It is All in the Details

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Can you imagine a company like Ben and Jerry’s ice cream deciding to sell a new flavor without tasting the concoction first? It would never happen!  Before they even begin to create a new flavor, the company often canvasses ice cream lovers for flavor suggestions. A lot of research and development goes into a new flavor before it goes to market. The company mixes and tastes, mixes and tastes, mixes and tastes, until they are completely satisfied with the test batches. Then they come up with a name and packaging for the new flavor that will excite discerning palates and make customers want to scream for the new ice cream.

If you are a self publishing author or independent publisher, the same kind of consideration needs to go into your book. Talk with those whom you think would be your prospective readers and get a feel for whether your book would be saleable or not.  Research how many books have been published on the subject you want to write about. Think about who your market would be (main and ancillary). What would your strategy for reaching those markets be? Would you sell the book on-line? Do you know the most economical and quickest way to ship and how to keep track of the business end of shipping? What title and book cover would grab the attention of your reader? These are all  details you would need to think about.

The most successful independent publisher has crafted not only their manuscript carefully but they have designed a complete plan for their publication from concept to market. They know their strengths and limitations and seek help for the parts of the plan they know little about.

No, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream would not think of selling a new product without taste testing. A writer would not think of placing their book on the shelf without editing either.

It is all in the details!

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Did anyone listen to the Saturday weekly radio show for writers and publishers called “Cover to Cover” hosted by Frank Gromling on www.wnzf.com?  Copywrite information was the subject of the day and the guest was Christopher Kenneally from the Copywrite Clearance Center in Boston, MA. Chris is also host and moderator for “Beyond the Book” www.BeyondtheBook.com. The programs are often broadcast on C-Span’s Book TV and in Canada on BookTelevision.

There is alot of confusion and legalities regarding copywrite issues due to the ways in which we publish in today’s world.  We publish on paper, on-line, through electronic digital files, through movies (DVDs) and on cd’s in the music industry. For intellectual property protection,  best course of action is through copywrite registration through the Library of Congress www.loc.gov. Registration of your publication is not mandatory, however, it is the best way to protect your intellectual property rights.

The Copywrite Clearance Center www.copywrite.com in Boston, MA is a good resource for non-fiction publishing, where fact checking is essential for business, academic,research, medical and economic related publishing.

If you missed yesterday’s radio show “Cover to Cover” with Frank Gromling and wish to hear what was discussed regarding the issue of copywrite, please go to the archive section of  www.wnzf.com for “Cover to Cover” and look for October 10, 2009.  The broadcast will also be available on Ocean Publishing’s website www.OceanPublishing.com.

It is not too late to listen and learn!

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Weekend Indie Publisher News

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Attention Non-Fiction Writers!!  If you have a book relevant to better living, enter it into the book award contest sponsored by www.livingnowawards.com.  This contest is looking for books which relate to living fulfilling lives. There are 28 categories offering gold, silver and bronze medals.

Some of the categories include:

  • Cooking – general, organic and holiday
  • Personal Growth
  • Health and Wellness
  • Enlightenment/Spirituality
  • Hobbies and Crafts
  • Wedding Planning
  • Gardening/Landscaping
  • Pets/Livestock
  • Green Living
  • Home/Remodeling/Decorating
  • Travel
  • Finance/Budget
  • Charity
  • Style/Shopping
  • Charity
  • Mature Living

For information on all categories and entry guidelines, please visit www.livingnowawards.com.

Enter Early and Save!

$70 per title until November 7, $80 per title from November 8 to January 8, 2010 and $90 per title from January 10 – February 14, 2010 (deadline date).

Books that win contests SELL! ENTER NOW!

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Do I have to practice?

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart”                                   ~       William Wordsworth

I was a clarinet player once. Until my ear drums nearly burst from the squeeking sounds I produced from the musical instrument and my tongue became blistered, splintered and sore from biting on the reeds.  I knew it was time to quit when my Dad nearly went broke buying new clarinet reeds for my twin sister and me. As I have aged, I have often looked back on my days as a clarinet player.  I came to realize the issue was not the reeds, it was my inability to play well. What it boiled down to  was, I did not practice.

Blogging is a great way to practice your writing skills.  The more you write, your skills will improve and the easier it will get – supposedly.  I often ask “when can I call myself a writer?” Probably now, of all things!  I am suffering from the very thing that all writers loathe – writers block. 

How do I overcome this cloud that seems to be hanging over my head?  From my days of clarinet playing, I know that practice is critical if you want to become accomplished in the Arts.  I will have to break from the norm and change up my routine.  But, I promise you all –

  • Je vais ecrire!
  • Ich schreibe, wid!
  • Ik zal schrijven!
  • Voy a escribir!
  • Budu psat!
  • Lo scrivero!

And perhaps some day, I will learn WordPress well enough to use diacritical marks where they are needed, so that all of our global clients can understand what I am trying to say!

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Weekend Indie Publisher News

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The Women in Film Membership Drive is on! Join one of the best professional associations for mentoring women, attend meetings with top professionals in  film, TV, media, public relations, agents and writers. This is a fabulous opportunity to enhance your career and become part of a vital organization whose mission is to help women achieve their highest potential in their field. Get mentored through their mentoring program!

Membership Drive from October 1 to November 1 offers reduced membership fees – so  Join Now!!

To become a member of Women in Film or for more information – go to:  www.wif.org

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Moving Forward

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“Everyone has his burden. What counts is how you carry it”    ~ Merle Miller

There is  no free ride in life, and no one said being an independent publisher would be a walk in the park. You most likely have had successes and disappointments along the way. Don’t we all? But don’t let those frustrations get you down. Let them only be fleeting moments.

