Each of the 300,000 traditional book publishing companies in the United States has a goal, unique to its company. We are no different at Sourced Media Books; our goal is to provide premium services while keeping the author (you) as an integral part of decision-making process.

At Sourced Media Books we want to develop a strong presence in the publishing industry but still maintain our intimate connection with authors. This is no easy task, but this is our promise to you. As we continue to grow and gain traction in the traditional publishing market, we promise to provide you with the care and help you need. When it comes time to choose a publishing house, look no further than Sourced Media Books.

The book marketing process can be as simple or as robust as you like. If you do chose to market your book through Sourced Media Books, there are several things you can do to help promote your work. The first is to create a press release.

A well-written press release can do wonders for your book. While you may have had experience writing books, press release writing is an art of its own with unique challenges. We have experts at our traditional publishing house who focus on press release writing and placement, ensuring that you’ll receive the publicity you need to get your book off the ground.

Maybe you’ve written your book and narrowed your publishing choice to a few traditional publishing houses. You’ve thought about royalties and publishing timetable, but still can’t decide on a company to use.

Now that you have some great options, we suggest thinking about what it will take after publishing to market your book. Maybe marketing  on your own looks enticing, or maybe it scares you. Sourced Media Books can alleviate the pressure of doing it all on your own at your own expense, as we do the marketing for you! Book marketing as a one-man show is exhausting, so we can provide you with an entire team, and deep resources- alleviating the stress of trying to do it on your own. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

But what’s involved our book marketing process? Stay tuned for next week’s blog post to learn all about our book marketing practices. Until then…have a great weekend!

At Sourced Media Books we are all about working for you and with you. While the traditional publishing house normally takes between 12 and 18 months to publish a book, we average between 6 and 12.

In addition to moving your project forward more quickly, we can be flexible with demanding deadlines. Because we work with a variety of presses in a variety of publishing models, our projects are never stuck in development hell.

When you need speed and flexibility, think about our traditional publishing house. At Sourced Media Books, we’ll work with you.

4. Consider integrating writing with your social life.
Join a writing group--- or start one! Host an hour-long night dedicated to the prose of your guest’s choice. Invite friends to come do a read/write-a-thon where they can catch up on journaling, blogs, or their own writing complete with rotated treats once a month.  We’ll bring the dip. If you’re up to it, you can share ideas and get great feedback.  Make it a challenge; the Nike running app has a “tag, you’re it” approach. Text a writer friend; “Hey I just wrote a page. You’re turn. Or I wrote this morning, you’re due for a paragraph.”

5.  Never miss an opportunity when an idea strikes.
Use Evernote (it synchs between your phone, computer, and tablet) to jot down a few lines here and there. Be the Bond type with a little black (blank) book of your own in your purse. Put a white board in your living room or above your desk. Just don't let those little thoughts go, record them to solidify later when you have more time.

6. Find a way to get into your groove quickly.
Read your writings to the kiddos as you lay them down to bed. This will make them connected to what it is that Mom or Dad does and create buy-in for your spouse to help you find the time following the bedtime repertoire.  Consider seeking out a refuge to go to when you get a break; a local coffee shop, a park, or even a funky desk in your garage.  Just set a timer on your phone and start writing.

For many, it may be less about where you are and more about your mindset. T.S. Eliot painted his face green, -- guess he took “put your game face on” literally. Twilight author, Stephanie Meyer, listens to music while she writes,  Kate Bolick writes facing a brick wall. Truman Capote wrote with a glass of sherry in one hand and pencil in the other. He also kept a cigarette and coffee handy. He said, “I’ve got to be puffing and sipping. As the afternoon wears on, I shift from coffee to mint tea to sherry to martinis.” If martinis aren’t part of your afternoon habits,  consider another indulgence like writing while taking a bath or having a diet coke handy in the fridge ready for you whenever you’re feeling ready. Read more about weird author habits here. Maybe Mr. Rogers was a secret genius adorned in that trusty sweater. Is there a robe you could call your Faulkner Frock that immediately puts you in the mood? Cheever, the “Chekov of the suburbs,” wrote in his skivvies. Why write all buttoned-up when you can write in your undies?

