Category: Wendy Speaks

Wendy Speaks

Famous Self-Published Authors: Mark Twain

At some point in your education, you probably had to read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, but did your English teacher ever tell you that the famous novel was originally self-published? Mark Twain reportedly self-published the novel in 1885, selling over 40,000 advanced copies before the publication date. When his book was banned by a public library in Massachuset, his book sales shot up.  Today, there are more than 150 American editions of the novel, and 200,000 copies are sold each year.

The next time someone says that self-publishing is not real publishing or remarks that self-published books are of poorer quality than traditionally published books, tell them that Mark Twain not only sold millions of copies of a self-published book, but he became one of the most well-known and respected names in American literature.

Self-published books are just as reputable as traditionally published books. Not convinced? Check back each month for my post on a famous self-published author. You may be surprised by the names on the list.

ABOUT WENDY STETINA:
Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and 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, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.
Self-Publishing, Wendy Speaks

Top 5 Reasons to Self-Publish in October

Has publishing your book been on your to-do list for months, or even years? Does your book always get pushed to the end of your to-do list because you are overwhelmed with work and home responsibilities? Are you one of those people who always finds a reason to wait? Well, wait no more. October is the perfect time to self-publish your book and begin your life as a published author. Here is why.

Complete Your 2011 News Year’s Resolution

When the clock struck 12 on January 1, 2011, did you vow to publish a book this year? Now that it is October, are you feeling guilty for not fulfilling that resolution? Well, if you self publish in October, your book will be complete by the end of the year. A high quality self-published book typically takes 6-15 weeks to complete. If you start now, your book will be done by the end of 2011.

Get a Head Start on Your 2012 Resolution

So maybe publishing wasn’t one of your resolutions last year, but you want it to be one of your resolutions next year. Why not get a head start, and start the self-publishing process now? This way, you can show off your new book in 2012 instead of rushing to publish before the year is over.

It’s A Great Time for Spooky Reads

Do you write horror or thrillers? Do you want to write a children’s book about Halloween? October is a great month to work on these projects. The cool air and pumpkin lattes at your favorite coffee shop can set the tone for a fall book and help motivate you to complete a great Halloween stories.

Avoid the Holiday Chaos

November through January are the busiest months for most people. You are scrambling around to shop for gifts, bake goodies and attend holiday parties. If you self-publish in October, you can start the process before you become consumed by twinkling lights and sugar cookies.

Mad Money

Throughout the month of October, Outskirts Press is running the Mad Money promotion. When you sign up for a Diamond or Pearl package, Outskirts Press will add $300 to your account. You can use the money towards any pre-production services such as a custom book cover or marketing solutions.

So what are you waiting for? Make October the month you made your dreams come true.

ABOUT WENDY STETINA:
Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and 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, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.
Wendy Speaks

The Importance of the Publishing Package

How much an author chooses to invest in the publishing of his or her manuscript is a very personal decision. Most of us are on a budget, and in today’s economic climate, such an investment needs to be given careful consideration.

All self-publishing companies offer different packages that accommodate your budget. When choosing a publishing company and picking a package, it is important to consider both the price and the services included. You need to pick a package that is affordable but still offers the services you want and need. To get started, here is an overview of the packages available at Outskirts Press. 

At Outskirts Press, packages prices range from $199.00 to $4,979.00. I rarely recommend our lowest priced package; The Emerald ($199.00) does not include an ISBN number. An ISBN number is a requirement for distribution in the publishing community. The One-Click Publishing Package ($4,979.00) is designed specifically for professional authors that want it all with the push of a button. Authors that want a full color interior publish with the Pearl Package for $1099.00. That leaves the Diamond ($999.00), the Ruby ($699.00) or the Sapphire ($399.00) for authors that have black and white interiors. The difference between these packages involves the amount of flexibility that is allowed in book sizes and cover choices as well as the options that are included.

Beyond the flexibility and options, it is important for authors to understand how the mathematics work. I regularly advise authors to decide when and how they want to spend their hard-earned money. Diamond authors, compared to Ruby or Sapphire authors, pay the most initially;however, their royalties are $1.00 more per book sold than a Ruby author and $2.00 more per book sold than a Sapphire author. Additionally, a Diamond author pays $1.00 less for a copy of his or her own book compared to a Ruby author and $2.00 less than  a Sapphire author.

