Category: Uncategorized

Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

What Not to Do When Self-Publishing

There are a few things that separate successful self-publishing authors and could-have-been-successful self-published authors. If you want your book to succeed, avoid these common mistakes.

1. Formatting

There are specific requirements for properly formatting your book. Authors who try to do the formatting themselves may be disappointed with how their book turns out. To ensure your book is formatted properly, enlist the help of your self-publishing company. They will tell you exactly what to do and provide assistance to make sure the formatting is done right.

2. Front Cover

You may be tempted to save money by using a template cover. This can be very costly to your success. Despite the cliché “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover,” most readers do! You want a unique, professionally designed cover that captures the essence of your book and encourages readers to buy it.

3. Editing

Another area authors often try to save money is editing. They think that self-editing is the best option, but even the best writers can’t rely on self-editing. It’s just not possible to catch all of the mistakes and issues when you are so attached to the project. Always have a professional editor review your manuscript before publishing to ensure your book is the best it can be. Too many mistakes can be costly to your reputation as a professional author.

4. Back Cover

The back cover is just as important as the front cover! Do not rush through this step. The back cover helps hook the reader and plays a role in online search results. A professional copywriter and editor can help make your back cover copy great.

5. Time

Do not rush! I know self-publishing is exciting and I know it’s important to many authors to have their books published by a certain date, but successful authors know the importance of taking their time to do it right. Spend time revising your manuscript. Put a lot of thought into the title and cover art. Be patient enough to allow an editor to review your book. Spend time planning your marketing strategy. While I don’t want you to get so caught up in making everything perfect that you never finish your project, I don’t want you to rush the process and regret the quality of the book you produced.

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

Friday Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer 8/22/14

WRITING WITH FRAGRANCE…

Last week I used an analogy of a writer compared to a rose, both enjoying thousands upon thousands of unique species and hybrids.  I’m smiling—remembering a particular writing conference workshop titled: What Species of Writer Are You?  Wish I still had the notes from that discussion, but I can still give you the basic points scented with my perspective, of course.

#1…Just as every flower, leaf, branch and tree is uniquely different, so are you; as an intelligent being, as a person and as a writer.  It is extremely important to accept just how unique we are and that what we are inspired to write about is enormously valuable.

#2…Because we are intelligent beings, we can get lost in the adventure of learning.  Yes, we must develop the skills and abilities associated with our gift of writing; however, if we allow ourselves to get lost in the research, the story (article, poem, etc.) may never be finished and published.

#3…We are blessed with five (some folks say six) marvelous senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell (and insight).  All of these natural abilities must come into play when we’re writing.

#4…A writer’s species becomes identified in the genre of writing they are drawn to, starting with what genre they read the most.  This also includes what genre of film one appreciates and/or enjoys the most.

#5…Marriages occur between species creating—exceptional—hybrids.  When a writer develops personal relationships (with family, friends, marriage partners, co-workers), other genre fragrances come into the mix.  The history professor (of a writer) questions an established “fact” of history and multiple “what-if” scenarios blossom.

#7…Or…the beautifully landscaped botanic gardens are destroyed by flood; Nature’s fury uproots everything and the gardener (writer) must begin again!  Not to worry.  The re-write will be better than the first.

#8…The hardy species survive and grow stronger.  Thus it must be with writers—developing the “thick skin” necessary to ward off barbs while still being able to accept/absorb the constructive nutrients from useful critique.

When that workshop speaker laid out gardening tools all around the podium, I almost got up and left,  but I’m glad I didn’t.  She visually portrayed the elements needed to keep writers “growing.”  She confirmed that a stagnant writer—who cannot “think outside the box”—is dying and if they’re not careful, they’ll be uprooted. She also confirmed the value of “planting” our work—publishing it—the minute we know that it is ready for release.

Royalene ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward.
Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

How Much Do Self-Publishing Authors Earn?

How much do self-publishing authors earn?

There is no one size fits all answer.

What an author earns varies greatly. Income is based on a variety of factors, including the author’s goals, intended market, and marketing strategy.

One of the main reasons author income varies so greatly is because many authors don’t self-publish to make money. They never intend to market and promote their book, so they earn very little. For these authors, success is not defined by the amount of money they make or the number of books they sell. Instead, it is simply based on whether or not they accomplished their goals.  Some common definitions of success among self-published authors include:

  • Sharing their story with family and friends
  • Reaching a niche market
  • Finishing and publishing their manuscript, regardless of how many books they sell
  • Gaining fame
  • Earning an income
  • Increasing their business
  • Building their following of readers
  • Adding to their resume
  • Getting picked up by a traditional publisher
  • And many, many more

I assume you ARE interested in earning money if you asked this question. For those of you who want to make a profit, here is what you need to know:

  • Depending on the trade discount set by you or your publisher, you can expect to earn royalties on average of $2-$7.
  • Some self-publishing companies offer more flexibility in setting pricing and royalties, so it is important to select a company that meets your needs.
  • Marketing is key to financial success! If you want to earn money from your book, be prepared to dedicate your time, money, and effort to marketing and promoting your self-published book.
  • Quality is also extremely important. You must offer readers a professional, well-written book.
  • A dynamic cover and professional editing are a must.

