Category: Kelly Speaks

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

From the Archives: “7 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TRADITIONAL PUBLISHERS”

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:June 18th, 2010 ]

Things every author consider when considering self-publishing vs. the old-fashioned model…

7 – Traditional publishers lose money on over 85% of the books they publish, so they only accept around 2% of those that are submitted.

6 – They typically accept manuscripts only from established authors who have demonstrated a proven track record.

5 – Authors lose content control of their work during the editing process.

4 – Authors must still invest an enormous amount of time, energy, and money promoting a traditionally-published book.

3- Authors typically receive 5-10% royalty on the wholesale price of the book, and from that have to give 15-25% to their agent. Do the math.

2 – The majority of books published by old-fashioned publishers go out of print within 3 years. Many books that are stocked on book shelves remain stocked for as little as five weeks before being returned, unsold, to the publisher.

1- Old-fashioned publishers acquire all rights to your book and keep them, even when the book goes out of print or the publisher goes out of business. Yikes.

Publishing is hard and weird, and the process takes far more energy and attention than it rightfully should.  If you’re lingering in the balance between opting in to the traditional publishing mechanism or choosing to pursue a self-publishing option, this list from 2010 may just provide the last swing vote.  To pretend that we are unbiased would be disingenuous, I know, but isn’t there another side to this list?  Isn’t there some dirty laundry to air about indie, hybrid, and self-publishing companies, too?

Yes, no doubt.  That’s the honest answer.  The self-publishing model isn’t for everyone, and there are certainly the requisite number of soulless opportunists who have spotted a new means to exploit newcomers, as there are in any industry, but for the most part I do find that the people who work with and alongside self-publishing authors are a good lot.  They’re genuinely interested in helping you succeed–according to your own standards and expectations, not under the unrealistic ones set by traditional publishing.

So here’s my claim for the day, with a proviso:

When self-publishing is done right and all of the people involved in a project operate by the foundational tenets of the indie spirit, the experience provides authors the exact opposite experience of traditional publishing.

7: Self-publishing has no gatekeepers, censors, or men in suits wagging their fingers at innovation.

6: Anyone can self publish, no matter their background or prior experience with publishing (traditionally or otherwise).

5: Authors retain full artistic and legal control over their work.

4: Authors get to see a direct proportional relationship between the time, energy, and money they spend promoting and marketing their book–and sales figures.

3: With no middleman to split the earnings, self-publishing authors can keep anywhere up to 100% of their own royalties.  That’s, well, a lot better.

2: Self-publishing authors have a weapon in their artillery that traditionally published authors do not which resolves both the overstocked and the understocked problems facing traditionally published authors and their distributers: Print on Demand (POD).  Because you can always go back and print more copies of your book, there’s no danger of running out.  And because you get to choose how many books you print in the first place and how they’ll be distributed, you’re not shipping crates of untouched books to distributers who will never be able to move copies.  Precision targeted sales, that’s what POD enables!

1: Nobody will ever own your work except you.  Nobody.

When you cast things in a certain light, it gets really and truly hard to see the benefits of opting in to a broken system that has yet to meet the rapidly-evolving needs of a digital market where they live.  And I’m not just saying this because I’m biased–I am biased, 100%–but because I’ve been through the wringer of traditional publishing.  I know what it’s like.  Like most self-publishing authors, I’ve dipped my toe into the world of traditional publishing and come away angry, hurt, and disappointed.  And I’m committed to making sure as many authors get to move on to far better and more positive things, as I have.  I’m committed to making sure authors know they have another, better option.

And yes, it’s called self-publishing.

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: 5.9.2016

This week in the world of self-publishing:

“‘I decided to choose my own magic and publish my book,'” writes Brittany Britto for the Baltimore Sun in this May 6th article, quoting indie author Elodie Nowodazkij, whose first self-published romance novel (One, Two, Three) hit the internet in 2014.  Nowodazkij, who had queried at least thirty agents the year before and received so-called “kind” rejections across the board, is one of seven self-publishing authors, experts, and entrepreneurs whose journeys Britto anthologizes in her article.  “The success of a self-published book, as with any book, can vary depending on any number of factors, including timing, topic and genre,” says Britto, citing marketing expert Penny Sansevieri.  And while some indie authors still founder, an increase in the diversity of platforms available and the general maturation of the indie publishing impulse provides as many if not more opportunities than it does hazards.  Britto’s article, while it uses local Baltimore authors as inspiration, forms a lengthy exploration of the topic on a national and even international scale, with many insightful references, anecdotes, and questions asked and answered.  To read the full piece, follow the link.

