NINC

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Frequently Asked Questions

ATTIRE

NINC is a high-level conference in a casual atmosphere; feel free to leave your suits and ties at home. Attendees generally wear shorts, sundresses, jeans and Tees. Conference rooms can be COLD, so pack some layers.

REGISTRATION AND Q&A DESK

You can pick up your registration packet at the desk in the Grand Colonnade on Wednesday 1-7pm or Thursday 8:30-11:30am. The Q&A desk will be open in the mornings on Friday and Saturday.

WELCOME RECEPTION – Wednesday at 7:00pm

We hope you'll join us in the resort’s tropical courtyard for an all-attendees gathering that will include heavy appetizers, a dessert buffet, and cash bar.

MEALS

Thursday and Friday include a lunch buffet. Dinner will be on your own. There are numerous restaurants within easy walking distance and several on the Tradewinds Property. On Saturday, lunch will be on your own, but we hope you’ll join us for our Beachside Blowout Buffet at 7:00pm. If you listed dietary restrictions, your registration packet will have your dietary choice on your meal tickets. Show those to the hotel staff inside the venue and they'll direct you from there or bring you a specially prepared entree if necessary.

WORKSHOPS

Workshops will not be recorded, but each workshop will be attended by a Nink Reporter and full write ups will appear in future Nink editions.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION

To get to and from the airport (or anywhere in St. Pete) you have two main options. To arrange the resort shuttle, call 866–403-3303. Alternately, Uber and Lyft both operate in the area.

HOTEL

TradeWinds Island Resort
5500 Gulf Blvd, St Pete Beach, FL 33706
(727) 367-6461
www.tradewindsresort.com

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Nink Knowledge: Self-Published eBooks and the Library Market (Access Isn’t Everything)

This article, written by Edie Claire, is from the September 2019 edition of Nink, the monthly newsletter of Novelists, Inc.  (NINC). Nink, which is packed each month with informative articles for career novelists, is a benefit of NINC membership. 

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Ever since Smashwords broke into the library market in 2014 by distributing self-published ebooks to OverDrive, library access has only gotten easier. Now indies can get their ebooks listed on OverDrive through a variety of distributors including Draft2Digital, PublishDrive, and Kobo (now a sister company to OverDrive, under their Rakuten parent). But merely checking that little “distribute to” box isn’t likely to result in actual sales. There are multiple—and largely invisible—hurdles between self-published authors and acquiring librarians, and overcoming these obstacles will require some dedicated effort.

The Bad News, part one: Discoverability

For a glimpse into how librarians make ebook purchasing choices, I interviewed Mary Lee Hart, the collection development librarian at my local library. As expected, the primary goal of library acquisitions is to anticipate which books will be most demanded by patrons. Hence, the largest part of the purchasing budget will go toward bestsellers promoted by the Big Five. The ranks will be further filled out by books receiving positive reviews in the tried-and-true print media with which librarians like Hart are already familiar. But while some of these discovery vehicles (such as Kirkus Reviews and Ingram’s Advance catalog) are open to self-published works, the playing field is far from even. Paid reviews are generally designated as such. Sponsored slots in Ingram’s print catalog are relegated to the back under the dubious heading of “Publisher Selects.” And even those vehicles supposedly devoted to the underserved, such as Foreword Reviews, have terms incompatible with a commercial self-publishing model, such as requiring submission of a manuscript for review at least four months before its release. In fact, the whole traditional model of library acquisition, built around buying new releases while they’re hot, is a poor fit with the slow-build, long-tail pattern of professional self-publishing.

Acquiring librarians do reserve a portion of the budget for books other than current bestsellers. But librarians have little motivation to search specifically in buckets devoted to self-published titles, particularly when most individuals lack an understanding of the difference between a hobbyist writer and a professional self-published-by-choice novelist. For the same reason, any author attempt at direct marketing to librarians is highly likely to wind up in the trash bin.

