Choosing a Publisher, Jodee Speaks, Self-Publishing

Comparison: Outskirts Press Diamond Publishing Package vs Createspace Standard Publishing Package

A follower asked if I would compare the Diamond publishing package offered by Outskirts Press with Createspace’s option. He didn’t specify which package he was interested in at Createspace, so I decided to compare the package with a similar price point — the Standard.

I do not envy the author shopping the self-publishing market as it is impossible to do apples-to-apples comparisons since no two packages are going to offer exactly the same features and services. As a professional in the industry, it’s easier for me to cut through the fluff, charts and graphs and distill it down for an author. That’s just what I’ve done here, but remember, offerings change sometimes, so this comparison is current as of the date I did my researcher (November 20th, 2013), and it is limited to information I could obtain on the website of the two companies.

Outskirts Press Diamond Publishing Package
$999		 CreateSpace Standard Publishing Package
$948
P
R
O
D
U
C
T
I
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N		 Paperback Format ✓ ✓
Customizable Cover (1 stock image) ✓ ✓
Professional Interior Formatting ✓ ✓
Interior images 10 for $49 10 Free
Interior Charts, Tables, Graphs 10 for $49 $25 each
Author Copies (Paperback) 10 Copies 0? Not listed on package page
Free Standard eBook Format ✓
M
A
R
K
E
T
I
N
G		 Standard Press Release ✓ No mention of these items on the Standard package page or comparison chart
Author Webpage ✓
Streaming Audio ✓
Marketing COACH Emails (2 years) ✓

In the above comparison of just the package basics, there are many similarities and really only two differences that stand out:

  1. The Diamond package includes a few marketing options and nothing similar is shown to come with the Standard package.
  2. The Standard package includes the insertion of 10 interior images, while this service costs extra with the Diamond package. If you don’t have any interior images, this won’t matter to you. But, if you have interior elements that are charts, graphs or tables, these are included in the “10 for $49” fee with the Diamond while you may pay $25 for each chart/graph/table with the Standard.

In addition to looking at the upfront cost and package inclusions, it’s important to look at royalties. It’s also imperative that you use the same parameters in determining this pricing information. For my research, I used a 6″ x 9″ paperback, black and white interior with 100 pages and a retail price of $9.95. Here are the results:

The CreateSpace site indicates they will deduct a sales channel %, a fixed charge and a per page charge. The result is the author’s royalty.

  • If you want Amazon only distribution, then the sales channel % is 40 ($3.98).
  • If you want expanded distribution, then the sales channel % is 60 ($5.97).
  • For our parameters, the fixed charge is $2.15 per book.
  • The per page charge for less than 108 pages is $0.
  • Therefore, $9.95 retail less $3.98 sales channel, less $2.15 fixed charge nets a royalty of $3.82 if you want Amazon only distribution.
  • Or, $9.95 retail less $5.97 sales channel, less $2.15 fixed charge nets a royalty of $1.83 if you want distribution beyond Amazon.

Outskirts Press has an easy to use and easy to find pricing calculator on their website. They will deduct the trade discount and a base price. The result is the author’s royalty.

  • The trade discount is 25% ($2.49) for online distribution (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million and more).
  • For our parameters, the base price is $4.52.
  • Therefore, $9.95 retail less $2.49 trade discount, less $4.52 base price nets a royalty of $2.94 – regardless of where the book is sold online.

After comparing the two self-publishing services side-by-side, the winner looks to be Outskirts Press. You’ll pay $51 more upfront, but if you want distribution beyond just Amazon, you’ll reap the long-term benefits with the higher royalties from Outskirts Press.

See all the benefits and features of the Diamond publishing package here.

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 11/29/13

It is the day after Thanksgiving and many of us were greatly blessed to have shared time with our family and enjoyed that traditional meal.  Now we are faced with yesterday’s leftovers, maybe even a pot or two still soaking in the kitchen sink.  This is the perfect scenario to send writers to their desks to grab pen or pencil, or attack the computer keyboard with renewed determination!  There are no story leftovers!  Each one must be developed, completed and published!

