Book Marketing, Book Reviews, Kelly Speaks, Marketing Your Self-Published Book, Uncategorized

Marketing Missteps Episode 6 : Taking it Personally

We all make mistakes. They’re unavoidable! And this holds true for the self-publishing author’s first (or second, or third, or nth) foray into marketing: You will not do everything perfectly on the first (or second, or third, or nth) attempt, and living in fear or working under the shadow of this truth can lead to paralysis. So how to move on into the next step of authorship without getting lost or discouraged along the way? I always recommend an innovative–and informed–approach. Knowing what others have done to kill their marketing campaigns can be of help. To that end, I have been writing this series of “marketing missteps.” To ruthlessly paraphrase Animal Farm: All mistakes are created equal, but some mistakes are more equal than others. In other words, these mistakes are guaranteed to set you on the wrong path:

This week, I’ll be taking on perhaps the most challenging misstep of all, and its one that I myself fall prey to … regularly.

Taking it Personally

I’m not going to lie: there are times when we need to take things personally in order to keep plugging away at the writing thing, when a compliment or a piece of sound constructive criticism is exactly the right thing to move us from stasis back into action. But knowing whose compliments and whose advice is worth listening to? That’s the hard part.

Running your own self-publishing marketing campaign requires us to grow thick skin. This isn’t optional–it’s mandatory. If we want to craft successful strategies for selling our books, we have to rise above being affected by the hazy emotional mess that is the average Amazon or Goodreads book review. And being detached? Well, it takes practice to remain sensitive to the facts and not dip into dispassionate waters while taking the heat out of our responses to everything else.

My advice is this:

Save your heart and your soul for writing, and treat your marketing campaign like a business. It might be useful to think of the aforementioned Amazon and Goodreads reviews as the literary equivalent of Yelp for restaurants: some people might “get” it, some people might not, and everyone’s writing these things from highly subjective points of view. This is not tosay reviews aren’t important–but you should be looking at the overall metrics and working always to boost your positive review base, no matter what individual reviews say. And yes, I’m referring to the positive reviews every bit as much as the negative ones! There’s nothing that will sap your writing momentum as fast as an afternoon spent basking in complimentary but fundamentally useless reviews (in terms of improving your writing). And reviews aren’t the only thing you need to approach with bloodless detachment. You will face all kinds of rejections and snubs–just as any businessperson must. And you will learn from them, and rise above them. You will turn those negatives into positives with regular and conscious effort … if you remember to keep your head in the game, and your heart out of it.

Write for your life–and market for profit. This has to be our operational principle.

Thank you for reading! If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or contributions, please use the comment field below or drop us a line at selfpublishingadvice@gmail.com. And remember to check back each Wednesday for your weekly dose of marketing musings from one indie, hybrid, and self-published author to another. ♠

ABOUT 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. 10:00 AM

Advocacy in Self-Publishing, from the archives, Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

From the Archives: Self-publishing vs. Independent Publishing

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: July 28th, 2010 ]

Guest Post: The Book Doctor on Self-Publishing vs. Independent Publishing

Q: When you spoke at a conference recently, I heard you refer to self-publishing. Isn’t “independent publishing” the correct term now?

A: Yes and no. An independent publisher is a small publisher that may or may not publish the works of the owner, but it always publishes the works of other authors, as well. When you publish only your own books, you are self-publishing. I know the distinction is vague; in either case you have to set up a company and be a publisher, but an independent publishing house accepts the works of others, as well as the works of the owner.

Also, when you use a firm that helps you publish, so that you don’t have to set up your own company, you are a self-published author, as opposed to a traditionally published author.

In the end, we are simply talking semantics. If you spend any money at all toward the printing of your book, you are self-published. Being self-published used to carry a stigma, and perhaps that’s why some people don’t want to use the term, but the market has changed over the years, and people’s attitudes have changed with it. At a time when selling a book to a traditional publisher is almost impossible, yet printing your own book has become easier than ever, self-publishing has taken on a whole new character and lost much of its prior poor image. Nowadays the only stigma comes from a poorly written or unedited self-published book. If the book looks good, reads well, is thoroughly edited, and sells well, who cares who paid for the printing?

