Tag: Kelly Schuknecht

Alternative Marketing Methods, Book Marketing, Holidays, Kelly Speaks, Marketing Your Self-Published Book, Uncategorized

Ringing in the Holidays: Christmas Edition!

We all know how wonderful it is to have holiday traditions, those things we do year after year and never tire of because they bring us nostalgia for our youth or for holidays in general. However, in book marketing, tradition in the holiday season might mean stagnation. So this year, when you’ve finished your traditions of decorating your Christmas trees, drinking egg nog, wearing tacky sweaters, caroling and hanging your stockings by the chimney with care, let us help you brainstorm some new ways to market your book.

christmas

I remember a favorite tradition of mine growing up was making a long list of books that I wanted  for Christmas; it was long enough that I’d only get some from the list, so I was always excited to see what ones they had chosen! I remember the year when I saw that tradition, which I loved so dearly, come to an end. When I ripped open the box I presumed would be full of books, I discovered that my parents had chosen to give me a Kindle that year instead. Though my attachment to tradition made my reaction seem slightly disappointed I’m sure, I realized that this was a thoughtful break from tradition on my parent’s part, because in their eyes, this provided me “all the books I could ever want.”

I tell this story, because there are ways in which we can revamp holiday traditions so that they remain in tact, but also serve our book marketing strategies. A lot of people will be putting Kindles, ChromeBooks or iPads under their Christmas trees this year, so it’s best to: first, get an ebook version of your book if you haven’t done so yet, and second, promote your ebook both before and after the holidays to boost your sales!

If one of your traditions is sending holiday cards, think about tweaking that tradition by getting custom made stamps with your very own book cover on them. Also consider adding custom book marks promoting your book, or coupons for your friends and family to download your ebook, to your holiday cards.

Heck, if you want to make book-themed ornaments, those would be great stocking stuffers too! That’d be a yearly reminder for those close to you that you are a writer, and that you might have something new out by the time they’re hanging your ornament from an evergreen branch next holiday season.

Another age old tradition that I’ve always loved is advent calendars. While that’s probably mainly because I love candy, there is something exciting about counting down the days to Christmas. Give you readers the same kind of excitement by releasing an “advent series” of your own on your blog and social media accounts. Give pieces of your story each day leading up to Christmas. Hopefully each piece of your story only further encourages people to add your book to their shopping lists!

The main message I want to send for this Christmas is: think outside the pleasantly gift-wrapped box and get creative with traditions. Don’t be afraid to try adding new twists to timeless customs.

Thank you for reading!  If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or contributions, please use the comment field below or drop us a line at selfpublishingadvice@gmail.com.  And remember to check back each Wednesday for your weekly dose of marketing musings from one indie, hybrid, and self-published author to another. ♠

Kelly

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive 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, kellyschuknecht.com
from the archives, Kelly Speaks, NaNoWriMo, Uncategorized

From the Archives: “6 Ways to Keep Up the NanoWriMo Momentum”

Welcome back to our Tuesday segment, where we’ll be revisiting some of our most popular posts from the last few years.  What’s stayed the same?  And what’s changed?  We’ll be updating you on the facts, and taking a new (and hopefully refreshing) angle on a few timeless classics of Self Publishing Advisor.

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[ Originally posted: November 5th, 2012 ]

The first few days of NanoWriMo are now behind you. If you are like most writers, you probably started out enthusiastically and determined to reach your goal, but as the days go by, you may start to lose motivation and focus. You are not alone. If you want to ensure that you finish the first draft during NanoWriMo, consider these six tips.

1. Accept that it won’t be perfect. NanoWriMo more is about writing a 50,000 word novel in a month, but no  one ever said it has to be a perfect, ready to publish novel. This is a first draft, and like all first drafts, it will need work later. Right now, focus on finishing the 50,000 words. You can go back and make changes after the challenge.