I don’t know about you, but I’m already looking forward to next year and planning to submit my newly self-published book to several contests.  One of the first will be the Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards and their Self-Published eBook Awards contests.  There are “early-bird” deadlines and rules to follow, so I’m planning to consult my Personal Marketing Assistant—one of the members of my self-publishing team—for advice.  There is also a wonderful website — www.goodreads.com — that provides a whole list of contests, PLUS allows me to acknowledge my favorite books (past and present).  THAT is where I hope to see my own books listed someday soon!  And there I will find a continuing list of readers who consider my work a “good read.”

There are also the magazines with editors who joined the arena of book award contests.  One that is well established and growing is the ForeWord Reviews magazine.  It was established in 1998 and now distributes quarterly to 7,500 librarians and booksellers and is available at most Barnes & Noble newsstands.  They look at each year’s newly published books for this contest, which is a great avenue for self-published authors to be recognized.  Their motto is “great book/independent voices.”  I like that and hope my writing will catch their attention.

So it is that my thoughts are bouncing between all the stories and articles floating in my head, and the few weeks remaining in this calendar year.  Watching the last leaves fall and snowflakes begin to float through crystal-air, my head is also full of delightful holiday memories.  I cannot help but picture myself in the midst of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the love and laughter to be shared.

SHOULD the writing take a backseat to these activities, I will, however, still have my plan-of-action in place: at least two of my current clients will be published in the New Year; several new clients will become best friends as we get their projects rolling; at least one of my own books will make it to the desks of my self-publishing team; and many book award contests will receive submissions from me and my clients.  I am, indeed, FULL of thanks for the blessings of today and the opportunities that await.

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.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self Published Book Review: Life on Grayson Island

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

Life on Grayson Island

E. R. Champion

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432765798

The mystical land of Oz can take many forms. “Life on Grayson Island” is a spin of fiction from Ellen Champion as she presents a tale of Special Policeman Brent Williams as her serves Grayson Island, a present-day incarnation of Oz. With plenty of humor and absurdity that leaves readers with laughing as they ponder, “Life on Grayson Island” is a choice read, very much recommended reading.

Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

5 Reasons to Be Thankful for Self-Publishing

As you enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner this week, I hope you take the time to reflect on all the things you have to be thankful for. As a writer, there are many reasons to be thankful for self-publishing. Here are the top five.

1. Creative Freedom

Self-publishing gives writers the freedom to creatively express themselves. They don’t have to wait for an editor to decide their story is worthy or be told to change their vision to fit a commercial market.

2. Control

Self-publishing authors maintain complete control throughout the publishing process. They decide how the book will look, read, and be sold.

3. Financial Opportunity

Self-publishing offers writers the opportunity to earn an income from their work. Unlike traditional publishing, self-publishing authors aren’t stuck with low royalties. They earn more from each book they sell.

4. A Changing Market

Self-publishing continues to grow in popularity, and previously successful traditional authors are even choosing to go the self-publishing route with their new books. With this comes more respect for self-published authors.

5. No Waiting

Traditional publishing is a long process filled with rejection. Self-publishing authors don’t have to suffer through countless rejection letters, and their books are often printed quicker those printed by traditional publishers.

I’d love to know, why are you thankful for self-publishing?

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.
Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 11/26/13

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.

Bestselling Author Allison Winn Scotch on Self-Publishing The Theory of Opposites 

New York Times-bestselling author Allison Winn Scotch recently decided to self-publish her fifth book, The Theory of Opposites. In this interview, Scotch shares why she decided to self-publish and her self-publishing experience. Spoiler alert: She sold the movie rights before the book even came out!

Brooke Warner’s Advice on Self-Publishing: ‘Don’t Try to Do it All Yourself!’

Self-Publishing Intensive speaker Brooke Warner tells authors how to prepare their manuscripts for publication. Here number one tip for self-published authors is to make sure they have a team. This article is a must read for self-publishing authors.

Finish Your Book with Mediabistro’s Self-Publishing Intensive

December 5 – December 19, 2013 MediaBistro will host Self-Publishing Intensive, an interactive online event, designed to help self-publishing authors through the final and most important steps of the publishing process. The event features speakers, how-to sessions, “homework,” peer interaction, and more.

If you have other big news to share, please comment 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.