In her latest addition to Inverse‘s “Job Hacks” series of articles (in which the media insight company “shake[s] down experts for the insights they cultivated on their way to the top of their field”), Lauren Sarner takes a look at the backstory of Joseph Devon, a “Self-published novelist before self-publishing was big, [and] co-creator of The Writer’s Arena, an iron chef-style competition forum for authors.” The interview, published on May 4th, delves into Devon’s approach to self-publishing before self-publishing even became (as the Tumblr kids put it) “a thing” … and he did it by giving everyone, traditionally published, self-published, and altogether new authors “an even playing field.”  Engagement on The Writer’s Arena is up, with disagreements over winning pieces and authors thoughtfully fostered within healthy boundaries and managed by careful moderation.  “I actually self-published way back in 2000, which isn’t that far but in the world of self-publishing, it is,” Sarner quotes Devon as saying. “But then as the internet came along, people starting creating more tools and it became a lot easier. There’s still a lot of challenges—it may not be for everyone—but I fell in love with the notion of how to create an audience and the marketing side of things.” Devon has been there from the beginning, as Sarner makes clear, and his evolution as an author/entrepreneur has deep ties to the evolution of the internet as a digital space.  For more of his interview with Sarner, click here!

“LinkedIn is considering introducing its own version of Facebook’s Instant Articles, a feature that would allow publishers to host content directly on LinkedIn instead of posting links that direct people back to their own sites,” writes Alex Kantrowitz in this May 5th piece for BuzzFeed News.  We’ve written about LinkedIn Pulse here on Self-Publishing Advisor before, but this latest acquisition or evolution could provide indie authors with still more practical benefits.  Quotes Kantrowitz: “‘Publishers remain a very important part of our content ecosystem and we are in regular conversations with them about new ways to work together,’ a LinkedIn spokesperson said in response to a BuzzFeed News request for comment on the effort. ‘Our goal is to ensure we get the right content in front of the right member at the right time to deliver the best member experience possible.'”  This is good news for indie authors precisely because it provides access to a flexible, responsive platform for publication that allows for the distribution of timely written material–the arena of all things indie.  You may or may not see any new end-user tools added to the existing Pulse platform, but the potential reach of posts to said platform may expand as partnerships with other publishing media develop.  All the more reason to tap into this resource as soon as possible!

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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.

Alternative Marketing Methods, Book Marketing, Kelly Speaks, Marketing Your Self-Published Book, Uncategorized

Marketing Missteps Episode 7 : Failing to Ask “What’s Next?”

Marketing is a minefield for self-publishing authors, and sometimes it feels as though there’s nothing we can get right–and a lot we can get wrong.  And I’m not going to lie: the marketing missteps I’ve chronicled in prior weeks, listed below, can cut off any chance of success.  But don’t look at this list as a litany of discouragements, even as it grows over the weeks to come.  I’m a firm believer in the old adage that “knowledge is power,” and I’m convinced that if you know the pitfalls that can await you, you’re almost guaranteed to steer clear.

It’s the greatest misfortune of all that self-publishing authors are launched into the world without a guide–imagine Dante facing purgatory without Virgil!–and are somehow expected to make a success of their work the first time out of the gate.  To that end, I’m compiling the following set of missteps I and other self-publishing authors have made, so that you don’t have to!

This week, I’ll be tackling a misstep which at first may seem a tad hard to define.  It’s the misstep that fails to innovate, that is content to settle into a routine without continuing to push the envelope:

Failing to Ask “What’s Next?”

Two sides of the same coin:

  • There’s nothing more worth cultivating in the world of marketing than the restless and questioning spirit of an innovator.
  • At the same time, there is nothing more toxic to marketing success than sinking into a routine without constantly asking “What more can I do?”

There’s no way around the fact that you’ve taken on quite a challenge in choosing to self-publish.  Many close friends of mine, whose books are perfectly suited to the world of indie publishing and whose moral compasses are aligned with the indie pursuit of authorial rights and control, have nevertheless chosen the path of constant disappointment so common to traditional publishing because they just can’t face the prospect of marketing solo.

“The bottom line is that I don’t think I’m at all a good publicist,” one of my friends told me this week. “I have next to zero web presence, either via website (although I am putting together a professional website!) or social media.”  In his case, the sheer volume of work and energy it would take to develop a web presence and push his book was hard enough, much less add that extra layer of questioning and innovation that’s necessary to really succeed.

But it doesn’t have to be that daunting.

