books and how to choose a genre that will make your book visible to your readers.

I’d love to know, how are you using market research?

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.