Jodee Speaks – Page 5 – Self Publishing Advisor

Self-Publishing, A Trick or Treat

I’ll end the month this week with the pros and cons of self-publishing, so you can decide if self-publishing is a trick or a treat. Be sure to check out the previous posts about spooky self-publishing statistics, why authors are scared to self-publish, and how to scare away readers.

Pros

Freedom of expression — You have complete control over the content of your book. You don’t have to edit your manuscript to meet the opinions of a traditional publisher.
You control how your book looks – Everything from the cover to the interior formatting is in your hands. With traditional publishers, authors usually have no say in these decisions.
You set your own price — It can be as low or high as you would like, depending on your target audience and goals. Again, this decision is usually not given to the author when working with traditional publishers.
You receive 100% of your royalties — There’s no middleman stealing your profits.

Cons

No one critiques your manuscript — How can you be sure your story is “worth reading”? You can hire professional editors to review your book, test your manuscript on a group of readers, or ask trusted friends, family, and colleagues for feedback.
You don’t have to edit your manuscript — A messy manuscript turns into a poorly-written book that very few people (if any) will want to read. You can choose to hire an editor to prevent this from happening.
You control your book’s design — This is great if you’re a designer but not so great if you have limited graphic skills. Again, you may want to hire a professional to help you.

While self-publishing isn’t for everyone, it is a great option for many writers. Only you can decide what is best for you. Talk to other writers. Learn about the industry. Research publishers. Educate yourself, and then trust your decision.

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order 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, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.

Jodee Speaks

Why Authors Are Scared to Self-Publish

Happy October, everyone! In honor of this month, I’ll be sharing Halloween-themed posts each week. Be sure to check out last week’s post about spooky self-publishing statistics. This week, I’ll talk about the haunting thoughts that keep some authors from self-publishing and share why you shouldn’t be scared of this publishing option.

1) The fear of not being taken seriously.

There was a time when self-publishing authors weren’t taken seriously. People referred to self-publishing as vanity publishing, but today, self-publishing is changing the publishing industry. Self-published authors have the opportunity to gain the same credibility and success as traditionally published authors. Many of them earn spots on prestigious lists such as NY Times Bestsellers lists, earn a lucrative income, and win various rewards and other recognitions. If you are willing to make your book professional, you can be taken seriously as a self-published author.

2) The fear of failure.

Some people associate self-publishing with low book sales and income. This is not accurate. It is important to remember that everyone has a different definition of success. Many self-publishing authors don’t publish with the goal of fame and fortune. They might create a book to share with family, or they may simply want to see their story in print and never worry about actually selling it. For these authors, yes, sales and revenue may be low, but there are also countless other self-published authors who strive to be profitable and who successfully do so. The key to self-publishing success is defining your goals and creating a marketing and promotion plan that will help you achieve those goals.

3) The fear of the process.

Self-publishing can seem a little overwhelming. You will be responsible for making a variety of decisions, including cover design, editing, promotion, and pricing. While control is what brings many people to self-publishing, it can feel a little overwhelming to some. Don’t let the process scare you. A good self-publishing company will have a wonderful team to guide you through the process and help you make the best decisions for your project. While you are in control, you are not alone.

I’d love to know, why are you scared of self-publishing?

Jodee Speaks

Spooky Self-Publishing Statistics and Trends 2014

Happy October, everyone! In honor of this month, I’ll be sharing Halloween-themed posts each week. Today, I’ll start with some self-publishing and industry statistics and trends from the most recent data available. The information may shock you, but don’t be afraid; just keep reading.

The Big Five traditional publishers now account for only 16% of the e-books on Amazon’s bestseller lists.
Self-published books now represent 31% of e-book sales on Amazon’s Kindle Store.
Indie authors are earning nearly 40% of the e-book dollars going to authors.
Readers prefer longer e-books. The bestselling books tend to be over 100,000 words.
Series books outsell standalone books.
Pre-orders give authors a sales advantage.
Non-fiction earns more at higher prices.
The number of self-published titles in 2012 jumped to more than 391,000, up 59 percent over 2011 and 422 percent over 2007.
Ebooks continue to gain on print, comprising 40 percent of the ISBNs that were self-published in 2012, up from just 11 percent in 2007.
Self-published books’ share of the UK market grew by 79% in 2013.
In the UK, print sales fell by 10% last year and book purchasing as a whole was down 4%, but ebook sales continue to grow.

