Author: selfpublishingadvisor

from the archives, Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

From the Archives: “Ask the Right Questions”

Welcome back to our Tuesday segment, where we’ll be revisiting some of our most popular posts from the last few years.  What’s stayed the same?  And what’s changed?  We’ll be updating you on the facts, and taking a new (and hopefully refreshing) angle on a few timeless classics of Self Publishing Advisor.

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[ Originally posted: March 6th, 2009 ]

Regardless of whether you are holding out for an old-fashioned publishing contract or taking matters into your own hands with custom self-publishing, here are 5 questions you should know the answers to when you decide to publish:

1 – What is the minimum number of books you have to purchase, and what does
each book cost you? Many require certain quantities to be purchased at highly marked up prices. That is how they ‘get you.’

2 – Who determines your retail price? How much is it? – Here’s another one
to look out for. You should have that control. Publishers that don’t allow that are often in the business to make money on your book. You’ve done the work. You should see the rewards.

3 – Who determines how much money you make from each book? Another good test.
Your publisher should pay 100% of the difference between the wholesale price and the
production price of the book. Most publishers pay anywhere from 5%-50%.

4 – Do you receive marketing support after publication? Free services like the Marketing COACH offered by Outskirts Press is an invaluable collection of proven tactics shared to help improve your book sales.

5 – Do you retain all the rights to your book? You definitely should. Check
the contract of wherever you publish.

Isn’t this fun!

– by Karl Schroeder

Karl was right back in 2009, and he’s still right today in 2016–when it comes to publishing your book, it’s better to ask the right questions ahead of time, so that you don’t end up locked into an unsatisfactory contract or stuck in a bad situation after the fact.  His five questions, too, were well-chosen, and if you’re just setting out to self-publish for the first time I recommend you start with his original list as a starting point; while the market and self-publishing process is always going to be something of a moving target, most of his fundamental assumptions  about the nature of self-publishing companies remain highly relevant.

And the most important assumption of all?

Self-publishing companies are out to make money.  

But of course they are!  If they weren’t, they’d operate as nonprofits–and I have actually worked alongside several nonprofits that publish as a part of their service mission, enough to know that they tend to be highly competitive as well as highly selective, and therefore look very much like a traditional publishing model.  Which brings us full circle, back to the self-publishing company as a wholly unique animal on the world stage.  If I were to add any question to Karl’s list, it would be:

How transparent is the company in question about how it makes its profit?

Because it’s one thing to partner with an ethical, reliable, and empowering company with sound business acumen which it places at your disposal as well as at the service of its shareholders–and it’s another thing altogether to sign on to a publishing venture which is out to pad its bottom line, no matter what the cost.

The takeaway?  It all comes down to research.  Talk with the company directly, and don’t hesitate to ask the tough questions.  Ask how they make their money, and what their internal corporate goals are.  Ask previous customers about their experiences, and specifically how well they felt they were treated.  Ask the company to treat you like an adult, which you are.  And if at any point you feel like the shareholders are the company’s priority and not the authors, take that as a sign and take your business elsewhere.  There’s no point in expecting a company to alter it’s corporate DNA for one customer–when it comes to self-publishing, you deserve to be at the heart of your own story.

Thanks for reading.  If you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear them.  Drop me a line in the comments section below and I’ll respond as quickly as I can.  ♠

Kelly Speaks, news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 6.6.2016

This week in the world of self-publishing:

“Many authors who sell their work directly on platforms like Amazon are having their stories plagiarized, which can take an emotional and financial toll,” writes Joy Lanzendorfer in this June 5th article for the Atlantic.  Lanzendorfer recounts the story of self-publishing author Rachel Ann Nunes, whose work was plagiarized by one ‘Sam Taylor Mullens’ (an alias), who took her novel (A Bid for Love), repackaged it under a new title (The Auction Deal), and distributed it under his own name with only superficial changes.  This trend is becoming all too common, writes Lanzendorfer, who adds: “The offending books often stay up for weeks or even months at a time before they’re detected, usually by an astute reader.”  This is no joke for self-publishing authors, who operate without much of the safety net enjoyed by traditionally published authors, with the might and heft of corporate lawyers at their backs.  For other authors, like Opal Carew, “finding out their book has been plagiarized can be traumatic.”  And this is, quite literally, just the tip of the iceberg!  Lanzendorfer’s marathon of an article weighs the various factors at play, including Amazon’s various ranking logarithms.  To read more, follow the link!

