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News From the Self-Publishing World: 12/07/15

This week in the world of self-publishing:

Ryan sophomore finds getaway in writing, publishing her book

Some writers get an early start, and as Britney Tabor of the Denton Record-Chronicle notes in this December 3rd article on fifteen-year-old self-publishing advocate Brittney Dear, a little help doesn’t hurt. After moving from a fourth-grade essay on snow leopards to writing full-length novels, then battling her way through the dreaded-but-inevitable Writer’s Block, Dear faced yet another challenge (and one we’re probably all familiar with on this blog): overcoming the know-how barrier to moving her book from manuscript into published book. She turned to an expert, Tabor records, and “Rocky Callen, a published author and book coach from Maryland, gave Brittney advice on self-publishing her first book. She referred her to editors and illustrators and gave her marketing pointers.” With this help, Dear (who writes under the nom de plume Brittney Kristina) worked “six-, eight- and 10-hour shifts three to four days a week as a lifeguard in Prosper and teaching swim classes […] to pay editor and illustrator expenses for the book.” Dear is already enjoying success as her book (Forsaken) finds its target audience, Tabor says, but it isn’t about the money. Instead, Dear hopes her story “inspires teens to do anything they set their minds to.” Here’s hoping, Brittney!

Self-publishing: Road To A Writer’s Death Knell

(Bear with me a moment on this one:)

Last Saturday, author Simon Abah (who has contributed to news outlets as diverse as the UK’s Guardian and Olaitan Ajiboye) voiced the concerns of many when he wrote in the Nigerian paper Leadership that “Book-shelves today are full of works by self-published, self-approved writers whose standards are dismal.” And while Abah is specifically seeking to address a problem he perceives to exist in the Nigerian book market, who among us indie authors hasn’t heard this sentiment expressed somewhat closer to home, about what we do? The reason I think it’s worth including Abah’s article in this week’s news roundup is to highlight exactly why this concern is ill-founded.

Where does Abah, and where do all those other nay-sayers go wrong? They think the primary reason to self-publish is to avoid rejection. Says Abah (case in point): “How can you be an effective writer if you do not suffer rejections leading to reworking of first, second and countless drafts? People who avoid this tortuous route do not have the writing spirit, aren’t confident of themselves and do not understand the concept of patience as a virtue.” But a self-published author might clue Abah in to one simple fact: self-publishing is no easier a route than traditional publishing! Indie authors face equal, if different, barriers to entry into the publishing market: financial barriers, barriers of time and energy, barriers that can only be overcome by intensive research and application to marketing expertise, skill in self-promotion, and the readiness to put everything else on hold to get the book to its ideal readers. In fact, we say an “Amen!” to Abah’s point that we ought to base our “writing efforts on conviction rather than commercial necessity,” that we should “not let insincerity become the hallmark that carries [us] into the future.”

Here’s some news: self-publishing makes room for more authors to hold true to their original visions for their books––to remain sincere––than any number of rejections might do.

The Keys to Publishing Success Are in Your Hands

In a December 4th article for HuffPost Books, self-publishing author Kristen Houghton (of HuffPost’s ‘The Savvy Author’ and Cate Harlow Private Investigation series fame) lays the groundwork for a beautiful argument to choose self-publishing this holiday season––and incidentally, provides the perfect rebuttal to our previous news item. She takes the time to define and describe the distinction between self-publishing, hybrid publishing, digital publishing, and “boutique” publishing––all of which intersect in various ways, but occupy different axes on the indie spectrum. “Major upheavals and changes in publishing benefit authors who now have choices other than the traditional press,” she writes. “Publishing houses have staffers to read proposals and manuscripts, teams of editors, cover designers, book layout designers, printers, and distributors; all this is done with no certainty that the book will find its audience. They’re hesitant to take a chance.” But, as we’ve mentioned before, it’s not all about rejection. The fact that “you are in charge […] isn’t a bad thing. It’s your business and you are the CEO and CFO of the company.” To start your week on a high note, check out the rest of Houghton’s article 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.

