Category: Uncategorized

Choosing a Publisher, Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Compare CreateSpace and Outskirts Press Self Publishing Packages

Deciding which self-publishing company to go with can be a real challenge.  To assist you with this process, I’m beginning a series of posts where I do the legwork for you!  I’ll prepare a side-by-side comparison of two similar publishing packages from two self-publishing companies.  I’ll strive to keep it as simple as possible to help cut through the vast amount of information out there by giving you an easy to read chart and a brief summary of my impressions on the comparison.

I’ll start this series with a comparison of two of the most robust self-publishing packages available: The “One Click for Coaches & Speakers” from Outskirts Press  (which you can enjoy even if you’re NOT a coach or speaker, by the way) and the “Total Design Freedom” from CreateSpace.  The information shared here is current as of the date I completed the comparison (18 November 2012).

Outskirts Press One-Click Publishing For Coaches & Speakers CreateSpace Total Design Freedom Marketing Pro
$4497 $4634
Production Options Expedited Service ✓
Copyright registration ✓
Custom Cover ✓ ✓
Enhanced Interior Formatting ✓ ✓
Cover Scribing / Promotional Text ✓ ✓
Library of Congress Control Number ✓ ✓
Your ISBN/ Imprint or ours ✓ ✓
Interior Elements Up to 20 images Up to 10 images (add’l @ $15 each)
Copyediting Up to 75,000 Words Up to 60,000 Words
Additional Formats Amazon Kindle Edition ✓
Secure EBook Edition ✓
Espresso Book Machine Edition ✓
 Marketing Services Publication Press Release ✓ ✓
Custom Topic Press Release ✓
PR Publicist Campaign ✓
Electronic Clipping Service ✓
Author Webpage ✓

After comparing these two self-publishing services side by side, the winner looks to be Outskirts Press. For $137 less, you receive expedited service, official copyright registration with the US Copyright Office, the Amazon Kindle edition of your book, the Espresso Book Machine edition, electronic clipping service, a PR campaign, and five hours of personal marketing assistance with a professional book marketing expert, among other benefits.   

See all the benefits and features of the One-Click Package for Speakers & Coaches by clicking here.

I’d love to know, which option would you choose and why?

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.
Uncategorized

Turn Your Passion Into a Profitable Book

Winter is one of my favorite times of year because it is ski season. Out of curiosity, I recently searched the book section of Amazon for the word “skiing” and I found 5,276 results. Yes, there are over 5,000 books on skiing listed on Amazon. This got me thinking… There is a huge market for authors who love skiing as much as I do. You could write an informational book for novice skiers, or you could share stories about your own skiing adventures. You could even write a humor book about skiing. The possibilities are endless.

Even if you don’t enjoy skiing, there is still a vast amount of potential for you to write a book and earn money. Whatever your passion is, there are other people who share your interests and would love to read your book. Whether it is skiing, fashion, children, painting, or any other interest, if you can find a unique way to share your thoughts and stories, you can make money by self publishing a book on the topic. For inspiration, type a keyword into Amazon and see what pops up. You may be inspired by all the amazing work that already exists on the topic or you may discover that there isn’t a lot of information out there and the industry could really use a book like yours.

If you have the idea but lack the skills or time to write a quality book, consider hiring a ghostwriter who can help turn your thoughts into a great manuscript. You should also consider other professionals to help you create the best book possible. Some wonderful options include copyediting and marketing services. When choosing a self publishing company, be sure to look for companies that offer these additional services.

I’d love to know, what is your passion?

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.
Kelly Speaks, NaNoWriMo, Uncategorized

Top 5 NaNoWriMo Blog Posts

There are only a few days left in the NaNoWriMo challenge! I hope everyone is meeting their goals (even if your only goal is “I just want to write something by the end of the month!”) and, more importantly, enjoying their writing time. During NaNoWriMo, it is helpful to read stories and get advice from other people participating; that’s why I’m always looking for great blog posts about NaNoWriMo. Here are five of my recent favorites.

Stay Motivated – NaNoWriMo 10 Minute Writing Sprints

Sometimes it is difficult to find the motivation to sit and write for long periods of time. This is especially true as you get closer to the end of the challenge. I love this idea of 10 minute writing sprints to help you finish your novel and stick to your writing goals.

So You’ve Written a Book…

You may be wondering what you should do once you finish your novel. This is a great post that offers four things you shouldn’t do. I love the author’s advice on not rushing into the self-publishing process. While I obviously encourage authors to consider self-publishing, you don’t want to cut corners if you want to be taken seriously as an author. It is very important that you take time to polish your book and make decisions that will make your book and yourself more professional.

Quotes for Writers and Readers

This link isn’t actually a blog post. It is a pinterest board, but it is still a valuable resource for writers. This board is a great place to find a little inspiration or get a good laugh.

NaNoWriMo 2012 Week Three: Six Writers Each Pen a Book in One Month

It is always fun to hear about other authors’ writing experiences. This is a great post to read when you need some inspiration. If other people can complete the challenge, so can you.

Pep Talk from Ally Carter

This post discusses two types of writer’s block and how to handle them. It is a great read for anyone who is struggling with finishing their novel in the last week of NaNoWriMo.

I’d love to know, what is your favorite blog post about NaNoWriMo? Share below.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the 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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers. I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family. This is one of my favorite times of year because it gives me a chance to reflect on all the things I am grateful for and to appreciate all of the blessings in my life. On a common day, most of us rush through our schedule without much thought for all the wonderful things in our lives, but we each have so much to be thankful. Even if you are struggling to get through a difficult situation, there are many blessings in your life.

This week, I challenge you to take time to reflect on things you are grateful for and to write down your thoughts. You may choose to write poems for the special people in your life or write an essay. You could even write personal letters to people you want to share your thoughts with. This exercise is not only a great way to express your gratitude, but it can be a wonderful foundation for a self-published book. Many people enjoy self-publishing books with the goal of sharing it with their family and friends rather than to make a profit off of a commercial audience. These types of books are often filled with personal stories about the author’s life and the people in it, so it is a great way to express your emotions and share how grateful you are.

I’d love to know, what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? How could you turn that into a self-published book?

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, Uncategorized

Celebrate Veteran’s Day by Self Publishing A Book

I’d like to begin this week’s post by thanking the men and women who have served our country. Without your courage, dedication, and sacrifice, our country would not have the pleasures and privileges many of us take for granted. I sincerely thank each of you for your service, and you will be in my thoughts and prayers as I celebrate Veteran’s Day this week.

Many people don’t take the time to remember the importance of this holiday. For most people, it is simply a day off of work or school. For other people, they don’t even consider it holiday.

If you want to show your service men and women how much you appreciate their service, consider self publishing a book in their honor. There are many ways you can use your goal of self publishing to honor veterans or to share your own story of being a veteran. Here are just a few ideas.

  • Write a memoir – You may choose to do this for the sole purpose of using writing to heal or with the goal of sharing your story with the world.
  • Write a suspense novel rooted in a veteran’s story – You could use your own life as inspiration, or interview other veterans.
  • Write a book celebrating veterans – Share positive and inspiring stories about veterans. This is a great idea if you have many family members or friends who are veterans.
  • Write a book to help veterans with life after the military – If you choose this topic, make sure you offer quality advice and seek professional input if necessary.
  • Donate your proceeds to veterans – There are various organizations that strive to help veterans with issues such as adapting to life after war. If you’d like to help these causes, you could donate a portion or all of your book’s proceeds to the cause.

I’d love to know, how are you honoring veterans this Veteran’s Day?

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.