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While scrolling through our Facebook feeds all day does not a strong book marketing campaign make, there are quite literally endless opportunities to procure exposure for your book in creative way–and yes, social media does play a big hand in many of them.  My advice?  Establish a routine for what I call a “Bare Minimum Marketing Campaign” (BMMC) that you can keep up with minimal effort week in and week out. On top of that BMMC, challenge yourself to add one new out-of-the-box promotion per week.  Make a custom photo, film an author video or a book trailer, craft an infographic, host a giveaway, do a planned or guerrilla book reading or signing, contact a favorite author of yours, and take advantage of the calendar to create targeted promotional gestures.  Brainstorm a list of possibilities and pin it up beside your computer or workspace, and start ticking off items as you move through it.  Once you finish your list, take it down, tuck it in your journal, and write a new one!  And don’t be afraid to look to what others have done–hop on Google, read a couple of interviews with self-publishing authors, and maybe even post some direct queries.  If Rilke can carry out a fruitful long-term advisory correspondence, so can you!

In short, don’t give up if your campaign feels a little stale.  Take your strategy stratospheric with ambition, one week at a time.  Keep what’s vital, and cut out the dead wood so you can move on.  Your marketing strategy doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s–it just has to look like something you find useful, and that you are proud of.

(And here’s a secret: I’m already proud of the steps you’ve taken!)

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. ♠

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. 10:00 AM
from the archives, Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

From the Archives: “Contest for Self Publishing Authors: 2013 Global Ebook Awards”

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: October 15th, 2012 ]

Contests are one of the best ways for self-publishing authors to promote their book and improve their credibility. If you want to increase your book’s exposure and prove that you are an accomplished writer, check out the 2013 Global Ebook Awards. This contest does more than just offer an award sticker to put on your book’s cover; it is truly a great way to market your book and self.

By entering your ebook, you will receive the following benefits:

  • An official Nominee “sticker” on your ebook cover, website, Amazon page, and promotion materials
  • A free listing in Publishing Poynters Marketplace, offering copies of your book for reviews on prestigious ebook dealers’ sites such as Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and others
  • The Global Ebook Awards comes with a six-step publicity program. Each week, they show you how to publicize your ebook.
  • Media coverage for your book and you
  • Winners and finalists will be listed on the official Global Ebook Awards site.
  • Winners and finalists are eligible to receive Global Ebook Award certificates attesting to their honor.
  • Winners will be announced to the media in news releases.
  • Discounts on video trailers for YouTube, Amazon, and your website
  • Discounts on other services for authors and publishers
  • And much more…

To be eligible, your book must have been released anytime in 2011, 2012, or 2013. The application deadline is March 12, 2013, but it is recommended that you submit your ebook as soon as possible.

To learn more, visit http://globalebookawards.com/.

– by Wendy Stetina

Once in a while, it’s worth reassuring ourselves that just because the normal state of self-publishing is one of change–that the definitions of publishing and authorship are moving targets–some things do remain constant.  And Dan Poynter’s Legacy Award for the 2016 Global eBook Awards is one of those things!

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You heard me: he’s still at it!  Three years the older and wiser, Poynter’s award remains a benchmark for ebook success, and I have some additional good news:

Registration is open.

That means you should submit your book, by the way.  Because I know, and you know, that your book deserves a chance to shine in the international arena–and I know, and you know, that one of the best ways to reach new audiences is to flesh out your marketing plan with a competition (or two, or three!) of strategic importance.  This is one of those strategically important opportunities, and really, the rewards are worth the effort.

The winnings have changed a little, but they’re even more splendid than ever.  To quote Poynter’s website, in addition to an award in any of eight “best-of” categories and dozens (no literally, dozens!) of fiction and nonfiction categories, participants also receive the following benefits:

  • Putting an official “sticker” on your ebook cover, pbook cover, blog, website and promotion materials.
  • Winners will be announced to the media via social media and news feeds.
  • Six ebook Promotional “Lessons”
  • Everyone receives an official “nominee sticker” for their ebook cover or for other use.
  • An invitation to the Global Ebook Awards Winner’s Reception in Santa Barbara, CA
  • Winners will be listed on the official Global Ebook Awards site.
  • Winners will be eligible to purchase Global Ebook Award certificates attesting to their honor.
  • Discounts on ebook setup, conversions, and website development.
  • Discounts on other services for authors and publishers.

Entry is $79 USD per category but there are discount offers available, and if you miss out on this year’s registration it may be well worth budgeting the expense for next year!  The 2016 awards are open to any books published 2014 and onward, so it would stand to reason that the next round of awards in 2017 will be open to books published from 2015 onward.  Your book may still qualify next year!