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

News From the Self-Publishing World: 11/30/15

This week in the world of self-publishing:

Waterloo author writes history, mystery and romance

In this November 29th article for the Belleville News-Democrat, Teri Maddox writes from across the pond of Deborah Heal’s work. Heal, who has self-published both what she calls the three-book “History Mystery Trilogy” and the “Rewinding Time Series” of four books, is a retired English teacher from Waterloo now fulfilling her dreams of becoming an author––and finding a great deal of success in it. Maddox prompts her readers at BND: “Imagine being able to fire up your laptop and experience history in real time, whether at the Old Slave House near Equality or on the Trail of Tears in Golconda.” And this is just what happens in Heal’s books, to Southern Illinois woman Merrideth Randall and her friends, “But their magic software works only when they’re visiting old homes.” The premise is plenty interesting on its own, but what follows––Heal’s own story and route to success––is equally fascinating! Heal isn’t content merely to use a textbook; she does her own research. Maddox quotes Heal’s husband, Bob, as saying: “Debbie does a lot of deep research [….] The history is right. She makes up the characters, but she doesn’t fudge on the facts.” The hard work has more than paid off; as Maddox chronicles, “More than 3,000 people have downloaded the Kindle version of ‘Time and Again’,” Heal’s first book––and now, of course, she’s making news across England for her unique approach to (religously-infused) history. To read Maddox’s original article, follow the link.

At Large In Ballard: Writing in the Cracks

Not every foray into self-publishing is made in the serious spirit of authors seeking self-actualization (although those forays are lovely, too). According to Peggy Sturvidant in this November 27th piece for the Ballard News-Tribune, we have a new self-published entry into both our holiday canon and our updates-of-classic-science-fiction canon: Santa Meets Frankenstein. The book, put out by illustrator Jan Harvey-Smith and Q13 morning meteorologist (turned author) M.J. McDermott, is shaking things up in the seasonal literature department––and raising eyebrows, in the best of all possible ways! Says Sturvidant of McDermott, “She bubbles with the creative juices that led her into majors in drama, atmospheric sciences, and fuels her love of writing. She calls it ‘writing in the cracks,’ between work and family.” (Emphasis mine.) What a beautiful way of expressing what so many of us indie and self-publishing authors know to be a daily reality! And the spirit of the book, according to author and illustrator, could be considered a modern “Christmas fable, ‘for middle readers and the young at heart.'” For more information, check out Sturvidant’s original piece!

So I’m in Iceland And I Want To Be A Writer …

Do you know how to find Reykjavík on a map? Well, it’s a beautiful place and absolutely chock-full of brilliant writers––writers as diverse as Nordic Council Literature Prize winners Gyrðir Elíasson, Sjón and Einar Már Guðmundsson. In this November 28th post to the Reykjavík Grapevine, Kári Tulinius writes a brief but to-the-point piece to all fellow Icelandic authors in search of that “next step”––and actively advocating for indie, hybrid, and self-publishing platforms while at it. Tulinius, a poet himself, writes that “generally, if it is a good book, Icelanders do not look down on writers who self-publish […] so if you have no patience for regular publishing, go for it.” His piece is straightforward, to-the-point, and––I think––perfectly on point for anyone (in Iceland or outside of it) looking for that final word of encouragement to pursue a non-traditional mode of publishing.

Geraldine writers self-publish after struggling to find publishers

Esther Ashby-Coventry, contributor to the New Zealand-based paper The Timaru Herald, documents the self-publishing adventures of the Geraldine Writers’ Club members Edna Huber, Bernadette Joyce, Faye McGunnigle, and Judith Farley. According to Ashby-Coventry’s November 27 article, which went on to be re-posted to the even more widely-read Stuff.co.NZ, these four women don’t think of self-publishing as “their only option,” but rather “the best option” available to first-time authors themselves. The distinction may seem like semantics, but we happen to think this particular set of semantics is an important one! “It’s a catch 22,” Ashby-Coventry quotes Farley as saying: “If you are not known the publisher won’t take you on but how do you get known?” While the article closes with somewhat depressing words from HarperCollins’ New Zealand marketing manager Sandra Doakes (“It is rare to make a genuinely good living in New Zealand; a lot of authors still have day jobs.”) it doesn’t seem that the Geraldine Writers’ Club is suffering because of their decision to seek success outside of mainstream publishing. Current members like Huber look to the example of Alice Mabin, who moved from New Zealand to Australia and whose 2014 novel, The Drover, has sold more than 21,000 copies. “Success is not in bookshops competing with every other book,” Ashby-Coventry quotes Mabin as saying. And that is, we think, a very wise final thought to close out this week’s news!