7. Get the support system.
Get some help from a significant other! They can give you some free time. Could they put the kids to bed on Wednesdays, or don’t stay late at the office on Tuesdays?  Maybe have a trusted friend check in with you to see how your writing is going. If you have buy in that can be half of the battle; it might not only open some doors but create some accountability for yourself.

These are just a few ideas from us at Sourced Media Books traditional publishing hosue. Let us know what you’ve done to find the time to write. What works for you?

Not many of us are spending each day at the pool wondering what to do with the time.  A busy work schedule, hectic parenting life, church or community commitments, volunteer work, and/or education might be getting in the way of another fulfilling life’s work: writing. Maybe you’ve already considered the obvious advice in staying up late or getting up at the crack of down. We know sleep is precious so this one might be brutal. Some successful writers tout very structured schedules, but your day may be less like clockwork and more like a battle for 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there. If you can turn writing into something you are longing for rather than feeling guilty about, you might be able to stretch out those 5-minute breaks into brilliant creative sessions. Here are three ideas to help you find some time!

1. Create spurts of stress-free writing time. If you’re staying home with the kiddos, consider this: it may actually make your day smoother and have a happier home life to take a few small breaks. Consider inviting a neighborhood teen to come tend the kiddos every day after lunch for 30 minutes in a nearby room. It may be cost-effective AND get that break you need to make your mark in the world as a writer, not just as an awesome parent. Similarly, maybe naptime could be your refuge, or maybe you can scribble on some notecards while out running errands if the kiddos fall asleep in the car. Put some note cards in the glove compartment just in case!
If kiddos aren’t the reason you’re busy, consider structuring writing deadlines with your other deadlines. Every time you have a board meeting, also schedule a writing session that same night. Structure writing in between other deadlines. Get your audit done next Friday and have a chapter due by the 15th. Maybe your lunch hour could be cut short if you brought a pre-prepared lunch to work, or cook twice as much for dinner and just heat it up at home. Or have an assistant write in goals to your heavy schedule.

2. Consider smaller goals that are approachable with the time you have. If you have only a spare 45 minutes, make a goal for 4 pages or to fill 6 note cards rather than a chapter or an entire section of work. Hemingway only wrote 500 words per day; St. Flannery wrote for only 2 hours a day. Set your goal and be ruthless with yourself.

3. Eliminate distractions and make some sacrifices.
No we don’t mean selling your firstborn. Although some days…. er, uh… what we mean is if you do find that 15 minutes of spare time, have a refuge so you can hit the ground running- sharpened pencils or open laptop, notebook a-ready.  Maybe your day to write is Thursday, and the laundry that day can wait. Or if the funds allow, consider a quarterly night at a hotel or on your own stay-cation. If you commute, consider recording yourself telling a story and then pay a neighbor kid $2/per page to transcribe to cut down on more time.

From the Publishing Coach: What do I do?

It’s always fun to work with first-time authors. They are always excited about their first work and their dreams of hitting it big. As a publishing coach, they are my favorite people to work with.

One advantage we have at Sourced Media Books is the one-on-one interaction with our authors. When first-time authors want our traditional model, we can provide them with unlimited author consultation until the book is finished to perfection. This is a very unique service, but it’s necessary to help first-time authors get their start.

When you decide to work with us, we set you up with a publishing coach of your own. Your publishing coach helps you with everything from manuscript creation and development to ghostwriting and marketing tips.

If you are looking for personal one-on-one time with your publisher, look no further than Sourced Media Books.

From the Publishing Coach: Why Choose Us?

We’ve talked a few times about why you should choose Sourced Media Books over other traditional publishing houses. But there is more to a decision than just the amount of royalties you’ll make off your published book. Here are some more differentiating factors that help put us ahead of other publishing competitors:

(1) Great Production- We put time and effort into each book. One thing you can be certain of is that your book will have the highest quality.
(2) Great Author Involvement- Most traditional publishers take control of the publishing process. In a recent study, only approximately 25% of authors were happy with the level of author involvement their traditional publishing house allowed them. At Sourced Media Books, we view publishing your book as a partnership. We want your insight, and we will use it to create the best product possible.
(3) Publishing coaching- For first-time authors, we have extensive author mentoring. Setting you up with a publishing coach helps you to gain valuable writing knowledge and skills.