 Authors need to decide if they want to spend less on the front-end and more on the back-end verses spending more on the front-end and less on the back-end. I always recommend the second option. Most authors are investing in their manuscript in the hope of selling lots of books. Logically, one would want the highest royalty and lowest per book cost.

Regardless of your budget or needs, there is a package that will make your publishing dreams come true.

 

ABOUT WENDY STETINA:
Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and 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, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.

 

Self-Publishing, Wendy Speaks

Trade Discounts and Distribution: One of the Many Self-Publishing Perks

The self publishing industry is a reaction to the traditional publishing industry. For years, the only option for authors to see their manuscripts published was to hire an agent and/or submit their manuscripts to the traditional houses in hopes of being selected for publication. In most cases, this process took many years, involved substantial changes to the manuscript and most importantly, forced the author into giving up the rights. Retail pricing and the author’s royalties were out of the author’s control as well. Self-publishing allows authors to maintain control over their material and allows them to select the type of distribution that is appropriate to their material and marketing goals.

Speaking of distribution the desire for shelf space is always a popular subject for new authors, and its requirements are very strict. Books that make it onto the shelves of the brick and mortar chain book stores have to carry a very high trade discount (50% to 55%). “Trade discount” is our industry specific term for “profit margin.” For example, when you purchase a book within a Barnes & Noble bookstore for $14.95, 55% of the retail price ($8.22) is divided between the store and the wholesale distributor for their profit. When you subtract the $8.22 from the $14.95, you are left with $6.73. This remainder covers the cost of the actual book. The balance that is left after the price of the book is the author royalty. Typically, authors receive very low royalties in these scenarios.  

In addition to needing a high trade discount, authors also need to provide the bookstore with a “Retail Returns Program.” This program allows the bookstores to return books to the wholesaler and get their money back if the books do not sell. You must provide this program to the retailers, but having it is no guarantee that they will agree to stock your book. 

Conversely, authors that elect to focus on internet sales may select a much lower trade discount as the internet book sites do not require as large of a profit margin. So that same $14.95 retail priced book under a 25% trade discount would look like this mathematically: $14.95 – $3.74 (25% of the retail price) = $11.21 – the actual cost of your book = your royalty. Obviously, $11.21 is a larger number than $6.73. Therefore, your royalty will be greater if sold by an online distributor, assuming the cost of your book remains the same in each equation.

Freedom to choose your trade discount and distribution center is just one of the many perks of self publishing. To learn more about trade discounts, check out Cheri’s post titled Trade Discounts 101. It provides a great overview of industry standards and questions to ask yourself before setting your discount.

ABOUT WENDY STETINA:
Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and 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, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.
Self-Publishing, Wendy Speaks

Traditional Printing vs Print on Demand… What is the Difference?

One of the biggest decisions for self-published authors is whether to choose traditional printing or print on demand (POD). As a publishing consultant, I am constanly asked questions about the differences and benefits of traditional printing versus print on demand. Below I have answered three of the most common questions I’m asked about POD . Hopefully, the answers will give you a better understanding of the two types of services and help you determine if print on demand is right for you.

Why should I choose POD rather than traditional printing?

Most authors who select POD want their self-publisher to handle distribution and fulfillment as well as the actual printing of the books. This allows the author to focus on what they do best – writing, and hopefully marketing, their books – instead of managing inventory, packaging orders, and shipping books to the buyer.

Why is the per book cost higher for a POD title compared to a traditionally printed title?

The more you buy (of anything, from books to business cards) from a traditional printer the lower your unit cost. Whether you print 100 copies of an item or 1000 copies, your set up costs are the same, and they are amortized over the entire print run. Typically, buyers  order more than they actually need  to achieve a lower unit price.  In POD, the cost of your book is the same for book number 1 and book 2000 because each book is printed one at a time and the set up is included in every individual copy.

So why would I accept a higher unit price?

Authors that select POD are doing it for two specific reasons. The first is they want their self-publisher to print the book and deliver it to the purchaser without them having to be personally involved. The second is cash-flow. Inventory costs money. Buying 2000 books, for example, at $3.50 per book will require an investment of $7,000.00. In a nutshell, POD authors are trading a higher per book cost for the luxury of not having 1000’s of dollars worth of inventory sitting in their home office.

POD is a great option for authors who are concerned about time management and inventory cost. After all, authors should be writing and marketing not storing, packaging, and shipping books.

I’d love to hear your questions, advice, and experiences with traditional printing and print on demand.

ABOUT WENDY STETINA:
Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and 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, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.