Kelly Speaks, news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Self-Publishing, Self-Publishing Week in Review, Uncategorized

News From the Self-Publishing World: 11/23/15

This week in the world of self-publishing:

Alan Moore Advises New Writers to Self-Publish Because Big Publishers Suck

We pretty much love i09, the millennial go-to forum for all news fandom-related. And when an article begins with the line, “At an anti-library closure protest, local magician and comics legend Alan Moore had some surprising words” you can bet we sit up and pay attention––particularly when those “surprising words” end up rallying support to the self-publishing cause. The article by Kaila Hale-Stern, which posted to i09 on November 19th, records Moore as saying “Publishing today is a complete mess. I know brilliant authors who can’t get their books published [….] Publish yourself. Don’t rely upon other people.” Says Hale-Stern, “It’s rare and refreshing for an established writer to promote the potential boons of self-publishing and be honest about their perception of what lies behind the industry curtain.” Moore’s words aren’t exactly hot off the press (the protest actually took place back in 2011), but Hale-Stern’s decision to resurrect them––and to a high-traffic website like i09––says a lot about what millennials are hungering for. HINT: It’s not more bureaucratic red tape and rejection by traditional publishers. For more of Hale-Stern’s article, visit her article here.

Audiobooks.com Debuts Self-Publishing Tool

In another article published on the 19th, GalleyCat contributor Dianna Dilworth updates readers on the latest development for self-publishing authors looking to break into the audiobook market––and, fittingly enough, this week that involves the launch of a new self-publishing tool by the audiobook industry supergiant, Audiobooks.com. (When you own the domain name, you must be close to the top of your pyramid.) The platform is being called Author’s Republic, and according to Dilworth it will allow self-publishing authors to “submit titles to Audiobooks.com, Audible, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Scribd, Downpour, and tunein, as well as library providers such as Findaway and Overdrive.” The benefits seem (from a cursory glance at least) to be notable: “Most of these platforms will pay authors an average of 35 percent royalty on what their titles are sold for. iTunes and Amazon will pay a 25 percent royalty.” Only time will tell if this new service measures up to existing competitors, of course. For more information, follow the link.

Best Practices for Selling Your Book to Agents and Editors (or How to Avoid Being Delusional About Getting Published)

Self-publishing made it into the Huffington Post this last week! In an article for HuffPost Books on November 20th, contributor Brooke Warner writes that “Most writers have traditional publishing aspirations” in that “They want an agent to fall in love with their project and champion their work; they’re looking for the external validation of being accepted by a publishing house; their fantasies about getting published involve a red carpet experience that’s increasingly elusive in this industry.” But so few aspiring authors receive that validation, despite having genuinely rich material to submit. The solution? According to Warner, you can fine-tune your approach to agents and publishers alike, but the one option which will always be open to you is that of the indie, hybrid, and self-publishing market. Says Warner, “Independent publishing is a blossoming middle ground for authors, and in many cases you can replicate the experience you always dreamed of having–though you pay for it instead of being paid for it.” Obviously we’re a little biased here at SPA, but we fully advocate for more creative control! To catch more of Warner’s article, check out the original post.