These are just a few more reasons why you should join us at Sourced Media Books. We provide the quality of a major traditional publisher with the time and openness of a writing coach. Contact us today to receive more information.

From the Publishing Coach: The Simple Answer to Complex Book Royalties

What is the breakdown of your book royalties? 

You’ve written your book, your baby, your masterpiece. This is your blood, sweat, and tears and no one can take that away from you. But now you need to pick a traditional publishing company to get your book noticed. We’ve talked about how to choose the right company, but what about royalties?

After putting in countless hours of work, you only get a pittance of the profit for your book. Most publishing companies used to give around 6% retail for first-time authors. Now it is more like 10% net.

We, Sourced Media Books, a traditional publishing house, realize that you’ve put a lot of effort into your book, so we’ve tailored our royalties to fit you. We look at you publishing with us as a partnership, so we want to work together. When all is said and done our royalties range between 25% and 50% net.

If you want to make money via the traditional publishing route we are your best choice. We’ll work together to help you succeed!

From the Publishing Coach: What Makes us Different From Other Traditional Publishers?

The choices of self and traditional publishing have set authors on two very different paths. Both have their pros and cons but what if you want the best of both worlds, i.e., the expertise of traditional publishing combined with the control of self-publishing?

The answer…Sourced Media Books!

The most powerful differentiating tool between our traditional publishing house and every other traditional publisher is author control and involvement.

Do you want to be a part of the macro and micro editing process? We’ll let you do that.

Do you want to be a part of the book marketing process? We’ll let you do that.

Do you want to be a part of any other step of the production process? You can.

At Sourced Media Books we want authors to feel like they are involved in the process. We recognize that these books are your creation, and our traditional publishing house is here to help you. So, if you want to be heavily involved with your book, talk to a publishing coach today!

From the Publishing Coach: The Difference Between Traditional Publishing and Self-Publishing

With so many tools at their fingertips, new authors are springing up everywhere with the next “great” book. The question, however, is whether authors should choose the traditional publishing or self-publishing route. The first thing these budding authors need to know is the difference between the two.

Traditional publishing is when a publishing company, like Sourced Media Books, finances the production and distribution of a book. Top-quality professionals work each step of the publishing and book marketing process to improve the book’s success.

The advantages of traditional publishing are that your book will be distributed effectively and that it will (usually) have top-notch production. However, royalties for first-time authors are usually only 6% of the retail price.

The advantages of self-publishing are that an author will receive the majority of revenue from the sale of the book and that the author is in control of the whole publishing process. However, the quality of books produced is often of lower quality than those produced under a traditional model.

So, if you are looking to publish a book, look to a traditional publishing house like Sourced Media Books that offers traditional publishing with high royalties (generally 50% net) and a lot of author involvement. We’ll make sure that you succeed.

From the Publishing Coach: Let's Work Together

Did you know there are over 300,000 printing/publishing companies in the United States alone? If you do the math, that comes out to one publishing company for every thousand people in the country!

So how can you find which is the right one for you?

There are all sorts of factors that go into deciding which book publisher you’ll work with to publish your book. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide on the best fit.

At Sourced Media Books, we grow as you grow. We want you to hit the ground running. If you’re an author, especially for the first time, contact us for a publishing coach consultation. As we work together, we can both achieve great things.

From the Publishing Coach: What we do at Sourced Media Books

I’ve given you little publishing tidbits here and there, but now it’s time to let you know just what we do here at Sourced Media Books.

We’re all about the traditional publishing model, geared toward the digital world. When it comes to our services, we never shortchange people. We do exhaustive copy editing, author consultation, publishing coaching, premium interior and cover design, proofreading, and ISBN assignment and barcode services. And if that’s not enough, we also do book marketing and national distribution to bookstores too!

Recognizing that each author has his or her own needs, we can help you publish books in whatever format you want. From paperback to digital formats, we like do it all.