While the words of the Book Doctor remain as true in 2016 as they were in 2010, I’d like to play devil’s advocate for a moment and argue that no, we’re not just “talking semantics” when we talk about the distinction between “independent publishing” and “self-publishing”–and in part I’m inspired by yesterday’s news compendium, or more specifically, Alex Palmer’s “Indie Authors Business Guide” for Publisher’s Weekly. A self-publishing author who does not run an indie press may or may not choose to pursue becoming a limited liability corporation (LLC), but an independent publisher has no choice in whether or not to run his or her work as a business. (Besides, passions run hot when it comes to these distinctions, as Judith Briles of AuthorU explains at length.)

And there’s an additional wrench in the works: “independent publishing” is not the same thing as being an “indie author.” As Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn writes, “The term ‘indie author’ has been increasingly claimed by authors who want a new label, one that does justice to the work involved.” This isn’t a matter of semantics, but of self-identification and empowerment.

As Penn goes on to point out, the proliferation of publishing platforms and models means that there’s a lot more confusion between the clear-cut definitions that we have relied on in the past, as we did in our 2010 Book Doctor post. “Indie” could mean someone who publishes online and cuts out the middleman entirely, someone who publishes through an indie press, someone who partners up with other self-publishing authors to create a micro-business, someone who publishes through unpaid digital platforms and relies on sponsorships and donations, and so on and so forth.

One of the things I like best about using the term “indie” is that it takes the heat out of the situation. There’s a tendency to consider self-publishing the opposing binary or even “enemy” of traditional publishing, but the savvy author knows that it’s less about the inherent components of the model than it is about the people working within that model and how well they serve the author. Self-publishing may be “friendlier” on the whole to its authors by design, but that does not mean every traditional publishing option is inherently evil or that every hybrid or self-publishing company treats its authors well. Indie authors take control of their publishing experience by finding the right option and team of professionals for them, without pitching publishing models against each other in some kind of Game of Thrones death match. Indie authors are entrepreneurs as well as consummate businessfolk, and I respect them so much!

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. ♠

ABOUT 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.

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

Self-Publishing News: 4.25.2016

This week in the world of self-publishing:

Indie Author Finds Niche with Geek Cookbook

Once upon a time, Chris-Rachael Oseland turned to self-publishing for the same reasons as many other authors: she faced a litany of rejections from the world of traditional publishing for creating work that was “too niche” in its content, and decided her work deserved to see the light of day anyway. And what a vindication! Unlike many other authors who find incredible success in self-publishing, Oseland has decided to stick with indie. As Jennifer McCartney writes for Publisher’s Weekly in this April 22nd article, Oseland’s “self-published Dining with the Doctor: The Unauthorized Whovian Cookbook has sold more than 35,000 print copies.” In addition, McCartney writes, Oseland “went on to publish a Hobbit-inspired cookbook (An Unexpected Cookbook) as well as one inspired by the Settlers of Catan board game (Wood for Sheep). Her books have been featured by Paste Magazine, Wired, Nerdist, and the Daily Dot.” That’s a lot of acclaim. But McCartney’s article isn’t just a record of Oseland’s accomplishments: it’s a record from the ever-evolving front lines of publishing, where Kickstarter and niche content is king, where readers can participate in and interact with their favorite authors’ projects from conception through funding through publication and purchase. You might not be interested in cooking Deadpool’s chimichangas, but it’s well worth checking out McCartney’s article for its insight into what’s next for Oseland and innovative self-publishing authors at the link!