2. Set daily goals. It can be overwhelming to think about writing 50,000 words in a month. Instead, focus on how many words you will write each day or during each writing session. This will help you break up the project into manageable steps and will keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

3. Check out Write or Die. This is great software for self-publishing authors who are struggling to meet their goals. This creative software lets you enter a time or word count goal, and encourages you to accomplish it without letting your inner editor take over. After you’ve meet your goal, you’re praised by the sound of trumpets.

4. Turn off the internet! Email and social media sites are major time-suckers that distract from your writing. During writing sessions, do not let yourself use the internet. If you can’t resist the urge, consider software that blocks the internet during your writing sessions.

5. Set a timer. Instead of focusing on word count, let yourself freely write for a set period of time, but don’t focus on the time. Instead, set a timer and forget about it. Write without interruption until that timer goes off. Then, take a break before writing again.

6. Become a morning person. Writing in the morning is great because the stresses and excitements of the day haven’t taken over yet. Your mind is clearest in the morning, and there are fewer distractions. Some writers like to wake up early and write until their brains get tired. Then, they allow themselves to enjoy the rest of the day however they wish. If you find that you’re having a hard time completing your writing goals because your to-do list grows throughout the day, writing in the morning may be the perfect solution.

I’d love to know, what are you doing to keep the writing momentum going?

– by Wendy Statina

nanowrimo 2016

50,000 words.

Let that sink in for a minute:

50,000 words!

(That’s a lot of words.)

There are so many pitfalls awaiting the eager author, whether participating in NaNoWriMo or just slaving away at the mines on some other project outside of the NaNo-verse, and a lot of the advice you’re going to read out there about how to move past Writer’s Block and so forth is going to sound canned. At this point in your journey, you’re past the point where trite pep talks land with any sort of impact; you know what works for you and what doesn’t, and looking to others for insight just strikes you as … derivative. Everybody’s doing it, and that kind of takes away from its power.

Or does it?

I would caution our readers here at SPA from becoming disenchanted the way I have become disenchanted after so many years, and so many writing marathons. I caution against this because, ultimately, losing hope is the only thing that will truly ruin your November—losing faith that you can do it, and that there’s wisdom to be picked up from those others who have passed through this process.

And while I would be the first to admit that any list, including our old list of ideas from 2012, is bound to be incomplete … well, I would also be the first to stand by the efficacy of the points contained therein, the points tested and verified by the experiences of so many authors.

Don’t give up! Don’t lose hope! And don’t lose your faith in others … as well as yourself.

You’ve got this, dear reader. You’ve got this.

Thanks for reading.  If you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear them.  Drop me a line in the comments section below and I’ll respond as quickly as I can.  ♠

Kelly

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive 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, kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 11.14.2016

And now for the news!

This week in the world of self-publishing:

This week, heed some advice from experienced self-publishing authors. Hear from authors such as Janice Petrie, who provides some inspiring words on persistence and passion, Allison Winn Scotch, who provides a realistic and pragmatic outlook on creating professional-standard self-published work, and Joel Friedlander, who gives advice on the technical side of book design.

Janice Petrie, founder of her own indie publishing company, understands how difficult it is to ensure success in self-publishing, that is, if your version of success is selling more books. A self-published author herself, Petrie’s work ranges from picture books to non-fiction true-crime tales. Coming to understand the importance of marketing and editorial reviews is what most helped Petrie create her own following. While writing is a passion for so many of our customers, it is always important to remember that publishing encompasses so much more than typing up a manuscript. Petrie admits that when she started out, her “focus was more on writing and illustrating than marketing” but she’s “spent the past couple of years adjusting this important balance.”

In this article you’ll get advice from Petrie on how to ‘succeed’ at self-publishing that can apply to all self-published authors, no matter what their idea of ‘success’ may be. Find out how to harness your passion, explore social media, and to be persistent with the help of some of Petrie’s advice.

