Tag: self publish

Jodee Speaks

Marketing for Self Publishing Procrastinators: Part 1 – Be Newsworthy

It often seems as though the terms writer and procrastinator go hand in hand. Many authors find themselves constantly putting off finishing or promoting their book. Maybe it is because the amount of work that goes into writing and promoting a book seems daunting or because authors aren’t sure where to start. Whatever the reason, I am here to help.

The key to overcoming procrastination is taking small steps towards accomplishing your goals. In this series of posts, I am going to help all of you procrastinators to promote your self published books so you can start increasing your exposure and sales.

This week, we will start with a simple press release. If you want people to buy your book or turn to you as an expert, people need to know  you exist. One of the most classic ways to do this is the press release. If you don’t already know, a press release is basically a news article that you write and submit to news sources. Thanks to the internet, this now easier than ever. Also, some self publishing companies will help you write and/or submit your press release. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when writing a press release.

  • Keep your audience in mind. Every publication caters to a specific market, so your press release should be written to catch the attention of the appropriate audience.
  • Include information about your book and yourself.  If your release only describes your book, you are writing an advertisement. If you share your story or the story behind the book, you are writing a news piece.
  • Make it professional. Most news sources will use a press release as is, so if it isn’t professionally written, they won’t publish it. Hire a ghostwriter or editor to help you if you need assistance. Not everyone can write marketing materials for their own books. It is a special skill.

For the procrastinators reading this post, share your story in the comment section below. What are your biggest obstacles? Your greatest strengths? Why do you procrastinate? Now, get offline and go work on 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: The Puppet’s Secret

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 puppets secret

The Puppet’s Secret

Alex Samms

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432790349

Reviewed by Tracey Rock

“The Puppet’s Secret” by Alex Samms is a story that journals the life of a woman named Angela, who falls into an obscure obsession with a man that she had a very brief encounter with while at a local beach. To Angela, this man is “the one.” Her obsession with him becomes so extreme that she finds herself completely consumed with the pursuit of this nameless man. Soon, this obsession turns into something darker.
Although Angela is forty-two-years old and married with children, she now finds herself willing to give up everything just to be with the stranger on the beach. To her, any of the consequences that come out of this soon-to-be romance will just be fate. At this point, Angela accepts that she is no longer in control of her obsession. She knows that from here on out, her mind is calling all the shots and she is merely a puppet. Angela knows that she will now do anything to be with her love, including murder.
How far would you go to be with the person of your dreams? What if by the time you found that person you were already married and had kids? Would it matter? Would you give up everything? Author Alex Samms has written a story that pulls the reader into the mind of the main character with a chronological step into the dark side of love. On the surface, this forty-six page novella shows love at its fundamental level. Love at first sight, finding the person of your dreams, etc. Search deeper and you will find that the storyline has more of a psychotic undertone but still allows the reader to relate to the characters and think deeper about how far a person would really go for love.
“The Puppet’s Secret” by Alex Samms is a very interesting book. I think this would be a great topic for a book club discussion. There are a lot of other things going on in the story that are surprisingly not apparent until the end. This is one that you will have to read over and over. However, I would not recommend this to younger readers. It does have adult content.

Kelly Speaks

4 Reasons to Fall in Love with Self Publishing

Self publishing is changing the world of publishing, and there are many reasons why authors, even people who previously used traditional publishing firms, are turning towards self publishing. Once you learn more about self publishing, you may just find that you love this option, too. Here are four reasons why:

1. Control

With traditional publishing, the author has very little control over the fate of his or her book. Editors and agents decide if your book is print worthy. The publishing firm decides the cover art, layout, and price point for your book. Once you hand over your manuscript to a traditional publishing company, you are giving up control. With self publishing, you are in charge. You decide when your manuscript is ready to be published, and you control the final outcome.

2. Quality

The quality of POD books has come a long way. In addition to better printing quality and a wider variety of formatting options, many self publishing companies offer a variety of professional services (for example, editing and cover design) to ensure that you publish the best book possible. If you want to produce a book of excellent quality, you can.

3. Speed

Traditional publishing is a slow process. There is the dreaded query letters. The time spent waiting to hear back from agents or editors. If your book does get picked up by a firm, it can take over a year to see your book in print. The self publishing process is often completed within a few months (or even just a few weeks). Not only does this mean you don’t have to wait to see your book in print, but it also opens up even more doors for authors. You can now publish books that are current and in response to readers’ desires.

4. Diversity

Traditional publishing is all about making money. Editors are looking for books that they know will sell large quantities. They want books that appeal to the mass market, but not all authors are targeting the mass market. Self publishing allows you to write for a niche market.

I’d love to know, why do you love self publishing?

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: 2/19/13

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.

Military Serviceman Turns to Self Publishing to Make his Mark

S. Cameron Roach has been in the military for 24 years. He has been to three wars, speaks Arabic and is an expert on Middle East matters. However, there is one more aspect to his resume that he recently revealed to the world: he writes novels, the first of which is available now as an e-Book and online in print format from major retailers.

Why eBook Retailers Are Embracing Self-Published Authors

Self publishing is changing the publishing industry. This is especially apparent if you look at e-book retailers such as the Apple iBookstore, which is now showcasing books by self published authors. This article talks about the many reasons why readers and retailers love self published e-books.

Five Slightly Unexpected Tips For Self-Published Authors to Find Success

This article has some great tips for self publishing authors — from traditional tips such as copyright considerations to more modern tips such as maintaining relationships with your audience through social media.

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.
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Top 3 Articles for Romance Writers

It is the month of love and what better way to celebrate than by trying your hand at romance writing? If you want to write novels that make people’s toes curl and hearts melt, check out these great articles for romance writers.

How to Write a Romance Novel: The Keys to Conflict

When writing romance, there needs to be a believable conflict, or series of conflicts, that is sustainable throughout the novel. While conflict is important in all fiction writing, it is especially essential in romance writing because the ending is often predictable. This article offers great advice on how to write amazing conflict.

3 Ways to Know When to End a Chapter

Another way to keep readers interested is by ending chapters at a spot that makes them want to keep reading. While there aren’t specific rules for breaking up chapters, this article discusses three different techniques you can use to determine when you should end your chapters.

The 7 Tools of Dialogue

Every great romance novel needs great dialogue. However, believable and interesting dialogue can be one of the most difficult things to write. This article offers wonderful tips on how to write compelling dialogue.

I’d love to know, what made you want to self publish a romance novel?

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.