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.
Uncategorized

Turn Your Passion Into a Profitable Book

Winter is one of my favorite times of year because it is ski season. Out of curiosity, I recently searched the book section of Amazon for the word “skiing” and I found 5,276 results. Yes, there are over 5,000 books on skiing listed on Amazon. This got me thinking… There is a huge market for authors who love skiing as much as I do. You could write an informational book for novice skiers, or you could share stories about your own skiing adventures. You could even write a humor book about skiing. The possibilities are endless.

Even if you don’t enjoy skiing, there is still a vast amount of potential for you to write a book and earn money. Whatever your passion is, there are other people who share your interests and would love to read your book. Whether it is skiing, fashion, children, painting, or any other interest, if you can find a unique way to share your thoughts and stories, you can make money by self publishing a book on the topic. For inspiration, type a keyword into Amazon and see what pops up. You may be inspired by all the amazing work that already exists on the topic or you may discover that there isn’t a lot of information out there and the industry could really use a book like yours.

If you have the idea but lack the skills or time to write a quality book, consider hiring a ghostwriter who can help turn your thoughts into a great manuscript. You should also consider other professionals to help you create the best book possible. Some wonderful options include copyediting and marketing services. When choosing a self publishing company, be sure to look for companies that offer these additional services.

I’d love to know, what is your passion?

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.
Kelly Speaks, NaNoWriMo, Uncategorized

Top 5 NaNoWriMo Blog Posts

There are only a few days left in the NaNoWriMo challenge! I hope everyone is meeting their goals (even if your only goal is “I just want to write something by the end of the month!”) and, more importantly, enjoying their writing time. During NaNoWriMo, it is helpful to read stories and get advice from other people participating; that’s why I’m always looking for great blog posts about NaNoWriMo. Here are five of my recent favorites.

Stay Motivated – NaNoWriMo 10 Minute Writing Sprints

Sometimes it is difficult to find the motivation to sit and write for long periods of time. This is especially true as you get closer to the end of the challenge. I love this idea of 10 minute writing sprints to help you finish your novel and stick to your writing goals.

So You’ve Written a Book…

You may be wondering what you should do once you finish your novel. This is a great post that offers four things you shouldn’t do. I love the author’s advice on not rushing into the self-publishing process. While I obviously encourage authors to consider self-publishing, you don’t want to cut corners if you want to be taken seriously as an author. It is very important that you take time to polish your book and make decisions that will make your book and yourself more professional.

Quotes for Writers and Readers

This link isn’t actually a blog post. It is a pinterest board, but it is still a valuable resource for writers. This board is a great place to find a little inspiration or get a good laugh.

NaNoWriMo 2012 Week Three: Six Writers Each Pen a Book in One Month

It is always fun to hear about other authors’ writing experiences. This is a great post to read when you need some inspiration. If other people can complete the challenge, so can you.

Pep Talk from Ally Carter

This post discusses two types of writer’s block and how to handle them. It is a great read for anyone who is struggling with finishing their novel in the last week of NaNoWriMo.

I’d love to know, what is your favorite blog post about NaNoWriMo? Share 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.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: The Big Book of Dan

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 Big Book of Dan

Daniel C. Dulik

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432778590

Reviewer: Charline Ratcliff

Having just finished reading “The Big Book of Dan” by author Daniel C., I’m left wondering what there is to say about it. For starters, it is a compilation of some rather off the wall, eclectic and…eccentric but fairly funny short stories. Dulik has a sense of humor that runs the gamut, and “The Big Book of Dan” is riddled with cynicism, chock full of sarcasm. It also provides a hearty helping of everything else in between.

I’ll be honest. I didn’t find every single story hilariously funny, but “The Big Book of Dan” was, if nothing else, an interesting read from start to finish. Dulik has an extremely dry sense of humor, and, while a few of his tall tales were so dry they were burned, for the most part I enjoyed reading this title. With that said, I think the poems were my favorite, especially “The Narcissist.” Sadly I know a few too many people who have been gifted with that particular…blessing. *chuckle*

Dulik also possesses the fantastic ability to paint pictures using words. Because of this ability, there were several times I found myself cringing as my mind supplied the vivid color images that Dulik’s words so skillfully drew. Oh the horror that the Jimmy Neusbaum recounting invoked! While I never attended Catholic School, I have heard the stories. Of course, these stories are almost always shared in hushed tones after a few alcoholic beverages have sufficiently loosened tongues. It’s almost as if these individuals are worried they will be condemned to purgatory for openly disagreeing with the treatment they received.

So as I continued reading “I Survived! Or Did I?” I idly wondered if Jimmy was merely obsessed with drilling holes in things or if that fifth grade stunt of his was a last-ditch attempt for the elusive “get out of jail free” card. Obviously it worked and…we’ll never know if it was a genius plan or not, since Jimmy was apparently the master of the stare of “utter hopelessness.”

Rather than share more of “The Big Book of Dan,” I’m just going to suggest you pick up your own copy if sharp and sarcastic wit is your cup of tea. I promise that Dulik won’t disappoint.