Kelly Speaks

How to Be a Successful Poet

National Poetry Month has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean you should stop writing and improving your poetry. Success as a self publishing poet is all about consistency, committment, and personal development. To help you become the best poet you can be, here are tips for improving your writing as well as self publishing your work.

Read. Read. Read.

Any time you want to improve your skills and become more successful, reading can help. Read poetry. Read books and articles about writing and publishing poetry. Read information about self publishing. Read anything that inspires you to write and become the best poet you can be, but don’t limit yourself to poetry and industry books. Read fiction, nonfiction, magazines, newspapers, blogs, advertisements, etc. Read everything and anything you can get a hold of. You never know what will inspire you.

Stay Committed

If you want to be successful, you need to commit yourself to your craft. Make time to write every day. Look for ways to continue to learn and grow. Figure out what motivates you and include those motivations in your daily life. Share your goals with others so they can help you accountable. Never give up on dreams.

Be Consistent

Whether you are writing, editing, or marketing, be consistent. Work on your poetry every day. Set a schedule for when you will write, edit, or market your work. Set goals for yourself, and make a plan to achieve them. Successful writers don’t write sporadically; they work on their craft in some way every single day.

I’d love to know, why do you write poetry ?

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: 4/30/13

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 in self publishing this week.

Self-Publishing Is For Control Freaks

As you know, I love self publishing success stories. This article is about a self publishing author who hit number one on the DBW Ebook Best-Seller list in 2013. She reveals that she decided to self publish because she is a “control freak.” Self publishing is great for authors who want to be in charge of the entire publishing process.

Top Children’s Books by Self-Published Authors for April

If you are self publishing a children’s book, it is important to understand the market. One of the best ways to do this is by reading and learning about top-selling children’s books by self published authors.

Colleen Hoover is a self-published star

Here is yet another self publishing success story. Read and be inspired.

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.
Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Celebrate Earth Day by Self Publishing an Ebook

In honor of Earth Day last week, many of you may be looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint. We all know that resources are scarce, pollution is a growing problem, and we must change how we live if we want to keep our planet clean, beautiful, and healthy. But many people aren’t sure what they can do to help. Well, if you are a self publishing author, one of the things you can do is offer your readers an ebook. Here are a few reasons why self publishing an ebook is a great idea.

  • Obviously, ebooks equal paperless, and less paper equals more trees. More trees equal a healthier, more beautiful environment.
  • E-readers, such as the Kindle and Nook, are becoming increasingly popular, so more and more readers are looking for ebooks.
  • Offering an ebook increases the chance that your book will appear in search results, which increases the chance that readers will purchase your book.
  • Ebooks offer your readers a quick and convenient way to purchase your book. Today’s market wants to be able to make purchases by simply clicking a button, and unlike ordering a paperback book, readers don’t have to wait for the book to arrive in the mail.

If you are also going to offer a paperback or hardcover copy of your book, consider using recycled paper. Some self publishing companies, such as Outskirts Press, offer this option.

I’d love to know, how often do you read ebooks, and what format do you plan to self publish your 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.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self Published Book Review: Linebacker in the Boardroom

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:

linebacker in the boardroom

Linebacker in the Boardroom

Marvin A. Russell

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432775575

Leadership is leadership no matter where it is. “Linebacker in the Boardroom: Lessons in Life and Leadership” is a leadership memoir from Marv Russell as he reflects on his history as a linebacker and man of business and states the values of leadership and making the most of a situation and scoring in life, the business room, and everywhere else. “Linebacker in the Boardroom” is a choice read with plenty of wisdom.

Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

The Benefits of Poetry

In honor of National Poetry Month, I’ll be sharing tips and news for poets this month. Today, I’m going to address the question, “Why write poetry?” Research shows that there are several benefits to writing and reading poetry. Here are a few.

For Readers

  • a deeper appreciation of the world around them
  • a better understanding of oneself and others
  • comfort in difficult times
  • sheer enjoyment and entertainment
  • relaxation

For Writers

  • the opportunity to express emotions
  • the opportunity to impact readers
  • the pleasure of writing
  • the ability to have fun with language
  • the opportunity to learn about yourself and others

As you can see, there are many benefits to reading and writing poetry. I’d love to know, why do you read and/or write poetry?

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.