We want you to succeed and as you succeed, so do we. One more benefit from working with us is the online presence we help you create. By publishing your book through Sourced Media Books we provide free website hosting for the life of the book.

When you feel it’s time to hit the ground running and when you feel it’s time to get a good publishing coach who will help you learn all you need to know about traditional publishing, then you know it’s time to work with us at Sourced Media Books!

Book Publicity—What’s That?

Your book is finished. You have adoring fans among family and friends. And the grassroots support is growing. Now it’s time to get your book published and “out there.” But how?

Publicity is a difficult business, period. With 400,000 books being published each year, it is difficult to get your book noticed. But working with a book publicist can help.

A book publicist works to get your book placed in “free” media outlets, such as newspapers, magazines, radio, and television. These outlets are looking for current, interesting content—and if your book fits the bill, then you can generate some good buzz.

Most book publishing companies (even the large ones) ask authors to hire publicists on their own dime. But hiring a book publicist means shelling out several thousand dollars per month. Unless you have a bestseller on your hands, you’re most likely going to put everything you make on royalties back into publicity for your book. In fact, publishing coaches often advise authors to do that very thing. They sometimes argue that the first book is a wash, and the money will come in the second or third book—once you’ve made a name for yourself.

While book publicists can be expensive, they do offer valuable services. A book publicist will usually help you (1) design a publicity plan; (2) create a press kit (a pitch letter, press release, sell sheet, and sometimes a video trailer); and (3) pitch your book to targeted media outlets. Some book publicists also manage the social media side of the book publicity, although there will usually be a separate fee for this work. Most publicity plans run about 90-120 days.

When looking for a good publicist, you may want to ask them the following questions:

1. How do you target which media to pitch to?
2. To how many outlets will you pitch?
2. Will you be pitching to national, regional, or local outlets?
3. Will you manage my Facebook and Twitter accounts? If so, will you charge an additional fee?
4. Will you create Internet links to my website? If so, how?
5. How broad will the press release be distributed? Will it be through the Associated Press or through regional channels? Will it reach traditional media or through the Internet only?
6. Will you offer review copies in the pitch?

Book publicity is certainly not easy, but it can be well worth it. Whether you hire a publicist or venture out on your own, make sure to generate buzz in the media—and watch your sales grow!

From the Writing Coach: How to get Your Book into Bookstores

Lots of authors want to know how they can get their books into bookstores. Although more books are being sold online than ever before, having your book available in bookstores gives it more street cred (at least for now). 

First, make sure to put your book into Ingram's national database. (For small niche markets this is not necessary--but you will still need to get a distributor that serves that niche market.) This makes your book "available in bookstores everywhere"; if it's in the system, someone can walk up to the information desk at Barnes and Noble and order your book--even if it's not stocked on the shelf.

Second, make sure your book is labeled "returnable," meaning that bookstores can return your book to the distributor if it doesn't sell. Because of this "returnable" requirement, you won't be able to get a print-on-demand book into a bookstore. Be wary of print-on-demand book publishers that offer to put your book into Ingram's database, implying that you'll be able to sell it in bookstores. Perhaps there's an independent bookstore somewhere that will take a chance on it, but Barnes and Noble has a firm policy against buying any print-on-demand book. 

Third, you need to have a strong marketing plan (including publicity) for your book. Most book publishers now won't even accept a book for publication unless there's a strong marketing plan in place. Start local and gather grassroots support, then build upon your success. One of our authors, Jimmy Adams, has done this very successfully. He started with local media and book signings and built upon his success. Waffle Street was recently featured on Wall Street Journal Live (check out the online interview). 

Fourth (and this is the hardest part), you need to be patient while bookstores start small. Book buyers usually won't stock their stores with 30 copies of a new author's work. If they buy copies, they will buy a couple and see how they sell. It usually takes between 3-5 years for a new author to become established and gain a following. Be patient, consistent, and positive. 

There are many other nuances to getting your book into stores (i.e., conventions, catalogs, etc.), but I'll save those for other posts. If you follow your writing coach’s points above, you'll be off to a great start!

How the Editing Process Works

Ever wonder what happens when a book publishing company gets a hold of your manuscript? Here's the basic process.