A great way to learn more about how much self-publishing authors earn and how they define success is studying other authors. Read interviews and books by successful authors. Network with writer’s in your area. Join professional writing groups. Talk to people who have self-published. Learn about the industry. All of this research will not only give you an idea of how much self-publishing authors earn, but will also offer excellent tips and advice for making your book successful.

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

Friday Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer 8/15/14

A WRITER IS…

…a Writer, is a Writer—as a rose is a rose is a rose.  Within the genus Rosa (in the family rosacea), there are over 100 species and thousands upon thousands of exquisite hybrid cultivations, many of which are being created even as I write this blog.  That is how I see a writer—a person who has the vision to create a specific piece of writing, whether it is a blog, a novel, textbook, mechanics manual, tweet, or the most inspired and uplifting play and/or film script ever written.  Where do you fit?

When there is a concept flapping around in my thoughts and I can’t seem to get it OUT on the page, I take a walk.  Sometimes it’s a short walk down the hallway of our apartment building and across the scenic connection bridge to the café for their brand of coffee and back again.  Often I grab my sun hat and walking poles to enjoy the canal path just a block away.  Once in a great while I’ll drive up into the foothills and step into the illusion of being alone in the wilderness where seasonal wildflowers greet me and evidence of coyote, deer, or bear might be found on the trail.  And, all the while, those ideas for that writing project are sorting themselves out and settling into place.  That’s the working theory anyway, and I can happily report that most of the time it is successful—for me.

Last month I took one of those walk-in-the-wilderness excursions; four days of placing myself in a lodge away from my normal routine and setting myself up to focus on one particular project.  Sometimes we just must shake ourselves from normal patterns—like turning the soil around rosebushes and adding fertilizer—to allow the best writing that is within us to COME OUT!  That time away was (as the cliché states) a little slice of Heaven.  I’m attaching one (of over 160) photos I took during that time, just to give you an idea about that environment of inspiration.  Notice the rough marks on the standing aspen trees?  Deer or moose marked his passage there.

friday post

However, the unexpected happenings of such a get-away are often the most inspiring; the people met along the way.  The first motivator for me was the woman at the counter of the mountain gas/convenience store.  She politely asked me if I was on vacation (immediately aware that I wasn’t a local).  When I said I was taking a few “writing-get-away” days to get my book re-started, she said, “I should do that!  With all the different people who come through here, I could write volumes!”  (I hope she does!)

Then an hour later I was talking with the manager of the lodge and discovered that she’d “always wanted to write.”  Friends have been telling her for years that she is a “born writer.”  So, why is she managing a mountain lodge?  We talked about seasons-of-life and what they teach us in preparation for being the writer we’re meant to be.  Just think of the people (sharing their life-events with her) who have stayed in her lodge.  Imagine the mountain stories she’s collected from the town folks, delivery drivers, and back-country hikers.  Oh, she’s in a great season-of-life to delve into writing—and publishing.  I’ll be watching for her books!

Royalene ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward.
Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

The Importance of a Dynamic Back Cover Copy

You’ve finally finished your self-published book, and you can’t wait to share it with readers. But how do you convince them that your book is worth reading? One of the most powerful ways to lure in readers is the back cover synopsis.

Think about when you visit a bookstore. You might be searching in a particular genre or just browsing the entire store for something that catches your attention when the title or cover of a book catches your interest. What do you do next? Most likely, you turn over the book and read the synopsis on the back cover. What is written there influences whether or not you purchase the book.

Now, think about when you are shopping for books online. You probably enter keywords in the search engine. A list of books pop up. The results are based on the keywords found in the book’s title, the author’s name, and the product description. Again, a title or cover catch your attention. What do you do next?

You probably click on the book and read the description. This description is usually the same as the text that appears on the back cover of the book. Just like when you were shopping in a store, this text influences whether or not you decide to purchase the book.

Just as you are influenced by the back cover synopsis when purchasing books, so are your readers. Therefore, it is essential that you take the time to write a compelling, professional back cover synopsis for your self-published book. For more information on writing a great back cover synopsis, check out these posts:

Is Your Back Cover Copy Driving Away Potential Readers?

Five Tips for a Great Synopsis

Copywriting Services in Self-publishing

I’d love to know, how much does the back cover influence your book purchases?

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.