The Bad News, part two: Ease of Purchase

While libraries can purchase ebooks from a variety of vendors, the reality is that around 90 percent of U.S. public libraries source their ebooks from OverDrive. OverDrive seems preferred not only because of the breadth of media in its catalog, but also because of easy-to-use apps, which libraries rely on for digital lending. The company’s main competitors, Baker and Taylor Axis 360, Bibliotheca, and Odilo, still command only a minor slice of the pie. But while self-published authors can list titles with OverDrive through various distributors, authors cannot see how those titles are being presented to librarians because OverDrive’s library “Marketplace” is not public-facing.

Curious whether my own titles were as visible as their traditionally published counterparts, I consulted Hart. In accordance with OverDrive’s TOS, the library could not offer me a firsthand look at its dedicated interface. But I was provided with some general information. Like most online catalogs, OverDrive makes searching easy with a prominently placed search box. Yet, a search for my books brought up absolutely nothing, even though I distribute to OverDrive via both Kobo and a direct OverDrive publisher account. My books could only be reached by opening up a drop-down menu under the main search bar and then scrolling down to an option labeled “Self-published.”

Finally, a little good news

Publishing may have changed drastically in the last decade, but the motivation of acquisitions librarians has not: they seek to buy whatever materials best serve their patrons. Herein lies the single most powerful strategy for the self-published: patron recommendations. When I polled my Facebook readers about their library use, I was surprised. Many not only regularly borrowed ebooks from the library, but my readers also knew how to request titles for purchase. One reader informed me that he frequently made recommendations; so far his library has bought every one of them. Hart confirmed that my library system not only considers every request but buys the majority. If the author or publisher is an unknown quantity, the purchase decision may come down to price. But any ebook costing single digits is generally considered worth a shot.

Patrons can submit book requests through the same OverDrive interface they use for borrowing. Some libraries have a “recommend” option associated with their own local online catalog, others use a physical suggestion box with paper slips, and many use a combination. But in this case, OverDrive’s domination of the market is of significant benefit to self-published authors because a patron’s search for a book to recommend includes all OverDrive titles. With one click, your loyal reader can send a request straight to their acquisitions librarian—complete with a dedicated link to your book.

The distribution question

OverDrive customer support says it makes no difference how your titles are submitted to OverDrive. Yet, my own experimentation revealed certain variations. Considering the relative difficulty of using an OverDrive publisher account (which requires Excel-formatted metadata and FTP file transfer), I had hoped this distribution method might save me from the self-published dungeon. It did not, although rumor suggests that others might have had better luck. But one advantage a direct account does offer is access to OverDrive’s free merchandising opportunities, such as their e-newsletters and seasonal focus campaigns. Whether these are effective sales tools is an open question.

Another difference I stumbled upon was that the route by which a title reaches OverDrive affects whether or not that book is “available on Kindle” after purchase. It’s not a matter of providing a mobi file; when a Kindle-compatible ebook is borrowed via OverDrive, the borrower is rerouted to Amazon.com for the actual download. Rather, it’s a contractual matter. Books distributed directly through OverDrive show as Kindle-compatible. Ebooks distributed through Kobo (as their customer service confirmed) will not. Draft2Digital’s customer service asserted that its contract with OverDrive does require Kindle-compatibility, although D2D has experienced some delays in execution.

How much does Kindle-compatibility matter? Since Kindle Fires and other tablets can read ePubs in apps, the only devices affected are e-ink versions like the Paperwhite. Older Kindle ereaders (like my trusty 3rd generation with keyboard) can’t handle library loans in any event. When I queried the librarian who buys fiction at my local branch, she said that although she preferred Kindle-compatibility, lack of it wasn’t a deal-breaker.

Royalties on library purchases differ slightly among the distributors, with OverDrive and Kobo paying 50 percent of list price and Smashwords offering 45 percent. Draft2Digital pays 46.75 percent and offers the option of Cost per Checkout as well as One Copy, One User pricing.