First the book publishing company decides whether to take your manuscript. This involves an acquisitions editor and often the finance and marketing departments, as well. If your manuscript is accepted, you can be assured that the company found your book to be (1) well-written, (2) marketable, and (3) potentially lucrative. Especially in today's economic environment, publishing companies won't take the risk if even one of these elements is missing. 

Next, your manuscript goes into the copy editing phase. Here, a copy editor will edit for macro elements, such as organizational structure and flow. Copy editors will move text around, rewrite portions, and perhaps even ask you to go back and write additional content. But once your masterpiece makes it through this stage, you can be assured that your book "makes sense" for its intended purpose, audience, scope, and format.

Typesetting is next. In this phase, your book receives the face lift you always hoped it would. It is placed into book form using a desktop publishing programs. The industry standard is Adobe InDesign, but Quark is also good. Be wary of publishers who typeset your book in another program, such as Word or Publisher--even for an electronic book.

Proofreading follows the typesetting phase. By the time your manuscript gets to this point, all of the content issues and macro elements have been corrected. During the proofreading phase, editors check only for mistakes: typos and inconsistencies in the layout, such as a page number error or a misplaced heading. There should be two proofreaders on each manuscript. 

Cover design occurs somewhere during this process. Usually, a graphic artist who specializes in book design is used to create a compelling cover that will sell your book at a glance. Most authors show strong preferences for particular covers, but the publishing company always retains the right to have the final say. An ISBN and bar code are assigned to the book and placed on the cover to ensure that bookstores will be able to carry your book.

Once the manuscript is print-ready, it is taken to the printer. It will take about four to six weeks to have it printed via offset printing. Digital printing usually takes a bit less time. 

When the printing has finished, your masterpiece is ready to be distributed to retail outlets!

What Is "National" Distribution?

"Distribution" is an important term in book publishing. How do we get a book from point A, the publishing house, to point B, the bookstore? The answer lies in national distribution.

National distribution, for the purposes of this overly simplistic explanation, is basically having your book listed in Ingram's national database of books for sale. This is where retailers, such as Barnes and Noble and Books a Million, are able to see the details of your book and order it. Most bookstores will not order books unless they are listed in this database.

One important reason that self-publishing still carries a stigma is that self-published books are usually not available on Ingram to be carried in bookstores. Most self-publishing companies do not have access to the database.

A couple of behemoth self-publishers (i.e., Lightning Source and Amazon's Create Space) advertise that they do have national distribution through Ingram. They entice authors to self-publish with them and pay for the added service of national distribution. However, one other important thing to remember about bookstores is that they will not carry books unless they are fully returnable. Lightning Source and Create Space are print-on-demand self-publishers that do not list the book as "returnable"; therefore, bookstores will not carry books listed this way, even though they are in Ingram's system. To get your book into a bookstore, you have to be working with a publishing company that gives your book legitimate national distribution.

So, if you are interested in getting your book into the brick-and-mortar bookstore, make sure that you are with a publishing company like Sourced Media Books (shameless plug!) that gives you legitimate national distribution—and will set up book signings for you, too.

The Low Down on Royalties

One thing that every author wants to know is "How much will I get paid?" This answer varies widely, depending on your choice of publishing venue. Keep in mind that the information below is vastly simplified and quickly changing because of the digital revolution and print-on-demand media platforms in book publishing. 

For an author choosing to self-publish, a good, custom editing/production job will cost you about $5000 on createspace.com. This includes copy editing, typesetting/design, proofreading, cover design, and an ISBN number/barcode. That doesn't include the cost of printing the books, Amazon's cut once you throw it up there, or any type of publicity. But, if you're willing to make the investment and have your own marketing vehicle (like an online business or a frequently-visited blog), you could possibly make money this way. Writing coaches have steered authors away from this option in the past, although self-publishing is becoming an increasingly accepted practice

For an author who contracts with a traditional publishing company like Sourced Media Books, the answer also varies for each publishing company. Below are some general trends. Again, they will vary, depending on the (1) marketability of the author, (2) the format of the book (hardcover, trade, mass market, digital), and (3) whether you have special clauses in your contract (escalating royalties, reserves against returns, advances, etc.).

