Kelly Schuknecht

NaNoWriMo – 6 Month Check-in

It has been six months since NaNoWriMo. Yes, six months! Time really does fly. As you probably know, I spent a great deal of time back in November sharing about my experience with the NaNoWriMo challenge. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but when I hit the 50,000 word mark, I saved the working document and haven’t looked back…not once! For me, the six month mark is a chance to reflect on my project and set goals to refine and further improve my manuscript.

If you’re in the same boat, here a few things you should ask yourself as you reflect on your NaNoWriMo project:

How is the book coming along?

Since the challenge ended, what have you done with your manuscript? Have you continued working on it? Is it sitting in a (virtual) drawer somewhere collecting dust? Now would be a great time to open it back up and finish your manuscript. With six months passed, you can look at the manuscript with fresh eyes and bring new life to the project.

Is your manuscript done?

You may have finished writing the manuscript, but is the project truly finished? Maybe you still need to edit. Maybe you need to come up with a great title. Maybe all you have left to do is publish and market your book. Now is a great time to set new goals for your project so you’re ready in six more months to start a new novel all over again.

Are you ready to publish your novel?

If your manuscript is complete, now may be a great time to look into publishing options. Research self publishing companies. Talk to other authors. Figure out your goals and choose an option that is best for you.

Are you ready to market your book?

Even if your book isn’t yet published, it is never too early to begin marketing your book. You can share the news with family and friends. Set up social media sites. Talk to your local press. Begin making a marketing plan now, and you will have a much easier time promoting your book once it is complete.

I’d love to know, what have you done since NaNoWriMo?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.

Self-Publishing Week in Review, Uncategorized

Self Publishing Week in Review: 5/7/13

As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self publishing industry. This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self publishing process, which will lead to a greater self publishing experience. To help you stay current on self publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Tuesday to find out the hottest news in self publishing this week.

‘Wool’ author Hugh Howey chimes in on print, digital, self-publishing

In this article, successful self publishing author Hugh Howey talks about the new publishing paradigm. He discusses the future of self publishing, using social media to promote your book, and more.

Patti Davis to Self-Publish New Lesbian-themed Novel

Patti Davis, author, actress, and the daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, is the latest notable author to give self publishing a try. Though mostly a nonfiction writer, Davis self published her new novel, Till Human Voices Wake Us, in March and now is publishing a paperback edition. The book is the first of three new novels that Davis will self publish.

Self-Published Titles Dominate Top of Ebook Best-Sellers List

Self published authors recently stunned the publishing world by taking the #1 and #2 spots on the DBW Ebook Best-Seller list. Last week, five of the top 10 were self published ebooks.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self Publishing Week in Review: 4/30/13

Self-Publishing Is For Control Freaks

As you know, I love self publishing success stories. This article is about a self publishing author who hit number one on the DBW Ebook Best-Seller list in 2013. She reveals that she decided to self publish because she is a “control freak.” Self publishing is great for authors who want to be in charge of the entire publishing process.

Top Children’s Books by Self-Published Authors for April

If you are self publishing a children’s book, it is important to understand the market. One of the best ways to do this is by reading and learning about top-selling children’s books by self published authors.

Colleen Hoover is a self-published star

Here is yet another self publishing success story. Read and be inspired.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

The Benefits of Poetry

In honor of National Poetry Month, I’ll be sharing tips and news for poets this month. Today, I’m going to address the question, “Why write poetry?” Research shows that there are several benefits to writing and reading poetry. Here are a few.

For Readers

a deeper appreciation of the world around them
a better understanding of oneself and others
comfort in difficult times
sheer enjoyment and entertainment
relaxation

For Writers

the opportunity to express emotions
the opportunity to impact readers
the pleasure of writing
the ability to have fun with language
the opportunity to learn about yourself and others

As you can see, there are many benefits to reading and writing poetry. I’d love to know, why do you read and/or write poetry?

Kelly Speaks

Contemporary Poetry vs Classic Poetry

In honor of National Poetry Month, I’ll be sharing tips and news for poets this month. Today, I’m going to address the topic of contemporary poetry versus classic poetry. A recent study called Poetry in America by the Poetry Foundation revealed some interesting information on this topic. Here are the highlights.

Fifty-five percent of current and former poetry readers first read classic poetry.
More than half of all current poetry users read or listen to contemporary poetry.
About one-third of current poetry users restrict their involvement to contemporary poetry.
About one-quarter read or listen to both contemporary poetry and the classics.
Over a third of current poetry users define the type of poetry that they read as “something else.” They asked respondents to specify what they meant by “something else.” There were four categories that repeatedly came up in the pool of “other” responses: personal, friend’s or relatives’ poetry; modern poetry; children’s poetry; and inspirational poetry.

You may be wondering why this information is important. As a self publishing poet, it is essential that you understand who your readers are and how to reach them. This will help you publish work that is appealing to your audience and to market your books effectively.

I’d love to know, how often do you read poetry and what types of poetry do you read?

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