Self-publishing has been around awhile, it would seem–far longer than most readers even know, according to this June 3rd piece for Publisher’s Weekly.  The article, which serves as a digital summary of a printed piece in the June 6th edition of the magazine, alleges: “Self-publishing is hardly a new idea, as evidenced by an editorial we published 100 years ago.”  The editorial in question went to print on June 3rd, 1916, and detailed the advantages and disadvantages of midlist authors finding alternative ways to market.  “‘The practice of allowing the author to pay in whole or in part for the publication of his manuscript is by no means confined to certain of the smaller and less-known publishing houses,'” the original 1916 article states: “‘These books are not of such a nature as to make a wide appeal, and consequently, however worthy they may be, we cannot afford to publish them without the author’s assistance.'”  Worthy, albeit niche works–this is indeed the heart and soul of indie publishing!  To catch a taste of 100 years of self-publishing progress, check up on the modern Publisher’s Weekly piece here.

Self-publishing authors who publish outside of a select number of companies and are not counted in traditional e-publishing surveys “exist in this near-invisible economy,” writes Russell Smith for The Globe & Mail, according to this June 1st article.  A pretty turn of phrase for a not-so-pleasant experience, as it turns out: says Smith, the challenge these authors face is most plain in the matter of promotion.  How to market a book that flies under the radar of the traditional bait-and-reward system?  “The answer,” he writes, “is in niches.”  But this type of approach is exhausting–or as Smith puts it: “Ah, engagement – a concept dreaded by writers of my generation. It means we have to have a personality that readers think they are interacting with; it means we have to seem like their friend.”  This kind of labor may be easier for some than others, he writes, but it’s still work–especially to those who do not have an easy niche market to identify, much less sell books to.  But the challenge is as much one of personality as it is substance, as Smith makes clear in his self-comparison to another indie author (Tudor Robins), whose boundless optimism leaves Smith questioning his own experience.  Could he do more?  Should he do more?  To find out his conclusions, tap into the original article at the link!

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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 Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

KellyABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive 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, kellyschuknecht.com.

Book Reviews, Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week, Uncategorized, weekly self published book review

Saturday Book Review: “Soulful Transitions”

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review, courtesy of Goodreads reviewer Charles:

soulful transitions by lorena munoz

Soulful Transitions

by Lorena Muñoz

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 978-1478759492

Synopsis:

Soulful Transitions is a collection of poems that chronicles one woman’s pilgrimage from pain and heartache to healing. Each expressive poem offers a glimpse into a soul struggling with various life lessons, and each is dated to document the evolution of growth and recovery. Full of faith and hope, Soulful Transitions offers reassurance that we, too, can survive the dark nights of our soul-and face the morning light stronger and wiser.

Critique:

This collection of poems consists largely of emotional anguish, describing what appears to be a love affair that has gone wrong. There is discussion of betrayal, addiction to him, perpetual deceit and other related aspects of break-ups. The prose appears stiff in the sense that there is not a smooth flow, it generally has the feeling of being forced. After a point, the reader hopes for a change of subject and a little more of a light-hearted manner.

There is a transition to a bit more of a positive tone later in the book, but it is not a great change. This is a book that one does not read in order to make an emotional change from the down to the up. For it never really gets that far up.

If you are someone that enjoys reading prose that is generally dark and brooding, then you might like this book. However, if you prefer the light and positive, then you will not find this book one that will bring the up crease of a smile to your face.

[ reviewed by Charles on Goodreads ]

Here’s what other reviewers are saying:

This book is amazing.
Such an inspirational read.
From all the ups and downs described in this book, the words are extremely touching.
The cover is also beautiful. Makes my book collection look extra pretty.
Definitely recommend this book to everyone.

