BOOKMARKETING WEEK 3

© 2014, Tara Lynne Groth

“Homework”

Six Figure Freelancing, “Chapter 2: The Full-Time Freelancer” (p.15-44)

Three traits that make you attractive to a literary agent

Would you self-publish?

WEEK 3: BOOKS

Traditional, Self, and Digital Publishing

Publisher, Agent, Author Responsibilities?

Book tour expenses

Book store connections

Reviews in specific markets

Connect with editors

Book cover design

Advances – repaid

Hybrid publishers - Booktrope, Entangled Publishing, Spencer Hill Press, and Samhain Publishing, She Writes Press.

Traditional Publishing

Manuscript(s) or book proposal, query agent (or publisher w/book proposal), agent pitches publisher, contract, advance

Distribution (book stores, digital, etc.)

Marketing – book reviews (author still responsible for majority)

Design/editing team

Book publishers represent 1/6 of publishers in the US (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009)

Split profits with publisher

Less control of work

Self-Publishing

Also referred to as indie, independent, author-published, etc.

Author is responsible for everything (design, distribution, promotion)

Author retains all profits

More control, amend interior/exterior

90% of self-published books sell less than 100 copies

Average sales figure is around 250 for a successfully self-published book

Self-published fiction sells from 6-150 copies

Picking a Self-Publishing Service

What do they offer?

Vanity press – pay upfront for hard copies

POD – Print on Demand

Distribution – online and brick & mortar

Book design

Marketing packages – read the fine print

Is the publisher just a printing service? See Bowker for acquiring your own ISBN.

Formatting a Print-Ready Manuscript

Request reviews

Proper blank pages

Choosing appropriate font/spacing

Image resolution

Proofreading

Designing the cover

Images (MorgueFile, Pixabay, Dollar Photo Club)

Copyright registration

If You Self-Publish…

You should have the same discretion with your own work that a publisher would have. What reasons would a publisher have to avoid your manuscript? Reduce or

eliminate those reservations. Publishers are only interested in books that have the strongest potential for profit.

If you’re self-publishing, what are your reasons for doing so?

Vanity (just want to see your work in print)

You have a commercial idea and don’t want to share profits with a publisher

Your book idea is timely and a traditional publisher won’t be able to make the deadline

You have a local/regional topic and don’t require a huge printing

You want complete creative control over every part of your book

Topic is controversial

Digital Publishing

112.5 million US adults are expected to own a tablet in 2016. This is more than 1/3 of US adults. (Forrester Research)

People love to read on their tablet, preferring it to their mobile phone, computer and even the newspaper. (Online Publishers Association, 2012)

Apps. As of 2011, people spend more time in apps than on the web. (Alexa/Flurry)

Nearly 60% of tablet users buy digital books. (Nielsen)

45% of publishers were planning to distribute over ¾ of their titles as e-books. (2012, Statista)

76% of Americans still prefer reading from paper and spend significantly more time with paper than digital. (Statista)

Reaching Readers in Digital Age

• Tablets outpaced PCs

• More mobile devices than people

• Readers

• Cloud-enabled

• Subscriptions

• Serials

How Hard is Publishing an eBook?

1. Sign in with Amazon account on kdp.amazon.com and complete tax information.

2. Click “Bookshelf” and “Add new title.”

3. Fill out the form, including book title, description, and keywords you want people to search to find your book.

4. Upload: Cover image and separate book file. Preview for accuracy before saving.

5. Select desired rights options on “Rights and Pricing” page.

6. Choose royalty rate and name your price. (Royalty typically 70%.)

7. Save and Publish. Book available in under 48 hours.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

New Tools for Authors

Emerging Apps and Technologies (1)

Flipboard – Create your own magazine. (Alt: Periodical exclusive to iPhones.)

IFTTT – Automation for everything AND eBook reading. eBook deals, articles to Kindle, Amazon Gold Box, Nook Free Fridays. Ex: Newsletters, new books.

FreebooksHub – Free Kindle, Reduced Price, Free Prime.

Upworthy – Inspiring stories with “irresistible headlines.”

Pic a Moment – App only. View social images based on location.

PressBooks – Open source. WordPress plugin. Publishing software.

LibriVox – Free public domain audiobooks.

Evernote

Soundcloud

Emerging Apps and Technologies (2)

IngramSpark – Single author dashboard for both eBook and print distribution (Amazon requires CreateSpace for POD and KDP for eBooks.) Unlike CreateSpace, Spark allows authors to set the 55% discount.

Scribd – eBook subscription service

Vook – Previously short-run printing only, added POD in 2014

ACX – Audible’s professional recording booth space for self-pubbed authors

Swagbucks – compensates readers, partnership with St. Martin’s Press

No Matter How You Publish…

Present the best product possible

Work on your next project (book, class, app, etc.)

Maintain your writer platform

“We are swamped with queries. The house has gone from 24 titles last year to a goal of 36 titles this year. As a result, we're considering two new lines.

Now I understand why publishing houses take forever to get back to authors. To narrow down the prospects, I do an Internet search to see how

healthy their profile appears. If all a potential author shows up on is Facebook, chances are I'll take a pass.”

-Small Press’ Website (2011)

NEXT WEEK: NOT JUST BOOKSYour Writer Platform

“Homework”

What’s your biggest concern about your writer platform?

Write down the features of your existing platform.

© 2014, Tara Lynne Groth

Connect:‘Resources for Writers’ – www.taralynnegroth.comTwitter - @writenakedwritenaked.wordpress.com

Tuesday, October 7 at 7PMSpecial Poetry Open Mic at Johnny’s Gone Fishing in

CarrboroFeatured Reader: Bartholomew Barker

Wednesday, October 8 at 6:45PMWest Regional Library in Cary

Panel: Attorneys Answer Writers’ Legal QuestionsTrademark, Copyright, Estate Planning & Tax

UPCOMING FREE EVENTS

View this presentation at slideshare.net/taralynne0