And now, it’s up to your readers

Getting your books into libraries is a two-part process of distribution and patron action. My personal attempt at the second part involves a clickable “Read At the Library” button in the footer of every page of my website, combined with a downloadable PDF giving specific instructions on how to request my (or any other favored author’s) books. (Check it out at www.edieclaire.com.) I’ve told my readers that I’ve done all I could to make my books available for borrowing through libraries. Now, it’s up to them.

 

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Edie Claire is a USA-Today bestselling author of 26 novels of mystery, romantic and women’s fiction, and humor. She was first published traditionally in 1999 but went indie in 2009 and has never looked back. 

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Nink Knowledge: Author Almost Crushed by Billion-Dollar Gaming Company—It Could Happen To You!

This article, written by Michael Banner, is from the August 2019 edition of Nink, the monthly newsletter of Novelists, Inc.  (NINC). Nink, which is packed each month with informative articles for career novelists, is a benefit of NINC membership. 

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The following story is true. The names and book titles have been changed out of respect for the actual author.  What he experienced could have happened to any of us… until now.

John Smith is a bestselling author and award-winning screenplay writer, who recently found himself facing a serious legal problem.

Someone had filed for a federal trademark on a brand name that John was already using for a fictional series he had penned three years earlier. Potentially worse, that someone was a billion-dollar video-gaming enterprise, with millions of subscribers. They were seeking an “Intent to use” trademark in

"Computer game software and related items" and also "downloadable digital media and downloadable audio files." The word they wanted to trademark, “Blacktree.”

“Blacktree” is the name of John's Amazon #1 bestselling two-book series, and the name of the protagonist and hero of that series, Bobby Blacktree. His series included eBooks (legally described as “downloadable digital media”) and audiobooks (“downloadable audio files”).

John’s ultimate plan, after a highly successful test-market of a five-book series in the same genre, was to leverage the “Blacktree” brand he had created and launch additional books in the Blacktree series in 2019 and 2020. After which he would complete the screenplay and market it to Hollywood.

That was his plan, before he received notification about the pending trademark registration from one of his Google Alerts watch phrases.

Legal Concerns

John had previously established (by publishing his books) a prior claim to the rights of the series brand name. However, if this gaming company was granted their federal trademark registration, they would have obtained all rights to that name under the rules and regulations established by law and managed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The gaming company would then have total control over whether John could use the Blacktree name, not only for his two existing eBooks and audiobooks (and the main character name in the series,) but also for future Blacktree books and screenplay.

At minimum, the gaming company could have had Amazon take down his Blacktree series in all its forms, simply by filing a complaint with Amazon and presenting a copy of their trademark. And, because this gaming company had a long history of aggressively protecting their registered trademarks, John could have been looking at a devastating lawsuit if he tried to use the name Blacktree in any future works.

Simply put, if John wanted to sell any more books (current or future) in his series, and the gaming company proceeded forward with their trademark application, John would have had to change the name of his series and main character; update the eBook and audio files; and rebrand future planned books, the screenplay and everything else associated with it.

John clearly had only one choice: he filed an opposition to the gaming company's trademark with the USPTO. Simultaneously, he filed a trademark registration of his own for the brand Blacktree. Legally, John had a clear case of establishing the brand three years prior and thus, he would have a clear path to have the gaming company's trademark request quashed by the USPTO, and then have the USPTO approve his own trademark registration. Simple, right?

Wrong! We are forgetting something disturbing about our legal system: “Whoever has more lawyers and money, usually wins!”

In this case, the gaming company really wanted this name. They also had time on their side because it normally takes a few years to have an online computer game developed, tested, and released. Even though John legally had first use rights, the billion-dollar company and their team of lawyers could easily have buried John in appeals and requests for extensions, and if they desired, lawsuits. At hundreds of dollars an hour for attorney representation, essentially, they could have financially ruined John with just the legal fees alone, forcing him to give up, so that they would prevail.