As an independent publisher, I am willing to bet that you have the gumption to hang in there, through thick and thin. What made you decide to independently publish was your steadfast belief that your book, film or music is unique, inspirational, educational or entertaining. I’ll wager you are persistant, persevering, have dogged determination, are unfaltering, devoted and unrelenting in your quest to see your project complete.

Precisely the reasons our company serves “independent publishers!”

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Help is on the Way!

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October 1st! It is hard to believe we are 9 months into the year of 2009. This year has been a blur to me and it has passed me by all too quickly. Soon, it will be time to make our New Years resolutions once again.

Before we can make resolutions for the New Year, we need to look at where we stand, look at where we are going and decide how we will get there. Now is the time to consider whether you are suffering from job burn-out. Here are a few ways to know if the stresses of the job are getting you down.

  • Do you feel you have little or no control over your work?
  • Do you have a hard time saying no?
  • Do you identify so strongly with the work that you do that you lack a reasonable balance between work and your personal life?
  • Do you suffer from lack of sleep?
  • Are you feeling stretched to your limits every day?
  • Do you feel you are pulled in every direction?

If you have answered YES! to many of these questions, perhaps it is time to seek help. Being an independent publisher does not mean having to do it all by yourself.  Order fulfillment companies  can support you administratively. Find a company that can tailor their services to your needs. Seek and ye shall find that there are many freelance services available just for independent publishers. Start by using your favorite search engine and look for order fulfillment for independent publishers.

The year 2010 looks to be a very promising year for independent publishers. Maybe your time for change has come. Regain your balance by reassessing your priorities, delegate the tasks that someone else can do for you and seek support. Work smart, the obstacles will disappear and you will be able to see much more clearly.

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Up on A Pedestal

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“Don’t place your mistakes on your head, their weight may crush you. Instead, place them under your feet and use them as a platform to view your horizons.”  ~ Author unknown

One of the conditions of being human, is imperfection – like it or not!  I don’t know about you, but I try my best from day to day to change this well known fact of life. Our company is diligent in it’s work, we try all ways to stick to our promises, we strive for excellence and reach for the highest standards.

Our shipping policy is to process all orders on a timely basis. But, everyonce in a while, our best laid plans go awry. Late one afternoon a few weeks ago, I received a book order throught the internet from a fine art gallery on the East Coast. We reached our goal of shipping the very next day. About seven days later, I received a call from the art gallery owner that he had yet to receive the order. We discussed the fact that the order was sent standard shipping, as requested, and the weekend may have delayed it’s delivery. We jointly decided to give it a few more days with the agreement that he call me if he did not receive it.

Three or four days later, I heard again from the customer that the order still had not arrived at his doorstep. I told him “you have waited long enough, I will send a second book via expedited shipping.”  To shorten the story, the first shipment arrived long after the second one arrived. I don’t know what happened. Each time I tracked the order, the only message available was the date the shipment was picked up by the carrier. Once a shipment leaves our fulfillment company’s doors, it is out of our hands.

But – I beat myself up, feeling we had let our customer down, even though we shipped the order within 18 hours of having received it. I knew there was nothing I could do about the lost order other than try to satisfy the customer the very best I could by sending another shipment – PRONTO!

As much as we strive for perfection, other influences, people and situations often get in the way. The only thing we have true control over is ourselves. For those in the customer service side of things, if we have done everything we possibly can to satisfy our customers, sometimes we have to accept the fact that we are all human beings in an imperfect world, and sometimes things just run amuck!

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RADIO FOR WRITERS AND PUBLISHERS – LISTEN WEEKLY!

Another opportunity to listen in for news, tips, marketing information for publishers and writers is Blog Talk Radio!

Michigan Lit Radio –  Go on line,  for the weekly scheduled speaker and topic   http://MotownWriters.com

Marketing and Motivation Mondays feature speaker Monica Marie Joans.

And Don’t Forget – Saturday Mornings on www.wnzf.com

“Cover to Cover” with host Frank Gromling – featuring interviews with published authors, success tips, how to get started in the publishing field, marketing yourself as an author and marketing your book.

Broadcast times:

  • 11:30 am Eastern Standard Time
  • 10:30 am Central Standard Time
  •  9:30 am Mountain Time
  • 8:30 am Pacific Time

Take advantage of these two broadcasts brought to you free of charge!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

 

 

Weekend Indie Publisher News

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On the Horizon!  Douglas County Libraries Writers Conference Where:  Castle Rock High School, Castle Rock, Colorado

When: Saturday, October 10 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Register Now !Reduced registration fees: $65 before 9/27, $75 after A full day of activities, workshops and networking with other writers. Tips and insights from publishing professionals and experienced writers. For more info: DouglasCountyLibraries.org/SignatureEvents. Phone: 303-791-7323

Help is Here! Information Available on:

  • Optimizing Press Releases
  • Generating Publicity as a Writer
  • Querie Letters that Sell
  • How to Sell to Magazines
  • What a Publisher Looks for

Join the International Association of Writers www.associationofwriters.com

Members will receive an on-line newsletter filled with valuable information to help guide your career as a writer. Members can have their book featured on the Association of Writers website, receive free media leads, international writers calendar, career discounts and expert advice from Fern Reiss. She has been featured in countless magazines and newspapers for her knowledge of the publishing industry. Take your knowledge of the industry to another level by joining this association and reaping the benefits.

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