– Amazon Reviewer Sakura22

Beautiful and inspiring! A brave journey and reminder that when we must be unafraid to examine our thoughts and emotions if we want to understand, learn and grow.

– Amazon reviewer Meghan Grosso

An awesome read. Truly brings you into the author’s world and illuminates pathways of promise and self-fulfillment.

– Amazon reviewer Michael Freeman

I felt every word and emotion spilled onto this book. The chronological form of how it was written was almost that of a re-birth or a metamorphosis. A must read for those in need of a soul filled similarity.

– Amazon Reviewer Amazon Customer

saturday self-published book review

Thanks for reading!  Keep up with the latest in the world of indie and self-published books by watching this space every Saturday!

Self Publishing Advisor

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Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Conversations: 6/3/2016

JUNE IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER

The Season for Short Stories

Yes, I’m one of those people who perk up in the Spring when flowers start blooming, rain showers make the new grass greener and the trees fluff out with foliage. I’m also a writer who finds this season inspiring. Over the last several years I’ve started a new book project almost every Spring. So it is that the blogs for this month are offered to encourage YOU—and me—not only to start a new project, but to see it through to publication by years’ end and even begin the next one!

Somewhere in the multitudinous notes I’ve taken during writing conference workshops, I jotted the words SEASON-SPECIFIC GREETING CARDS WILL INSPIRE YOUR NEW BOOK. The scribbled thought just below this sentence reads: Short-stories lead to novels. I did not make reference to which presenter shared this bit of inspiration. However, I’m thankful these two ideas stayed with me. Here are a few thoughts from my continuing research—and the greeting card topics I’ve collected.

filing system

  • Start a collection of your favorite greeting cards and file them according to MONTH. Highlight words and phrased that are season-specific. For example:
    • January starts off with a bang celebrating the New Year. Although I rarely receive a card wishing me a “Happy New Year” that sentiment is often included on Christmas cards and friends express their hopes and plans for their new year. Take note of activities and events your family and friends have (and hope to have) experienced.
    • FAITH celebrations in January include a variety of traditions around The Epiphany—aka Three Kings Day. This is an early-in-the-year reminder for writers that short stories based on traditional family ways of acknowledging Faith adds excellent depth to many writing projects.
    • January also brings the remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday. For the writer who is developing a “true-life” story, adding a character’s perspective about such National Holidays will add reality and complexity to their story-lives.
  • Follow this pattern of card-collecting discovery for every month of the year(s). In this month of June there are three (3) main holidays:
    • Ramadan (observed by Muslims worldwide to remember the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad);
    • FLAG DAY (commemorating the adoption of our United States flag);
    • and Father’s Day (honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society).
    • EACH of these season-specific TOPICS—touching on Faith, Patriotism and Personal Relationships—are excellent subjects to for short story writing.

One of my favorite quotes about writing short stories is this: “The best short stories should haunt you for days and weeks.” Then a couple years ago, I clipped this quote from Entertainment Weekly relating to a new George Saunders’ collection of short stories: [These stories are a] “master of joy bombs: little explosions of grin-stimulating genius that he buries throughout his deeply thoughtful, endlessly entertaining flights of imagination”.

And, there you have it! Our short stories must be written with great genius—visually imaginative “joy bombs” balanced with thought-provoking insights—so that our Readers cannot stop thinking about them. Then, when they’re published in a collection our writing reputations will precede us into the world of novel writing! ⚓︎

 

RoyaleneABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene has been writing something since before kindergarten days and continues to love the process. Through her small business—DOYLE WRITING SERVICES—she brings more than 40 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their projects. This is a nice fit as she develops these blogs for Outskirts Press (OP) a leading self-publisher, and occasionally accepts a ghostwriting project from one of their clients. Her recent book release (with OP) titled FIREPROOF PROVERBS, A Writer’s Study of Words, is already receiving excellent reviews including several professional writer’s endorsements given on the book’s back cover.  