The Indie Authors’ Guide to Self-Publishing Art Books

When it comes to self-publishing, or publishing in general, “art books” don’t get a lot of love or attention. But they should! I mean, what’s more eye-catching and giftable than a beautiful oversized book full of illustrations and photographs? And with the digital revolution has come a parallel evolution in the creation and editorial tools now available to artists and photographers––so really, seeing someone pay attention to them is both refreshing and necessary. In this November 20th piece for Publisher’s Weekly, Ryan Joe writes that “despite the amount of work that goes into such an endeavor, numerous creators—some big names in their respective fields, others up-and-comers—are taking matters into their own hands when it comes to getting their art books published.” He goes on to document the ways and means in which several of these creators have trailblazed the way for other artists to follow, and in so doing Joe creates a summary guide for authors looking to flex a different self-publishing muscle. Well worth a second look, we’d expect!

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

News From the Self-Publishing World: 11/16/15

This week in the world of self-publishing:

Gwyneth Paltrow to launch publishing line

In true entrepreneurial fashion, superstar actress and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow has decided to start yet another new venture … and this one’s into our world, the world of self-publishing. According to Andrea Mandell in a USA Today article from November 10th, Paltrow will be calling her self-publishing line “Goop”––the same name as her existing fashion/beauty/lifestyle website. It’s unclear at this point whether Paltrow will open up the new company for other aspiring authors, and how content will be selected and curated, but for now there are plans in the works for a cookbook and a beauty book at some later date. Goop (the self-publishing company) will exist in partnership between Paltrow and existing publishing powerhouse, Grand Central Publishing.

7 Reasons You Should Write A YA Novel, From One Woman Who Did

On November 11th, Jessie Rosen of Bustle published a meme-rich list of reasons why authors should write that long-delayed YA novel … and now. I’m happy to report that point #6 is, in her words, “You Can Self-Publish and See Just as Much Success.” (The accompanying GIF image is, interestingly, pulled from the recent 50 Shades of Grey film––and keeps company with other GIFs on the list from Pretty Little Liars, Divergent, and Harry Potter. It’s nice to know once and for all that popular culture has officially been infiltrated by Our People.) Anna Banks and Amanda Hocking also win mentions. And if this list isn’t enough to convince you that writing a YA novel is a worthwhile investment of time and energy, perhaps it will provide a good dollop of inspiration to publish whatever other kind of book you want to write. (Hint: it doesn’t have to be YA!)

A Three-Book Deal in Sheep’s Clothing

“There is proper etiquette on approaching a bookseller with a request to stock a self-published title,” writes Sue Corbett in this November 10th Publisher’s Weekly piece on the runaway self-publishing success, The Sheepover. The joy of this sweet little picture book’s journey to an international market with Little, Brown and Company is in fact a story of the authors’ local Vermont community: when the husband and wife team first approached a local indie bookstore owner with their book, it was an eavesdropping customer who purchased the first copy, pulled in a friend to buy a second copy, and convinced the bookstore owner not only to stock a handful but to write a blog post about the book––a blog post which ended up capturing a lot of attention both at Publisher’s Weekly and among those who subscribe to PW emails. And those original eight copies? Paid for by a Kickstarter campaign linked to the authors’––John and Jennifer Churchman––Facebook account. And if this story doesn’t warm the cockles of your heart, even after the first Autumn snow, then perhaps it will at least inspire you to try self-publishing a picture book of your own!

After Lawsuit Dismissal, Author Solutions Looks Forward

On a more “serious” newsy note, a decision has been made in respect to a long-running lawsuit leveled against self-publishing supergiant Author Solutions that has far-reaching implications for indie authors looking to publish in the near future. In his November 13th article for Publisher’s Weekly, Jim Milliot charts the progress of the lawsuit, which was filed in 2013 by three authors accusing the company of fraud, and how this case intersected with the company’s transition to a new president and CEO––Andrew Phillips. While the case has been dismissed, Phillips admits that he is “happy to be able to focus entirely on growing the company’s business.” Author Solutions, which was first formed by the merger of AuthorHouse and iUniverse in 2007, has since gone through sequential ownership by Pearson, Penguin, and finally, Penguin Random House. With all the resources of one of the Big Five publishers behind it, Author Solutions has instituted something called the “Author Care Initiative,” with the goal of improving customer satisfaction and retention in the face of an increasingly competitive market. And they’ve seen measurable improvement in their numbers, which speaks to the value of actually caring about the authors! You can read about the full set of measures as instituted by Phillips in the article.

