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Getting a tax return? Can you be frivolous and responsible with it?

I’m not sure how I pulled it off, but this year I’m actually getting a tax refund for the first time in years!  Now…what to do with it?  My inclination is to do something completely frivolous, but then my common sense takes over and I start thinking about practical and responsible things I should do with this unexpected mini-windfall.  Put it in my retirement account?  Boring.  Payoff my truck?  No fun at all.  Donate it to charity?  Well…maybe part of it.  Invest it in stock?  Yeah, probably not going to happen.  And then it hit me, there is a way to do something “fun” (if not outright frivolous)  with it that can still be considered practical and even responsible.

I pulled out my “dreams” board, (yes, I really have a board of “bucket list” things to do or accomplish), and I searched it thinking creatively of which item on my list I could throw this money at AND knock that item off my list AND possibly get some kind of return on the investment.  I was pretty creative with that “return on investment” as I considered several items on the list – the return could be potentially monetary, could be a sense of accomplishment, a satisfaction in getting an item checked off the list, fulfilling a need for a serious adrenaline rush I’ll obtain from many of the crazier items on the list, improved horsemanship, finally publishing Grandma’s memoir, learning a useful new skill, intellectual stimulation, the list goes on and on.

All of this was going through my head this weekend and while I haven’t made a decision yet on what, exactly, I will do with my refund, when I came across the “publish Grandma’s memoir” item on my list it made me think of many of you following this blog.  The biggest audience of this blog is folks just like me when it comes to that project – a writing and publishing project that has been put on the back burner for years.  Maybe it’s time for me to move that up on my list.  Maybe it’s time for you to do the  same.  And maybe, if you’re getting a refund too, this could be a use for that money that would be fun and practical and bring a huge sense of accomplishment to you.

Taking that first step of selecting a self-publishing company and purchasing a publishing package can certainly be daunting.  And if funding for the project has been an obstacle in getting started, then perhaps using your tax refund is the stimulus you need to get this project off the ground and finally moving forward.

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 25 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Director 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.
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Friday Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer 04/10/15

SETTING THE STAGE setting

SPRING has sprung!  I know—that’s a cliché statement—however, as I watch new life flying and hopping and tweeting and romping and howling in field and sky, I feel good, which fires up the imagination!  So today, I’m going to talk about baby owls.  One of my neighbors caught this photo in the Spring of 2014—two young owls nestled in the perfect setting for their protection, ability to view their surroundings, and learn how to grab their next meal.

When developing the setting for a novel, the first thing I do (which most writers probably don’t) is consider the TIME(s) OF YEAR during which the story will begin, travel through, and end.  This one element of foundational, background research is (I believe) KEY to all the other elements of setting—from locale, to mood and atmosphere, to geography, both topographical and man-made.  Below are my owl/story-setting comparison illustrations.

  1. Spring is the season of breeding for the owl species, which coincides with the greatest possibilities of food supplies and positive weather conditions.
    1. What “food” do you want to offer your readers in the preface and opening chapter that will flavor their imaginations and entice them to read further?
    2. The words of description that are used here must create a feel of the season your characters are living in so that your readers will feel the same—such as the cool crispness of spring air balanced by the warmth of the sun.
  2. Owls are what I call nesting shoppers, selecting appropriate holes in trees or barns or even the abandoned nests of crows and other birds of prey. They also return to these sites year after year and reoccupy them if at all possible.
    1. The first locale you present to your readers should be so real that they have a feeling of déjà vu—such a strong appeal (or dislike) that they would want to go there (or never go there).
    2. You are the only person who knows your characters!  Where are they at the moment your story opens?  In the city? Walking pleasant neighborhood streets? In school?  Anticipating going to an ocean beach?  Just pulling themselves into a saddle upon their beloved horse and galloping off across a ranch?  BE SPECIFIC.
  3. Owl hatchlings are born over a period of several days because the eggs are laid at different times.  Thus you have the sibling “pecking order” with the larger individuals often getting more food (and attention) than the smaller weaker ones, which could affect the survival rate—unless the area (setting) provides plentiful food sources.
    1. The time of year you’ve selected for your story’s beginning will influence everything that happens afterward.  It will give you the ability to demonstrate (not tell) each character’s unique feelings IN that seasonal environment such as:
      1. A spring marriage—which has brought joy to all the characters.
      2. A Thanksgiving Eve death—that brings sadness—yet a strong element of thanksgiving that the person is “in a better place.”
    2. This sibling/owl/human comparison also provides the picture of character development throughout your story’s various seasons.

The next three blogs will continue this discussion about SETTING.  For today, I’ll add just one more thought.  It is never too early to start planning the “setting” for publishing your book(s).  Ask other author’s about their publishing experiences and find the best place for your book to be produced and released into the world.

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.
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Weekly Self-Published Book Review:The Road Back to Me

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review by Midwest Book Review:

book review

 The Road Back to Me

Lisa A. Romano

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN:9780578102689

Taking control of one’s own being is a powerful thing that often eludes many of us. “The Road Back to Me” is a memoir of addiction and no self-worth from Lisa A. Romano as she draws on her own life’s challenges and the pain of addiction and going through life trying to deal with the weight of life that came with it. A very spiritual memoir about how she broke free from addiction, co-dependency, and more, “The Road Back to Me” is a powerful and much recommended pick, not to be missed.