Becoming a New York Times bestselling author is a dream for many authors. With this article from the Huffington Post, you get priceless insights on self-publishing from New York Times bestselling author, Allison Winn Scotch. In this article, Scotch admits that she remains partially skeptical of the self-publishing world, but nonetheless admits that she felt compelled to self-publishing after some disappointing experiences with traditional publishers. While she acknowledges that self-publishing “seems like the easy way to go,” she also calls it a “tricky beast” that can potentially lead to disappointment.

Scotch’s take on self-publishing can be read as both realistic and pragmatic, though it should not be taken as cynical. She insists that “just because you’re self-publishing doesn’t mean that [the finished product] can be amateurish or unpolished,” but that you must focus on heavily editing and rewriting your work, as you would with a traditional publisher. She also addresses how difficult marketing can be if you don’t have an established audience already and advises self-publishing authors to have a plan in place before publishing, so as to make it more probable that their book will reach a larger audience.

Following Scotch’s commentary from the above Huffington Post article, I thought it’d be pertinent to provide some advice for professional looking design options for self-publishing. In this informative article, Joel Friedlander explains why the best book design should go largely unnoticed by the reader.  Freidlander outlines some simple rules to not deter readers once they’ve opened your book. These rules range from your work being easy to read to meeting the production requirements of your vendor.

While the DIY approach makes sense for those of us who already have a knowledge of formatting and design, Freidlander stresses the importance of having other parties be responsible for these aspects of the publishing process, especially when designing your book cover.

Lastly, discover the pros and cons of using pre-made book templates in Microsoft Word or Adobe by clicking the link above to read more!

spa-news

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 Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

Kelly

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive 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, kellyschuknecht.com.
Alternative Marketing Methods, Book Marketing, Holidays, Kelly Speaks, Marketing Your Self-Published Book, Uncategorized

Ringing in the Holidays: Thanksgiving Edition!

This Thanksgiving when you’re preparing to gather with family and friends, tummies longing for turkey and pie, you are most likely looking into recipes to satisfy those appetites. You may be collecting ingredients such as pecans, canned pumpkin, potatoes, gravy, or big birds. You don’t want anyone leaving your home hungry and you sure don’t want to show up to any one else’s home empty handed.

These same preparations and considerations should also be taken if you’re planning on staging any events this holiday season. Book readings also have a list of crucial ingredients that will ensure success in the form of a satisfied audience. A gathering for your audience should receive the same care and attention that a gathering for your family would, especially if your audience includes your family.

Just like any recipe, there are a few ingredients that can’t be substituted for anything else. Without them, you won’t be making much of anything. One of these ingredients is a location. A space that can both accommodate your audience and also set the mood for your event is fundamental. Don’t be afraid to utilize this holiday–which gathers those closest to us in a warm and welcoming space–to read some short snippet or your work aloud. Insert it before the meal when people say grace or express gratitude for food and family.

thanksgiving table

This brings me to another essential ingredient: an audience. Self-promotion of your event is essential, without it, don’t expect a crowd. While reading to yourself in front of the mirror is always good practice, it’s no substitute for the ears of others. Our books aren’t written for ourselves, but to share with others. Consider showing your gratitude for your family this Thanksgiving by sharing copies of your work with them.

Sharing your work implies another essential ingredient: books. This is another no-brainer. Make sure you have copies of your book to provide to those who have been inspired enough by your reading that they want to see more. If this means simply giving them away on the holiday or ordering copies for an upcoming event you have planned, always make sure at least enough on hand to supply your demand. If Thanksgiving has anything to teach us, it is that leftovers are never a bad thing.

In short, we all know we put in more time during the holidays making sure our homes look nicer for our mother-in-law’s approval and we make sure we have bountiful supplies of food to feed our nephew’s with bottomless guts. You perform the task of host during the holidays. This performance can teach us a lot about what makes a successful authorial performance. You want people who feel satisfied after they’ve received your offerings–be them of food or words–and it’d be ideal if they took home some leftovers–be them from your refrigerators or libraries.

