self publish – Page 51 – Self Publishing Advisor

Self Publish a Book in 2013: Step 5 – Start Publishing Today

When you are trying to lose weight, you are often told to motivate yourself by buying an outfit, such as a swimsuit, that you hope to fit into after reaching your goal. The idea is that you will be motivated to eat well and work out because you really want to use that swimsuit hanging in your bedroom. The same is true for self publishing a book.

Rather than waiting to buy your self publishing package when your manuscript is 100% complete, purchase it now. Knowing that the package is sitting there waiting for you to use will encourage you to continue working on your project. It will also make you feel more confident knowing that you have a publishing consultant ready to help you with the process; all you have to do is finish the manuscript.

Purchasing your self publishing package is also motivating because it allows you to begin seeing yourself as a real author. You can begin thinking about editing and design and marketing. You don’t have to wait until the manuscript is finished to say you are a self published author, instead you will be a self publishing author who is in the process of finalizing his or her book.

I’d love to know, when do you plan to purchase your self publishing package?

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, Uncategorized

Use Social Media to Promote Your Book

Social media is one of the best marketing tools available to self publishing authors. It is the digital era’s version of word of mouth marketing, and it is free, easy to use, and effective. Some of the most popular sites include Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Regardless of which sites you decide to use, there are a few tips to maximize your marketing efforts. Here is what you need to know about using social media to promote your self published book.

Always include a cover photo. Ideally, this photo should be the cover of your book. You could also use a picture of yourself if you plan to promote yourself as an author, but make sure the pictures are professional and appropriate.
Invite all of your friends and contacts to “like” or “follow” you. The more people see your postings, the more effective your marketing will be.
Post regularly. Social media is not effective if you never post once you create the page. Fans expect frequent (but not excessive) postings. If updating regularly is a challenge, you can use programs such as HootSuite to schedule your posts.
Include a link on your website. For every social media site you use, make sure there is a link on your website so readers can easily find your social media profiles.
Check your page regularly. Social media is about conversation. You want people to comment on your posts, so you need to make sure you are responding to the conversations.

I’d love to know, how are you using social media to promote your book?

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.

Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Self Publish a Book in 2013: Step 3 – Set Mini Goals

Over the past two weeks, we’ve spent a lot of time talking about setting and reaching your goals. Well today I want to talk about a strategy called mini goals. Most of us set big goals for ourselves: write a book in 6 months, self publish a book before the end of the year, write 5,000 words a month. This is great because I encourage everyone to dream big, but it isn’t always the best way to achieve our goals.

Setting large goals for ourselves can make us feel overwhelmed and lead us to giving up. If you want to better manage your goals, you need to set mini goals. This is basically a process of breaking your main goal into digestible pieces so you don’t become overwhelmed by a large dream. For instance, if your goal is to finish your manuscript in the next six months, ask yourself what you need to do to accomplish this. How many pages per month do you need to write? How many pages per week? How many pages per day? These numbers will vary depending on where you are in the writing process, but let’s say you want to write 30,000 words in 6 months. That means you need to write 5,000 words a month or 1,250 words a week. It also means you only need to write approximately 180 words a day. This is a very reasonable goal!

I’d love to know, what are your mini goals?

Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by Self Publishing a Book

This week, we are celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This federal holiday celebrates the nonviolent activist who was the main spokesperson during the civil rights movement. Not only does this day make us reflect on our country’s history, but it also reminds us of the power of words. Violence doesn’t solve problems, but words can inspire change.

This year, celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. by using your own voice to spark change. What are you passionate about? What changes do you want to see in your country, community, or family? What is your vision for the future? Rather than just sit back and resent the problems around you, make a difference by using your voice. Write a letter, poem, short story or book about the problem, and share it with others by self publishing. You could even ask other people to contribute their words to your project.

We are not helpless individuals who must sit back and tolerate the problems around us. If you want change, help make it happen.

I’d love to know, what will you write in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this year?

Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing

How to Write and Publish a Children’s Book

Books for children and young adults are among the hottest selling titles right now, and there are a variety of reasons people want to write books for children. Some writers have a particular lesson or story they want to share with kids. Others simply love children and want to write for them. And then there are those writers who are just children at heart and connect best with a younger audience. Whatever your reasons for wanting to write for children, you can write and publish a children’s book. Here’s how:

1. Learn about the market and your audience.

Writing for children is not the same as writing for adults, and there are different types of children’s books: picture books, easy readers, middle grade novels and young adult novels. Each of these different audiences expect different things from a book. To help you better understand the craft of writing for children, take a class or pick up a few books on the topic. It is also helpful to study your audience. Watch the shows they are interested in. Listen to the music that is popular. Go to a public place and observe how they interact with people. If you want to create believable characters, you need to understand your audience.

2. Figure out your goals.

Once you have a good understanding of the market and your audience, decide what you want to write. What is your mission as a children’s author? What do you want to tell your audience? This is the time to start generating story ideas and creating characters. You can use your own childhood, current events and your imagination to inspire your writing.

3. Write and Rewrite.

Once you know what you want to write, you have to actually put the words on paper. This is often the most difficult part for many writers, but don’t get discouraged. Simply make an effort to consistently work on your story, and remember that a first draft is not a finished product; it doesn’t need to be perfect. Don’t be afraid to rewrite your story several times. Writing for children is not easy, and it can take several attempts to find just the right words.

4. Start the publishing process.

Self publishing is a great option for children’s book authors because it provides complete control over the project. For instance, authors who publish with traditional publishing firms typically have no say in the illustrations that accompany their story. Since the pictures can make or break a children’s book, it is important that the author’s vision is considered during this process. Many self publishing companies offer a variety of illustration services and various publishing packages to accommodate your needs.

I’d love to know, why do you want to write for children?

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