Advocacy in Self-Publishing, news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Self-Publishing, Self-Publishing Week in Review

News From the Self-Publishing World: 11/09/15

This week in the world of self-publishing:

Ebooks: The self-publishing route to a more traditional relationship

In this article for the Irish Times from November 7th, Sarah Keating reviews new titles being released by self-publishing authors Rachel Abbott, Angela Currie, Fat Roland, and Thijs de Boer. These titles are particularly interesting to Keating because they represent a larger trend––a trend wherein indie and self-published titles have come to amount to roughly 31% of the Amazon Kindle Store’s overall sales figures. She makes reference to an ongoing lawsuit Amazon itself has filed against “false reviewers” who are paid to boost sales figures for these authors––a lawsuit that may turn up dirt on more than just hybrid self-publishing companies and reviewers looking to earn a little extra cash. (The consequences could be huge for traditional publishing companies, as well, in that it could either privilege them in the extreme or it could undercut a part of their promotional strategies as well.) Keating’s reviews are themselves quite worth a look, as are her comments about the new self-publishing discovery tool, MacGuiffin.

Comikaze 2015: Indie Creators Share Self-Publishing Experience

Bleeding Cool has long been a litmus test for emerging technologies and paradigms; this week, in a November 5th article by contributor Michele Brittany, the digital magazine documents a panel of indie comic artists and writers at at Stan Lee’s “Comikaze” conference. The panel, titled “Indie Creators, Unite! A Guide to Self-Publishing” was moderated by Fanboy Comics’ Managing Editor Barbra Dillon and featured Siike Donnelly (Solestar, The King of Neverland), William Orr (Hunter Black), Kevin Bieber (Man vs. Rock), Bryant Dillon (Identity Thief, Something Animal), and Madeleine Holly-Rosing (Boston Metaphysical Society, Kickstart for the Independent Creator: A Practical and Informative Guide To Crowdfunding)––many of whom have become well-known in the comic community, despite their longstanding indie roots. It’s a happy circumstance that, in comics as well as in prose of all kinds, the self-publishing author now has representation at major industry events! The panelists answered questions which ranged from “Why is self-publishing so important?” to whether authors should seek publication in digital or print formats, and all of the answers shed new light on the range of possible paths authors can follow in this brave new world of self-publishing.

The Savvy Self-Publisher’s Guide to NetGalley

Last week in a November 2nd piece for Publisher’s Weekly, Daniel Lefferts wrote that “Most authors write books with the hope of reaching a mass audience […] who buy and consume books because they enjoy them,” but recommends authors instead make efforts to “consider another, smaller (but possibly more influential) network—that of ‘professional readers.'” What he means is, authors––particularly self-published authors––ought to keep the existence of one particular website in mind: NetGalley. NetGalley, a web-based platform that enables publishers and authors to upload books for review by these professional readers, can be (in Lefferts’ words) “pricey.” For this reason, Lefferts writes that “it’s best to do some preparation before taking the plunge”––a truth we find applies to more than just this one service. He also describes in detail how authors might make better use of NetGalley, and how to help make their submissions stand “out from the crowd.” All in all, very useful information to know!

Digital Natives and a New Generation of Content Publishing

Eileen Mullan, in this November 4th article for the digitally-based EContent Magazine, reports on the evolution of the publishing path over the last ten to fifteen years. Mullan, whose own graduate school experience typified a larger “normal,” writes that “the worst part of being friends with a group of writers is that you are constantly seeing talented people who take their craft very seriously get rejected.” And rejection is, ultimately, what Mullan sees as both a necessary crucible and the greatest trial through which today’s writers (still) must pass––only, Mullan sees a question mark in that sentence. Is rejection, which underpins the traditional publishing method, really necessary to shape a book into something … “good”? We know the answer to this one, and Mullan cites Andy Weir’s runaway self-publishing success, The Martian, as an example of a fine book that needed no rigamarole of rejection to reach excellence. The rest of his article is equally as uplifting––and all the more useful for that.

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