Advocacy in Self-Publishing, Alternative Marketing Methods, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Promotion Strategy, Contests, Kelly Speaks, Marketing Your Self-Published Book

Self-Publishing & Merchandising : Extras & Special Editions

Last week, I launched a new blog series on the ins and outs of merchandising with a quick definition.  (“Simply put, merchandising is any and all practices and methods which boost product sales in a retail environment.”)  And definitions are great and all, but we’re here to talk shop.  To get under the skin of merchandising, to inhabit the world of successful merchandisers, we have to tackle each and every aspect of the process–in depth.  This week, we’ll be taking a closer look at two of these aspects: “extras,” and special edition releases of your books.

What are “extras”?

“Extras” are anything you send out into the world related to your work that is not (quite) your book.  Or at least, it’s not your book as most people know it.  They’re the fiddly bits, the sweeteners, the “guess what I got this week?” element of book marketing.  The no-frills approach to book sales is to put your book, and only your book, into the hands of your ideal readers.  But we all know the process is more complicated than that, if we want to make profitable sales.

Identifying our ideal readers is one complicated conglomerate of issues unto itself, and connecting the dots between book and reader yet another (seemingly) hopeless tangle, and transforming the market so that more readers become ideal readers is … well, you get the picture.  The creation, distribution, and controlled availability of “extras” is one highly effective way to unpick some of these knots.  Why?  Because they make your ideal readers feel privileged and affirmed in their good taste, while also serving as a siren call to new readers–a declaration that you, the author, are willing to go the extra mile to bring others alongside you, into the world of your book.  And I’m not just talking about fictional worlds, here: every good book is a world unto itself, a universe even, that enwraps its readers in a shared sense of wonder, urgency, or belief.

“Extras” come in every possible form we can imagine, and sometimes figuring out what “extras” suit our books and our needs best is the larger task.  But simply identifying them can be a challenge, too, so here is a short list of some of the more effective extras that leap to my mind:

  • creating swag, like bookmarks or postcards or tee-shirts, etc, to give away or raffle off at book readings and signings;
  • putting together a regular newsletter, physical or digital, to distribute to eager readers;
  • orchestrating giveaways, scavenger hunts, and other participatory contests to boost interest;
  • offering limited-offer “buy a physical book and unlock free digital content” sorts of specials;
  • publishing select chapters online for free, using interactive services such as WattPad; and
  • hosting quizzes, ask-and-answer sessions, or other author-centric material online using social media networks such as Tumblr.

(This is just to name a few.)  As you can see, many of these “extras” fall into two loose categories: the physical fiddly bits, and the digital fiddly bits.  It’s worth noting that, while focusing our talents into bundles that seem all of a kind–say, pairing a digital “extra” with an ebook release, or a physical “extra” with a physical book launch–may be an effective use of our time, it may not be the sole best way to boost our sales.  Many readers who are highly engaged on social media will treasure a physical book or a physical “extra,” while many readers who hold fast to their physical libraries are ready and willing to branch out and experiment, if they’re invested in you, the author, and your vision of your world.  Strategic cross-fertilization may be the best approach, so make sure you’re providing “extras” on both sides of the digital/physical divide–if possible.

Oh, right, I mentioned special editions too.

That’s right–I haven’t forgotten.  The reason I save this second aspect of merchandising for after my discussion of “extras” is simple: many of the same rules apply.  We’ve written about releasing special editions, whether ebook editions or other kinds of editions as a kind of promotional venture, before.  We’ve even written about releasing special editions for holidays and for Kindles, respectively.  The simple distillation of all of these prior posts might be to say: “The more editions we put out there, the more accessible our books, the more people who will hear of our books, and the more books we will sell.”  The parallels between special editions and “extras” are fairly clear–just substitute “extras” for “editions.”

The key to successful merchandising for the self-published author is to make our readers feel special!  We can make this happen with strategic bundles of “extras,” or by releasing new editions of previously published books.  Both of these merchandising methods are built upon creating and distributing new access points to our works.  Generating special offers that are limited in some way–in respect to time or quantity–whether on swag or giveaways or special editions–heightens the competitive edge to what we’re offering, and makes our books a topic of conversation.  We want to balance ubiquity of our works–making it is available to as many people as possible–with an urgency to acquire it in certain incarnations or circumstances.

Next week, I’ll be examining merchandising through book and jacket design.  I’d like to open the floor to you, dear reader.  If you have any thoughts to share on the topic of merchandising, or questions you’d like answered, send them my way via the comments box below!  I want to hear from you, and I love nothing more than a good excuse to do a little research if I don’t know something off of the top of my head.  Jump on in!

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.
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Self-Publishing Week in Review: 04/07/15

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 Tuesday to find out the hottest news.

Want to Succeed in Self-Publishing? Learn to Have Fun: Tips from an Indie Author

The author of ‘Imperfect Chemistry’ suggests self-publishers ask questions, roll with the punches, and remember to have a little fun. This is an interesting read for all self-publishing authors.

‘Publishers Weekly’ Launches BookLife Services Directory

No matter where you are on your self-publishing journey, BookLife’s Services Directory can help you find industry professionals and make your book the very best it can be. The new service connects indie authors with editorial and self-publishing services and professionals.

‘Why Is Dad So Mad?’ Veteran Writes Book to Explain His PTSD to His Daughter

This NBC News article tells the story of the veteran who wrote ‘Why Is Dad So Mad?’ to explain his PTSD to his children. This is a fascinating and inspiring read.

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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.