For more information on this year’s round of awards, check out the Global eBook Awards website and registration page.  And make sure to update us if you enter!  We’ll track your progress and be your cheer squad along the way.  We hope to see your book on the winner’s lists!

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.  ♠

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

Self-Publishing News: 5.2.2016

BLOGRUNNER’S NOTE:

Apologies for the late posting!  This was scheduled to post in the early morning hours, but failed to do so (probably because of my poor wifi connectivity).  We hope you find the information as rich and valuable in the moonlight as you would have in the sunlight–and we’ll be back on track for next Monday morning.

This week in the world of self-publishing:

“Mark Dawson’s life story should provide hope to the thousands of undiscovered authors around the world with half finished manuscripts under their beds,” writes Eleanor Lawrie for ThisisMoney.co.uk in this April 30th article that was then syndecated in the Daily Mail.  Why?  Lawrie goes on to state the bare facts: “The ex-lawyer and author of more than 20 thrillers has seen a million copies of his books downloaded in the space of a few years, and is now negotiating a film deal.”  And of course, this kind of wildly unexpected success is not the result of a traditional publishing deal.  Dawson initially tried the traditional route, but his book (The Art of Falling Apart) failed to make back its advance for a variety of reasons, and he stopped writing for years before returning to writing during his morning rail commute to work as a cross border fraud lawyer.  His books, which feature government assassins John Milton and Beatrix Rose, have been distributed to around a million readers, though Dawson says about half of those were freely given digital copies.  He still makes six figures off of his writing alone, enabling him to transition into a stay-at-home author and father, which he credits with improving his family life.  One generally gets the feeling Dawson is just a phenomenally nice person, especially as regards building up his fan base.  “One of the main reasons I’ve been successful is I’m very focused on developing my relationship with readers,” he says.  “I reply to everybody, I don’t pay someone to do it for me. […]  I try to turn readers into fans, into friends.”  Now that’s a work ethic worth supporting.  For Lawrie’s full article, follow the link.

In this April 29th retrospective for The Bookseller, Philip Jones reflects on the happy coincidence that the company’s latest issue pulled together a series of articles that both reflect on the current stigmas and progress made in the world of publishing, much of which comes out directly in support of self-publishing.  “Some years ago,” he writes, “a meeting was convened with various communications chiefs and trade journalists to discuss how to improve the reporting of this sector as well as its general standing among peers across the media. It was foresightful: since that point the trade’s reputation has worsened each year. You do not now have to wander far on social media to meet our detractors—a Guardian piece on self-publishing will usually flush a fair number out, as will almost anything written about Open Access and science publishing.”  And the legacy of publishing (and self-publishing) has been continuously riven with polarized opinions in the years since, and the industry’s response to an evolving market has often been behind the curve instead of ahead of it.  As Jones puts it, “I recently asked a senior executive if they were comfortable with the way self-published authors were slowly taking over Kindle sales. The response—largely unsaid—revealed to me that they were not.”  And while Jones may very well be right that traditional publishing caters to an “indifferent” supply chain, he is far more on point when he closes with a call to action: “by tackling the underlying insecurity of what a publisher does, we will better secure our fortunes.”  For more of Jones’ retrospective and a fully hyperlinked list of The Bookseller’s latest articles, check out the original article here.

“The joy was not only in seeing my book but also in the feeling of its ownership,” writes Brig A N Suryanarayanan in this Apr 27th article for the Deccan Herald.  Like Mark Dawson, Brig first tried the traditional publishing route–to no good end.  It was, he writes, “published by a famous publisher but without any interaction with the readers.”  But after Brig’s latest decision to pursue self-publishing, requests for copies have come pouring in–from a “motorparts Gujarati businessman from Jalgaon,” “an English professor from Thanjavur” as well as “a retired Indian colonel from the US […] and the son of an IAF Wing Commander from Johannesburg.”  The list goes on, as does Suryanarayanan’s joy.  Floods in Chennai and obstacles to translation to other dialects could not prevent the book from reaching its audience–in large part because of Brig’s dedication to getting the book where it needs to go.  Brig hopes that his work (Many Laughs and a Few Tears), a collection of humorous short stories, will prove an inspiration to others.  He writes: “I hope all this motivates the authors in you to get on with self-publishing!”  For more anecdotes from Suryanarayanan’s journey from discouragement to joy, visit the Deccan Herald article here.

spa-news

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.