Thank you for reading!  If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or contributions, please use the comment field below or drop us a line at selfpublishingadvice@gmail.com.  And remember to check back each Wednesday for your weekly dose of marketing musings from one indie, hybrid, and self-published author to another. ♠

Kelly

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive 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, kellyschuknecht.com
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 11.7.2016

And now for the news!

This week in the world of self-publishing:

This week, hear the stories of authors who have chosen self-publishing. From Veronica R. Wells who wanted to share the story of her grandmother’s life to various horror authors who were fed up with being turned down by traditional publishing companies, find out why self-publishing provides something unique for varying authors. After reading those stories, the last article on the rise of self-publishing as an industry will perhaps come as no surprise to you.

Self-publishing isn’t the easiest avenue for publishing a book, that we all know, but this delightful interview with Veronica R. Wells sheds light on why the challenges presented by self-publishing are worthwhile. Wells says, “I had more control, freedom and autonomy in how and when the book came out.” She admits that those freedoms also meant “the very necessary and expensive process of promoting this book, fell on my shoulders.” However, Veronica had a story that she felt compelled to tell: the story of her grandmother’s struggles, dysfunctions, encounters with abuse, etc. Through writing this story, she realized that this was a story not particular to her family, but something shared by women everywhere. Wells wasn’t concerned with having her first book be the picture of perfection, she encourages authors to dive in head first. The lessons she learned and her to impact her audience were well worth the anxieties and stresses of publishing the book on her own. Having a full time job wasn’t something that Wells let get in the way of her writing or of her self-publishing efforts. I would be surprised if her story doesn’t inspire you to try and do the same. Wells doesn’t sugarcoat the process, she admits that “the psychological challenges were probably the greatest and hardest to overcome.” She insists that we quiet the voices of doubt and distraction, something I think we all need to be reminded of from time to time.

So if you’re anything like me, you’re a stranger to all the subgenres of horror fiction, which apparently range from “supernatural horror, postapocalyptic horror, fantasy horror, sci-fi horror, comedy horror, and then all the vampire, werewolf, and zombie horror.” If you haven’t heard of or read any books that fit under those headings, you won’t be shocking any horror authors. Horror authors have begun to perceive themselves as the misfits of the authorial world, after receiving all too many rejections from traditional publishing companies. As Joe Schwartz, horror author, says, “The odds of getting someone substantial to publish your work when you’re basically just getting started are less than awful.” This band of merry misfits has turned to self-publishing after not being able to make it into traditional presses. They’ve made this turn knowing that they wouldn’t be slaying as salesmen, but these “obsessive authors” are committed to their “rabid, but small, fan bases.” Hear the thoughts and opinions of many of these dedicated authors who have turned to self-publishing after rejection, only to realize self-publishing was the route they should’ve taken first and foremost. Horror author Jason S. Ridler says, “I’m not aggressively promoting, and I don’t care about being a rock star bestselling author. The time I have left on this planet has to be spent doing things I care about. Relentless promotion and book tours aren’t bad things, but I’d rather spend time being better as a writer.” Ridler’s message is an important one, don’t let rejection or fear of not being able to promote your book stop you from doing what you love.

Self-publishing companies, such as Boss of Me, are noticing a rise in customers which they attribute to an increasingly educated population combined with the ease of self-publishing and the autonomy it provides authors over the finished product. This low-cost alternative ensures that the majority of the profits go to the authors directly, rather than to the publishing company. According to Mr. Goh of Rank Books, it is not only an increase in profits that self-published authors can expect, but also a lower initial investment. Mr. Goh says, “Previously, a minimum run of 500 books would cost at least $3,000 to print. Now, a minimum run of 50 costs just $1,288, making it easier on the wallet for self-publishing authors.” Considering that some authors don’t have commercial interests with their books, this cutting of costs can be a big incentive to go for the DIY approach of publishing. If self-expression is your main motivation, or if you happen to be someone who is writing a book just to give to family and friends, then self-publishing is probably the route you should take, and this article clearly and succinctly explains why that is.

spa-news

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 Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

Kelly

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive 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, kellyschuknecht.com.