Opening up scientific publishing for the Flickr generation

“For an aspiring scientist, being published in a creditable journal is a major step towards gaining respect in the field,” writes Jon Card in this April 21st piece for the Guardian. “But for Mark Hahnel, founder and CEO of Figshare, this old system was drastically in need of an update. ‘The internet was built for sharing academic data but the way scientific papers are published had hardly changed since the early days of the printing press,’ he says.” But Hahnel, writes Card, was able to dream up and bring to fruition a plan for mixing things up–and providing an innovative new platform for scientists and college students in the sciences to publish, share, and access scientific documents without having to cowtow to the traditional publishing rigamarole. Inspired by websites like Github and Flickr, Hahnel created Figshare to be a multimodal platform, friendly to various forms of non-written media including videos and audio files, as well as intuitive to use and capable of adapting to the ever-changing landscape of the internet. Broken links? Not a problem, according to Card. Figshare has code that will take care of those so that the article’s author doesn’t have to. “But the most important aspect of Figshare,” writes Card, “is that it has created a model that disrupts the current method, where universities pay publishers to see the work that they have created.” Food for thought, right? And there’s a lot more to chew on in the original article, which you can find here.

Indie Authors Business Guide

“With the recent end of tax season, many self-published authors have likely done some thinking about whether they could be saving more money or better protecting themselves from IRS scrutiny,” begins Alex Palmer’s April 22nd article for Publisher’s Weekly. And according to Palmer, “becoming a limited liability company (LLC) or Subchapter S corporation (S corp) can provide distinct tax benefits, but can carry added costs and potential inconvenience.” Palmer goes on to analyze several pertinent elements of such a decision at length, including tax advantages (and disadvantages) as well as the effect it can have on an author’s “legitimacy” in the eyes of third-party businesses (such as those selling ISBNs) or in a courtroom. Palmer breaks down the three major types of business entities open to self-publishing authors: sole proprietorships, limited liability companies, and subchapter S corporations. His article provides a balanced perspective on both the pros and cons of each, and altogether makes for a great starting point for those interested in taking the plunge but who are looking for a few of the basic facts, carefully considered. You can find the whole of Palmer’s business guide for indie authors at the link.

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.

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

Saturday Book Review: “More Heaven: Because Every Child is Special”

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 CharlesAshbacherReviews:

More Heaven: Because Every Child is Special

by Dr. Jo Anne White

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 978-1478765479

Synopsis:

A Top 10 Amazon Best-Seller in 3 Categories! Autism – Special Needs – Children’s Health

Based on a true story, More Heaven: Because Every Child is Special about six children with autism and special needs and their teacher who gives them a chance at learning and life. Despite challenges and a lack of support, Miss Tina Randolph’s commitment to reach, teach, and inspire these children is unwavering.

By accepting their uniqueness and participating in their private fantasy world, while at the same time engaging them in the real world, she eventually succeeds. Tina, her teacher’s aide, Kaye, and the children mount a tireless, daily battle to shift the tide toward the acceptance of people who are different.

The experiment, begun in chaotic, uncharted waters, bridges the gap of understanding and paves the way for the inclusionary practices of education and society’s acceptance of children and adults with special needs. This is a road that continues to need paving, making the messages in More Heaven: Because Every Child Is Special equally relevant today.

The book evolved from an experiment in the Philadelphia school system in the late 1970’s in response to the 1975 Education for the Handicapped Act, ruling that public schools in the US educate all children with disabilities, despite their severity.

Previously, many of these special needs children were kept at home-isolated and denied access to the mainstream. More Heaven is a powerful story of compassion, determination, disappointment, triumph, and love.

More Heaven reaches in from the heart outward to all children; they will be heard!

Critique:

Five out of five stars

This is a work of fiction based on actual events and it is clear to the reader that it is far more actual than fiction. It is the story of a special needs teacher and her adventures and struggles in educating six children that have a lot of needs.

Given that thirteen years of daily education (K-12) is necessary to prepare the modern child to function in society, progress is almost always measured in small increments. That is even more the case with these children, in general they are in this class because nothing else has worked and their education level is much lower than their chronological age. Furthermore, they are not mentally challenged, underneath their behavior problems there is a great deal of intelligence and capability.

It is a story of struggle, frustration and very slow triumph as these children are gradually coaxed out of their self-imposed (and often defensive) bubbles. As you read this account it is clear how expensive the education of these children is and how important it is that it be attempted. For if they are not drawn out of their shells at a young age, it seems clear that they will never emerge. Leaving long-term institutionalization as the only alternative, which would be far more expensive.

