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.
Elise Speaks, NaNoWriMo

3 Things to Do If You Don’t Win NaNoWriMo

As NaNoWriMo comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on what you did (and didn’t) do this month. Did you meet the seemingly lofty goal of 50,000 words? Did you make it half way through? Or, are you like me and never got a chance to start?

Well, allow me to explain my situation a little more…

I began the month of November with every intention to start and win NaNoWriMo even though I didn’t have the foggiest idea who or what to write about. I have a strong fondness for the craft of “birthing” words, but I couldn’t get myself motivated to start this month. Every time I felt I may have time to, life got in the way. Sooner or later, I was able to come up with every excuse to not start writing. That leaves me at the end of November with no word count next to my name.

It’s actually quite scary…

I’m not allowing that to break my spirits, though. While I may not have “won” NaNoWriMo, I’m still a winner in my mind. I’ve had an opportunity to cheer on many others in their conquest to literary success – including Outskirts Press Vice President, Kelly Schuknecht. Overall, this has been an amazing month for so many budding novelists!

I will say – making the decision to finish a book for NaNoWriMo is hard. It’s much more difficult that it initially seems. There are great support teams to help potential novelists stay focused on reaching their daily word count goals. This doesn’t help everyone, though. This is especially true if you can’t find the time to sit down to write on a (somewhat) regular schedule.

So, what do you do if you don’t finish (or start) NaNoWriMo? Here’s a few things to begin with:

  1. Finish anyway. Just because November is over doesn’t mean that you are unable to finish your book. You achieved a major goal by starting the writing process. November is not the only time you can commit to writing a book. I see a finish line in your future!
  2. Hire a ghostwriter. If you have no clue how to continue on with your work, a ghostwriter may be able to help. This is probably the simplest solution if you want to finish your book in the near future and you’ve run out of ideas and/or can’t find the time to finish writing yourself. If you’re having a hard time finding a ghostwriter, you can ask your (future) publisher for recommendations.
  3. Make a vow to participate next year. Did November come at the most inconvenient time for you (it did for me!)? There’s always next year’s event! Or, feel free to start right away and/or hire a ghostwriter.

How are you coping with not winning NaNoWriMo?

Elise Connors ABOUT ELISE L. CONNORS:
Elise works as the Manager of Author Support of Outskirts Press.  She also contributes to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com.Elise and a group of talented book marketing experts assist self-publishing authors and professionals who are interested in getting the best possible exposure for their book.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: The Job

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:

The Job

Cramer Louis Jackson

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432784584

Reviewer: Tracey Rock

An unemployed Joe Jamison has all but given up looking for work, when an envelope addressed to him arrives in the mail requesting an interview. The letter does not give him an address of where the interview is or what type of company they are. He is simply given instructions to check his email. As he scans his emails, he finds the unmistakable email from them, as the subject line reads, “THE JOB.” When he opens the email, there is a detailed map showing how to get to the location site where his interview is to be. Along with the map, there were specific instructions that he was not to tell anyone about the email or the map.

At the secluded interview location, before Joe is given any information about the job, he is asked if he wants to accept the position. Also, if he accepts the position, he will no longer exist ,and he will have to assume a new identity. Although he was caught a bit off guard, he accepts the position and is told from this moment on he will be known as Zann Tanner.

Zann is introduced to General Morgan who sends him off for training, testing and briefing sessions. Once he has been immersed in his work, he learns that the Roswell, New Mexico incident was real and why it was being covered up. The exciting news for Zann is that the spacecraft that landed at Rosewll was going to be flown and that he will be the pilot. Alongside Zann will be a woman named Layone.

Zann and Layone are immediately attracted to each other and begin to have a relationship. As the project moves along successfully, there are others who are interested in the project and will stop at nothing to obtain the potential knowledge and power that can be gained. Now Zann and Layone will need to make choices that will impact their lives and the lives of others.

Please note that “The Job” by Cramer Louis Jackson is only forty-five pages long and has very limited dialog. So, depending on what type of book you are looking for, this will be important. The premise of the story is nice. I believe most people can relate to unemployment and despair and if you enjoy stories about Roswell, then this book has some great touch points also.

This is a good storyline. I just wish there was more to it.

Kelly Speaks, NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo 2012 — Winner!

Two days before the official deadline, I am proud to say I am a NaNoWriMo winner!

I don’t normally publicly pat myself on the back like this, but I can honestly say I have never been more proud of myself.  Okay, well giving birth (3 times) and running a half marathon are pretty high up there, but completing my first novel has been an amazing experience!

One month ago I decided I was going to participate in NaNoWriMo for the first time.  I am not a fiction writer, but my company is sponsoring the event this year so I wanted to really experience NaNoWriMo along with the 300,000 or so other writers.  I wrote more about my reason for participating here, if you’re interested.

I never doubted that I would complete the 50,000 words because I was very committed to the end result, but I did doubt my ability to accomplish anything else in the month.  Sure some things fell behind (laundry, cleaning, sleeping), but I learned so much about myself and what I am capable of accomplishing!  I don’t regret doing this for one second.  I am glad to be done, but I’m also anxious to start thinking about what I’m going to write next year.

What am I going to do with my completed manuscript, you might ask.  Well, I’m planning on self-publishing it, of course.  First I’m going to edit it, though.  Now that I’m not worried about meeting a strict deadline, I’m looking forward to taking my time and getting my manuscript just right.

I mentioned above that my company is sponsoring NaNoWriMo this year.  Well, we’re also offering 10% off the publishing package for NaNoWriMo participants, so if you participated in NaNoWriMo (or you’re reading this post) and you want to publish your manuscript, you can save 10% on the Diamond or Pearl publishing package with the promotion code NaNo12.

If you’re participating in NaNoWriMo, I wish you the best of luck in these last two days!

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.
Book Reviews, Kelly Speaks

Foreword Reviews is Hitting the Newsstands

ForeWord Reviews is a review service for readers, booksellers, book buyers, publishing insiders, and librarians. They have been serving the publishing industry for 15 years, and they recently announced that they will be hitting newsstands! They struck a deal with Barnes & Noble, so the publication will be available in the 350 stores throughout the country. This is exciting news for ForeWord Reviews as well as self-publishing authors and readers!

As a self-publishing author, book reviews are a great way to promote your book and improve your credibility. ForeWord Reviews is a trusted source for book reviews. Now that the publication will be available in Barnes & Noble, featured books will be exposed to an even larger audience. You can learn more about ForeWord Reviews at www.forewordreviews.com.

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.