Large publishing companies have tended to pay a percentage of the retail price of the book in the past. The royalties usually vary between 6.5% and 15% (6.5% for first-time authors, 15% for well-known, established authors). Keep in mind that these companies do not accept unsolicited manuscripts, so you'll have to hire and pay an agent 15% of any royalties you receive.

Small-to-medium-sized publishing companies tend to pay a percentage of the wholesale price of the book (somewhere around 50% of the retail price). The royalty, again, varies between 6.5% and 15%. 

Other, more progressive companies are starting to view the author/publisher relationship as a partnership. Sourced Media Books, LLC for example, pays authors 50% of net cash proceeds (a very generous royalty by industry standards, particularly for first-time authors). This type of arrangement is especially good for authors who contract with companies that (1) have streamlined overhead costs and/or (2) produce e-books as well as print books.

This is just a general summary of some book publishing trends. But it should help you decide which options are best for you. With the changes that are rapidly taking place in the book industry, these numbers will likely be outdated next year!

Don't let Pitfalls Keep you From Publishing!

We’re often approached by people who have amazing book ideas. They've got the ideas, they've got the passion, and they've even got some solid writing skills. So, why do they not finish their books? Based upon our experience as writing coaches, here are a few common pitfalls:

1. The perfectionist syndrome. Some people are SO particular about the words they pen, they get overwhelmed by the task. We have coached several writers who have a lot of natural talent but don't produce content quickly, because they are very particular about every word they write.

Solution: Remember that the thing that separates the mediocre writer from the great writer is . . . editing. When you finish the rough draft of a book, you're really only about 50% finished. The good news is that you have produced a great high-quality stone—and you're now ready to start chiseling away to reveal the work of art inside.

2. The pack-rat syndrome. Some people (especially memoir writers) want to include EVERYTHING in their books, regardless of whether the content is relevant. So the author goes off on tangents and never really gets to the heart of the matter.

Solution: If an experience speaks to you, write it down. Then have a trusted friend hack away at the manuscript and eliminate everything that isn't relevant to the stated purpose of the book. But make sure that friend is strong enough to tell you the honest truth.

3. The pressure-cooker syndrome. Let's be honest. Most of us are impatient when it comes to getting our books published. But some people are too impatient—they don't take the necessary steps to craft their books adequately. Then they read it, recognize that it's not good (yet), grow frustrated, and quit. 

Solution: Get a GREAT writing coach and editor that is willing to look not just at line editing but at macro issues, as well—even while you are in the writing stage. You need a cheerleader to help you slow down, pace yourself, and crawl artistically to the finish line. If you self-publish, make sure that you hire an editor with a lot of experience who wants to make the book a work of art—not just technically accurate. If you publish with a traditional publisher like Sourced Media Books make sure that your editor is concerned with both macro and micro changes, and be willing to listen to the proposed changes. A good editing job is absolutely imperative to a successful book. 

If you have the perfectionist, pack-rat, or pressure-cooker syndrome, don't worry. You can finish what you started! Shoot for one page per day, and see how quickly your book idea becomes a reality!

From the Publisher of Sourced Media Books, Amy Osmond Cook . . .

For the past seventeen years, I have participated in every aspect of publishing imaginable. First, I was a writer. Next, an editor. Then I became a typesetter and even tried my hand at cover design. Finally, after a long foray into academia, I settled into my life's work: publishing. I currently teach writing, visual communication, and other English/Communication classes at Arizona State University. I am also the publisher of Sourced Media Books—a new, indie publishing house. In Spring of 2012, I will begin teaching a course on book publishing at Arizona State University.

I am one of those people who learns best from experience. I'm the jump-in-get-your-feet-wet type of person and can tell you I have made every mistake ... once. I'm also quick to take advice from experienced pros and change course when I see myself going in the wrong direction. After years of trying practically everything once, I can tell you all about traditional publishing, self-publishing, royalties, fees, agents, social media, and publicists from experience.

I'm writing this blog to share what I know—so readers don't have to experience it all the hard way. Let me be your writing coach!