Royalene’s writing experience grew through a wide variety of positions from Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to Teacher of Literature and Advanced Writing courses and editor/writer for an International Christian ministry. Her willingness to listen to struggling authors, learn their goals and expectations and discern their writing voice has brought many manuscripts into the published books arena.
Advocacy in Self-Publishing, Choosing a Publisher, elizabeth speaks, in your corner, Uncategorized

In Your Corner : Shopping for a publisher? Three lessons from a lingerie counter.

No–I promise the title isn’t just for clicks!  One of the critical components of a conversation about lingerie that should be a part of a conversation about publishing–but often isn’t–is that of support.  How does your publisher affect your book sales?  Does your publisher offer support before, during, and after publication?  Does your publisher offer marketing solutions to help your book sell?  Making an informed decision prior to publication will help you long afterwards, as you transition into the life of a published author and begin to weigh some of the risks … and, hopefully, the rewards.

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So what’s this about underwear and support?

lingerie

Lesson One:

Your publisher should be your advocate and ally, not just a platform.

In today’s competitive world, authors have more choices than ever in terms of where they take their manuscripts for publication–whether traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, or self-publishing.  We’re still in a somewhat weird place where the market is flexing, and where supergiant corporations like Amazon can afford to be monolithic and self-absorbed, but the paradigm is shifting in favor of the reader.  How do I mean that?  More hybrid and self-publishing companies are serving as fierce advocates for their authors above and beyond basic tech support.  The term “support” has come to mean a dedicated band of professionals working together to find a marketing solution for your specific book, and companies are sitting up and realizing that they need to do better.  Even traditional publishers have begun to realize that they need to be better, especially in respect to their treatment of their authors.  The downside of being a traditional publisher or massive corporation (like Amazon) today is that it takes a long time for even the clearest of realizations to trickle down into actual corporate behavior.  It’s like turning a behemoth around–smaller, more nimble companies will leap ahead of the curve…and this is what we’re seeing with small presses, hybrids, and completely self-sufficient self-publishing authors.  Don’t settle for mediocre support!

Lesson Two:

You’re paying for support–support–and that means highly structured, organized assistance.

Here’s another fundamental fact of the universe: when you pay someone to publish your book (according to the hybrid and self-publishing model) or allow someone to take a cut of your book’s royalties (according to the traditional publishing model), you are not paying for therapy.  You have the rightful expectation of seeing more than a tepid response to your book, a lukewarm attempt at promotion, or a scattershot approach to marketing.  You have every right to expect–and demand–meticulous, highly structured support.  Even if you choose not to pay for a full-fledged marketing campaign, you are the beneficiary of the best work of each professional you engage with over the course of the publication process.  And if you’re not getting it?  Here’s where feedback is important.  There are two ways to go about giving feedback: asking for better treatment, and actually taking your money elsewhere.  Realistic expectations are important, but if you’re worried that you’re not getting real advocacy from your publisher, it might be time to start asking the tough questions.

Lesson Three:

A good publisher + good marketing + your book = good sales.

The implications are clear, right?  If one of these components is broken, every other element in the formula for success will fall out of joint.  If sales are not strong, apply a microscope to the work done by your publisher.  Are they showing real dedication?  Do they display a sense of organization and interest in your work, specifically?  A half-baked marketing plan will only ever produce half-baked sales figures, and a haphazard publishing package will take you to the exact same place.  It’s hard to strike the balance as a self-publishing author paying for a minimalist publishing package, but there are still options.  Don’t be content with the first bare-bones self-publishing website you stumble across!  Read the fine print.  Call up the help center.  See what all is available to you as an author in terms of targeted support and guidance.  Only you can decide how much of the marketing process you want to take on, and how to spend your money effectively.  Don’t let a company decide that for you!

You are not alone. ♣︎

ElizabethABOUT ELIZABETH JAVOR: With over 18 years of experience in sales and management, Elizabeth Javor works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable publishing consultants, pre-production specialists, customer service reps and book marketing specialists; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Elizabeth Javor can put you on the right path.