Cheri Speaks

What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Ghostwriter

There are many reasons people hire ghostwriters. You may have a great idea for a book but no time to write it, or you might be an expert on a subject but a lousy writer. None the less, ghostwriting is very common. Often, books by celebrities, experts, and corporations are written by a ghostwriter. If you are considering hiring a ghostwriter, there are two things you must know before hiring a ghostwriter.

Know What You Want

Before accepting a project, a ghostwriter will have many questions about your book. You need to know the answers before you start talking to the ghostwriter. Here are a few things you need to consider.

  • How do you picture your book?
  • What is the tone and style?
  • How long is it?
  • What is the subject?
  • What topics are covered?
  • Who is the audience?
  • What is the purpose of the book?
  • What do you expect from the ghostwriter?
  • How much of the material will you provide?
  • How involved do you want to be in the process?

Know Your Budget

Writing a book is time-consuming, especially if you want to write a quality book. The process includes research, brainstorming, writing, rewriting and editing. This process is no different for ghostwriters. Therefore, book projects can be costly. In fact, research shows that prices can range from $10,000 to $50,000 per book. These prices depend on the writer’s experience, the length and difficulty of the project, the materials you provide and the deadline. Before hiring a ghostwriter, figure out how much you can spend. Don’t hire a ghostwriter and decide you can’t pay for the project. Like all professionals, ghostwriters MUST be paid.

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.
Uncategorized, Wendy Speaks

Top 5 Reasons to Self Publish in February

The chaos of the holidays is finally over, and 2012 is just getting started. Like most writers, you probably have “publish a book” on your list of things to do in 2012. Well, February is a great time to make that dream come true. Here are five reasons why.

Promotions

Like most businesses, self-publishing companies offer excellent deals after the holidays. Sometimes, these promotions are even better than the holiday deals. For instance, Outskirts Press is currently offering a $300.00 Mad Money credit that can be applied to any production or marketing option.

Valentine’s Day

Obviously, you could give the gift of self-publishing to someone you love, but what about you? This year, give yourself a Valentine’s Day gift and finally see your book in print.

Time is on Your Side

If you cross publishing off your New Year’s Resolution list in February, you are left with the rest of the year to market your book, begin other projects or just enjoy the satisfaction of publishing a book.

Winter is Still Here

When the nice weather arrives, it can be hard to sit inside working on your book. Take advantage of the winter weather. Spend those hours inside working on your book, and you can accomplish your dream of publishing before all the BBQs and beach trips.

2012 is a Political Year

Having your book published before the general election will make it easier to market. This is especially true for books about hot topics and politics because people will be reading about these topics before the election.

ABOUT WENDY STETINA: Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and 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, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week, Weekly Wednesday Podcast

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: Twenty-Eight Snow Angels: A Widow’s Story of Love, Loss and Renewal

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:

Twenty-Eight Snow Angels: A Widow’s Story of Love, Loss and Renewal

Diane Dettmann

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432777043

Reviewer: Joseph Yurt

Author Diane Dettmann was still hopelessly in love with her husband of twenty-eight years when he died suddenly at age 54. The grief and pain one feels is no less when the death of a spouse is anticipated, but as Diane Dettmann discovers, a sudden death is more difficult at the outset because of the shock of the suddenness. There is no time to think, no time to plan, no time to brace one’s self. For Dettmann, the experience was even more difficult because she is an extreme griever. According to Therese Rando, Ph.D, “If you are such a griever, you probably are suffering from extreme feelings of bewilderment, anxiety, self-reproach, and depression, and you may be unable to continue normal life.”  It was just this state in which Diane Dettmann found herself.

I have always possessed a strong ability to cope with adversity, but the intensity of emotions and the state of mind about which Dettmann writes stunned and puzzled me. As I accompanied her on her descent into the depths of her despair, I was stunned and confused by her debilitating feelings and thoughts. Her anguish opened my eyes to the power that the sudden death of a loved one can have over our abilities to cope.

The author’s stream of consciousness writing style and the intensity of her words and feelings are so genuine that I could not help wonder if Dettmann would ever fully recover from the severe assault to her emotions caused by her loss. After what seemed like an ample amount of time had passed, Dettmann made the decision to sell her husband’s piano. She made the arrangements, but as she watched out the window, seeing the piano moving truck pulling away, she vividly recalls: “What have I done? I screamed as I looked at the huge void along the living room wall. I was not sure which was bigger, the empty space on the wall or the hole in my heart. I cried, screamed and paced the floor. Why did I let this piano go? I ran to the kitchen and grabbed the portable phone… ‘Manny’s Piano Movers.’ I sobbed into the phone, ‘Two of your guys picked up my piano a few minutes ago. It was my husband’s. He died. I need it back.'”

None of the conventional wisdom and counsel seemed to help Diane Dettmann much. But ever so slowly, after what seems like an agonizingly long period of time, her state of mind begins to ascend from the depths of despair to which she had sunk. And I realized that “Twenty-Eight Snow Angels,” despite Dettmann’s traumatic, life-changing journey, is really a story of patience and hope. It is a story that will inspire others, whether they have had a sudden death experience or not, to live each day to the fullest.

Cheri Speaks

What You Might Not Know About Copyrights

Working in the self-publishing industry, one of the most common problems I see is copyright issues. For instance, authors will take pictures or text from websites or quotes from television shows and use them in their work. Many of these authors believe that it is okay to use these materials without permission. The truth is these materials are copyrighted and using them without permission can result in plagiarism and other legal concerns. Whenever you use photos or text that were not created by you, you need permission, even if you obtained them on the web.

Another issue that surfaces regularly is pictures taken by the authors themselves. Even though you own the picture, you need permission from the people and places in the photo in order to distribute the picture. This is a privacy issue and can result in serious legal consequences.

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.
Wendy Speaks

Famous Self-Published Author: Beatrix Potter

Did you know that the first Peter Rabbit book was self-published? When Beatrix Potter submitted the first manuscript, she received several rejection letters. She decided to self-publish a limited edition. After seeing the printed book and recognizing the commercial possibilities, Publisher Frederick Warne changed his opinion and agreed to publish a color copy of the book. To date, the story has been translated into 36 languages and has sold over 45 million copies. This could be your children’s book.

ABOUT WENDY STETINA: Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and 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, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.