Tag: Self-Publishing

Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

6 Ways Self-Publishing Authors Can Make Their Book a Stand-out

Hundreds of thousands of books are published each year. As a self-publishing author, it is important to make your book stand out from the crowd. Here are six ways you can make your book a stand-out

1) Hire a Copy Editor

Self-publishing authors are sometimes perceived as amateur authors because many choose not to have their manuscripts professionally edited. Copyediting is an important step in the publishing process at traditional publishing companies. As a self- publishing author, it is essential that you still complete this step. If you want your book to be perceived as professional, it must be edited by a professional.

2) Consider Cover Scribing

Even though we were all told by our English teachers to never judge a book by its cover, all readers do. In fact, your book’s cover is one of the most important factors when readers decide whether or not to purchase your book. If you want your book to stand out from your competitors, cover scribing is a great option.

3) Splurge on a Custom Cover

Another great way to enhance your cover is by choosing a custom cover. The art as well as the words on the cover represent both your book and you as an author, so you want a cover that is unique and appropriate for your book.

4) Consider an Enhanced Interior

The interior of your book is especially important if it includes many pictures or tables. Readers expect your book to be formatted professionally, so it pays to hire a professional to help format your book.

5) Don’t Forget About Pricing

The price of your book can prevent readers from purchasing it. You want to price your book competitively. This means that the price is high enough for you to make a profit and be seen as credible but low enough to attract readers.

6) Marketing and Promotion is Key

No one will buy your book if they don’t know it exists. There are many ways to market and promote your book, and many self-publishing companies offer marketing and promotion services. To learn more about the options available, contact your self-publishing company.

I’d love to know, how do you plan to make your book stand out?

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.
Contests, Wendy Speaks

Contest for Self Publishing Authors: 2013 Global Ebook Awards

Contests are one of the best ways for self-publishing authors to promote their book and improve their credibility. If you want to increase your book’s exposure and prove that you are an accomplished writer, check out the 2013 Global Ebook Awards. This contest does more than just offer an award sticker to put on your book’s cover; it is truly a great way to market your book and self.

By entering your ebook, you will receive the following benefits:

• An official Nominee “sticker” on your ebook cover, website, Amazon page, and promotion materials

• A free listing in Publishing Poynters Marketplace, offering copies of your book for reviews on prestigious ebook dealers’ sites such as Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and others

• The Global Ebook Awards comes with a six-step publicity program. Each week, they show you how to publicize your ebook.

• Media coverage for your book and you

• Winners and finalists will be listed on the official Global Ebook Awards site.

• Winners and finalists are eligible to receive Global Ebook Award certificates attesting to their honor.

• Winners will be announced to the media in news releases.

• Discounts on video trailers for YouTube, Amazon, and your website

• Discounts on other services for authors and publishers

• And much more…

To be eligible, your book must have been released anytime in 2011, 2012, or 2013. The application deadline is March 12, 2013, but it is recommended that you submit your ebook as soon as possible.

To learn more, visit http://globalebookawards.com/.

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.

Kelly Speaks, NaNoWriMo

Top 5 NaNoWriMo Blog Posts Every Self Publishing Author Should Read

You may have noticed that we’ve been talking a lot about NaNoWriMo lately, but we aren’t the only ones buzzing about this exciting annual writing challenge. Here are five inspiring blog posts about NaNoWriMo that every self-publishing author should read:

  1. NaNoWriMo: Plot It or Pants It? : While I recently recommended spending the month before NaNoWriMo brainstorming and outlining your manuscript, there are many authors who struggle to decide if planning is the best approach for them. In this post, the blogger talks about her prior experiences with NaNoWriMo as well as her plans for this year. It is always helpful to hear about other authors’ writing experiences and preferences.
  2. NaNoWriMo by Insane and Uncontrolled: As an author who has participated in NaNoWriMo before, this blogger offers great insight on some of the do’s and don’ts of NaNoWriMo. My favorite tip is to buddy up. It really is important to have people who will support you during this process.
  3. “We’re going to do WHAT?”: How NaNoWriMo Has Changed the Lives of Over 700 of My Students: When most people think of NaNoWriMo, they think of adults trying to finish the books that have been playing in their heads for months or years, but adults aren’t the only people participating in NaNoWriMo. This great post tells the story of over 700 high school students who took part in the challenge.
  4. How NanoWriMo Inspired Me to Start Writing Again: Although this blogger has decided not to participate in NanoWriMo, she shares how the challenge has inspired her to set a different writing goal. If you decide not to commit to the NanoWriMo program, you can still find ways to complete your manuscript.
  5. 90+ Published Novels Began as NaNoWriMo Projects: Just the title of this blog post would entice writers to head over to the NaNoWriMo website to sign up. The proof is in the numbers. Previous participates have been successful, and so can you. All you have to do is try.

Have you recently found (or written) a great blog post about NaNoWriMo? Share it 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.
Jodee Speaks

The Barnes and Noble Experience for Self Publishing Authors

Many self-publishing authors dream of seeing their books sold by Barnes and Noble, one of the most powerful book sellers in the country, and readers often expect to find your book through Barnes and Noble. This is even more true as many people continue to purchase the store’s Nook, an electronic reader comparable to a Kindle. As a self-publishing author, you want to take advantage of two options available to Barnes and Noble authors: Nook format and Look Inside.

Nook Format

As the holidays approach, e-readers are going to become even more popular. You can expect many people to receive an e-reader as a holiday gift, which means they will be purchasing e-books. (This is in addition to all the readers who already buy and read e-books.) To take advantage of this trend, make sure you offer your book in Nook format. Many self-publishing companies offer this option.

Look Inside

This feature allows readers to get a sneak peek at the pages inside your book. It is the modern-day equivalent of a reader browsing through a bookstore, picking your book off the shelf, and flipping through the pages. It has been suggested that authors who take advantage of this feature have higher sales rates than those who do not. Check with your self-publishing company to find out more details.

I’d love to know, do you prefer books that take advantage of the Look Inside feature?

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.
Wendy Speaks

Five Ways Self Publishing Authors Can Prepare for NanoWriMo

There is a little less than a month until the official start of National Novel Writing Month (NanoWriMo), but you can begin preparing now. While you can’t officially start writing the manuscript until November 1st, there is plenty of work you can do ahead of time to make the most of the month ahead. Here are five ways self publishing authors can prepare for NanoWriMo.

1) Brainstorm! It is never too early to start thinking of ideas. Carry around a notebook and jot down ideas whenever they come to you. Listen to people’s conversations to pick up fun quote ideas. Observe strangers to help you create interesting characters. Read books and watch movies to generate unique plot ideas. The more ideas you come with now, the easier it will be to write your novel in a month.

2) Get organized. Once you have a good sense of your plot, characters, setting, and conflict, you can begin outlining your story. The more detailed your outline is the more helpful it may be when you sit down to write your manuscript. This is especially important for self publishing authors participating in NanoWriMo because they are on a tight deadline. You will want to focus on writing rather organizing once you begin the challenge.

3) Prepare your writing area. This task will also save you time in the future. Gear up for the big challenge by cleaning out the clutter, purchasing any supplies, and designating a space that will be your official writing area. Don’t worry if you don’t have an entire office to dedicate to the task. All you need is paper, pens, a computer, a flash drive, and possibly a few reference materials such as a dictionary.

4) Set your goals. The keys to succeeding in the NanoWriMo challenge are goal setting and time management. If you want to write a 50,000 word book in a month, you need to figure out how many pages you will write each day or week and when you will write those pages. Choose a schedule that is realistic and achievable.

5) Enlist some help. Tell your friends and family about your goals so they can help you achieve them. Writing a novel in a month will be time-consuming, so you may need your spouse to cook dinners or ask your in-laws to watch the children. Just because writing is often an independent craft doesn’t mean you have to tackle this challenge alone.

I’d love to know, what are you doing to prepare for NanoWriMo?

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.