[ reviewed by Charles Ashbacher ]

Here’s what other reviewers are saying:

“MORE HEAVEN: Because Every Child is Special” by Dr. Jo Anne White is a powerful book that is well written and heartfelt. Based on a pioneer teacher’s experience of working with children with autism and special needs, it offers rare insight into the minds and hearts of these children. It gives us an opportunity to enter into their inner world, experiencing their challenges and accomplishments. One caring teacher makes a difference in the lives of her students by never giving up and offering them more than education. Her unwavering hope, acceptance and love remain constant and through this constancy, their world enlarges and they expand into learning and trust.”

– Amazon Reviewer Dr. Joe Rubino

A heart-opening look at breakthrough work with autistic children. In these vivid stories drawn from the author’s journals, we step into the room with Dr. White: “When I look again, Eva’s outstretched on the floor, blankly staring out of a glazed smile. What magical incantations do I recite to break the spell?” And later: “Something big is taking place here—real play, non-verbal communication, one-on-one contact, and I marvel at all of it while reminding myself this is a beginning.”

Through the writer’s keen observing eye, we see so much of what is unique about each of six children—their agonies, their victories. “There are no promises though; we live in the moment here.” We come to share the author’s loving wish to nurture the children, and that is a very great thing.

– Amazon Reviewer Fran Shaw, Ph.D.

Book Trailer:

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

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

Conversations: 4/22/2016

THE MUSIC OF WORDS part FOUR

Okay…you enjoy writing poetry. When the thoughts and words are flowing onto the page you’re having FUN! Then the ideas seem to dry up. No one finds these moments, days, or weeks enjoyable. SO what to do? Over the years I’ve heard multiple responses to this question and have shared many of them in previous blogs. However, I don’t believe I’ve talked about the concept of looking to your monthly calendar page. Now, I know that sounds weird, and I thought it was too when I first heard it. Here is explanation I received.

Whatever month you’re residing in at the time, open a web-search with the words: January (February, March, etc.) holidays and events. The topics you find there will definitely bring laughter into your voice and provide just the inspiration you need to bounce back into writing. Since this is the month of April, here are a few topics to consider—and research.

National Humor Month: WHO is (or has been) your favorite humorist? I have two—Red Skelton and Robin Williams. Their biographies and viewing YouTube clips of their work will definitely inspire.

International Guitar Month: Have you ever been to a café-poetry-reading session when the background sounds are beautiful guitar music? This is an environment where the music of words really explodes.

Keep America Beautiful Month: Most of us have yearly calendars that show us the beauty of our country. There are also amazing websites that offer photographs galore from photographers past and present that display unique “corners” of our beautiful America. Combining visual inspiration with guitar melodies will definitely set the stage for your next poem and/or series of poems.

April 27th is National Tell A Story Day: Although this tradition started in Scotland and the UK, folks in the U.S. quickly adopted it. Poetry-storytelling is quite popular around the world and it doesn’t matter if it’s a fiction you created, or folklore, or a true story. Libraries celebrate this day by inviting storytellers to come and tell their stories. This is a great way to get your poetry books before the listening public.

The last Friday in April is National Arbor Day: Celebrated since 1872, it began in the flatlands of Nebraska and is focused on helping our natural environment thrive. Millions of trees are planted on this day—by thousands of outdoor and family groups. Participating and observing these activities can certainly be inspiring. However, what a great environment to bring a cooler of drinks to share and then share some of your poetry (maybe about trees) with these hard working tree planters. Did you know that the Latin word for tree is arbor? There’s another bit of trivia to inspire you.

The poets I know who have used this method to trigger writing ideas have really enjoyed it. I hope you will too. And remember—NEVER STOP WRITING. You have the heart and soul of someone who sees things differently than the average writer. What you give to the world is irreplaceable! So, once you’ve completed a collection of your work, PUBLISH! ⚓︎

ABOUT 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.

Taking it Personally

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THE MUSIC OF WORDS part FOUR

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