Being knowledgable of book industry and self-publishing trends and statistics can help you make important decisions as a self-publishing author.

I’d love to know, how do these statistics impact your plans as a self-publishing author?

Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Copyright Basics, Part III: How long does copyright protection endure?

One of the most confusing parts of publishing for many authors is copyright laws. To address the common copyright questions I am often asked, I will be writing a copyright basics series every week for the month of September. See the end of the post for links past posts you may missed, and be sure to check back each week for answers to more of your copyright questions.

How long does copyright protection endure?

This depends on when the work was created and published:

Works Originally Created on or after January 1, 1978

A work that was created (fixed in tangible form for the first time) on or after January 1, 1978, is automatically protected from the moment of its creation and is ordinarily given a term enduring for the author’s life plus an additional 70 years after the author’s death. In the case of a joint work prepared by two or more authors, the term lasts for 70 years after the last surviving author’s death. For works made for hire, and for anonymous and pseudonymous works (unless the author’s identity is revealed in Copyright Office records), the duration of copyright will be 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.

Works Originally Created Before January 1, 1978, But Not Published or Registered by That Date

These works have been automatically brought under the statute and are now given federal copyright protection. The duration of copyright in these works is generally computed in the same way as for works created on or after January 1, 1978.

Works Originally Created and Published or Registered before January 1, 1978

Under the law in effect before 1978, copyright was secured either on the date a work was published with a copyright notice or on the date of registration if the work was registered in unpublished form. In either case, the copyright endured for a first term of 28 years from the date it was secured. During the last year of the first term, the copyright was eligible for renewal. The Copyright Act of 1976 extended the renewal term from 28 to 47 years for copyrights that were subsisting on January 1, 1978, for a total term of protection of 75 years.

It also worth noting that some publishing companies have their own policies in regards to publishing works in the public domain. Be sure to contact your self-publishing company for detailed information.

To learn more about copyright law, visit copyright.gov.

Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Copyright Basics, Part III: How does one secure a copyright and is it required for publication?

How to Secure A Copyright

Copyright is automatically secured when a work is created and in a tangible form. No publication, registration, or other action in the Copyright Office is required to secure copyright. There are, however, certain definite advantages to registration.

Among these advantages are the following:

• Registration establishes a public record of the copyright claim.

• Before an infringement suit may be filed in court, registration is necessary for works of U. S. origin.

• If made before or within five years of publication, registration will establish prima facie evidence in court of the validity of the copyright and of the facts stated in the certificate.

• If registration is made within three months after publication of the work or prior to an infringement of the work, statutory damages and attorney’s fees will be available to the copyright owner in court actions. Otherwise, only an award of actual damages and profits is available to the copyright owner.

• Registration allows the owner of the copyright to record the registration with the U. S. Customs Service for protection against the importation of infringing copies.

Registration may be made at any time within the life of the copyright. If a work has been registered in unpublished form, it is not necessary to make another registration when the work becomes published, although the copyright owner may register the published edition, if desired.

An application for copyright registration requires a completed application form, a nonrefundable filing fee, and a nonreturnable deposit. The process can be done via a paper application or online registration.

Is copyright required for publication?

U.S. copyright law protects a literary work once it is placed in a tangible medium such as a manuscript, e-book, or even a word processor file. That means your work is protected by U.S. Copyright law when you write it. Therefore, when you publish without taking any extra steps or spending additional money, your book will have the copyright page with the copyright symbol, your name, and the publication year.

Nevertheless, many authors choose to secure their copyright officially with the Copyright Office by registering the book’s copyright. You can file for this on your own or your publishing company can handle all the details involved. Contact your self-publishing company for details about this service.

To learn more about copyright law, visit copyright.gov.

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