Other Concerns

John’s financial well-being was not all that was at risk.

The national news media covering computer gaming caught wind of this battle, and incorrectly reported that John was “suing” the gaming company. Additionally, they erroneously reported that John was responsible for stopping the gaming company’s next release of their beloved online role-playing game; a game that boasted millions of over-zealous, fan-boy players.

That’s when the backlash started.

Immediately, thousands of gamers began posting their comments of hatred against John, sending John angry and physically threatening emails, and blasting him with endless social media posts. Some even posted negative reviews on his books. All this because John had the nerve to defend his brand.

Before revealing the end of this story, let us look at the lesson we should all learn from John’s experience.

Lesson Learned

Authors must proactively protect themselves against trademark infringement.

That is, you must take two actions to preemptively protect yourself and avoid a potential battle like the one John faced.

  1. Thoroughly research your series name and book titles before publishing, and
  2. File for a federal trademark under one or more publishing categories.

Thoroughly Research Your Series Name

You have probably already searched Amazon’s database for similar sounding book titles, just to see what is out there. Maybe you have even Googled your prospective book title or series name to see if someone is using it in your book’s genre. That is a good start, but do not miss another very important resource. Before pushing that publish button, search the USPTO database to make sure your series name and book titles are not infringing on a registered trademark in the publishing space.

To do this, go to USPTO.gov. Under the “Trademark” banner, choose “Searching trademarks” from the drop-down menu. Now find the “Search our trademark database (TESS)” link. You will want to use the “Basic Word Mark Search (New User)” option and type in the name of your prospective title.

You may see several hits. Make sure you review them all, one at a time. What you are looking for are “LIVE” registrations. If there is already one registered (and Live), and you see that its “Goods and Services” section includes a series of numbers starting with either IC 009 or IC 016 (the two classes for books), then someone has already registered that name in the publishing space. You will need to modify your series name and/or book titles, otherwise you risk Amazon turning your books off at some point in the future for trademark infringement.

However, if you do not see your prospective titles already registered (and Live) or they are listed in the database but are not in the two publishing classes, you are good to go for publication.

File Your Own Federal Trademark

If the name is available for trademark under the publishing classes, then immediately after you publish your series, file for a federal trademark on that series name.

A strange quirk in trademark law that most authors do not know about, is that while you can trademark a book series title as a brand, you cannot trademark a single book title. You must use the same name for more than one book before it’s considered a brand and eligible for trademark protection. In other words, you can trademark a name if it is used on two or more books because it is now considered a “brand.” That’s true for book titles and series titles. More than one book with the same title or series name must exist and be used (or intended to be used), before it’s eligible for protection.

This brings up another point to consider.

Even if the USPTO database does not show a trademark issued for your series or book name, you need to look on Amazon to see of anyone else is using that exact name on more than one book in their backlist. If so, then they have prior trademark rights, having established a brand for that name, even if they have yet to file for the trademark. You will need to pick a new series name or book title to avoid potential infringement problems down the road. None of us want another “Cockygate” scenario.

[Editor’s note, for more on this and to read Nink articles written about this topic, please review the July 2018 issue in the Nink archives.]

Trademarks are filed in one or more Goods and Services classes. Again, the two International Classes (or IC) covering books are 009 (for eBooks and audio books) and 0016 (for print books). Each class will cost $225 to file, or $450 for both. If you are worried about costs, file for at least one: class 9, since that is likely your most profitable book class. While not cheap, think of this as an “insurance policy” to protect you against someone trying to steal your brand and/or threaten your ability to sell your books under that name on various platforms like Amazon.

Bottom line: What we do as authors is a business. Businesses have assets that need to be protected. Our books and their names are some of our most important assets. Smart business practices dictate we proactively take steps to protect our series names and book titles, before someone else takes these rights from us. Or worse, someone with deeper pockets crushes you financially, just for using a name they want, even though you had all prior rights to it.

Epilogue

“So, what happened to John?” you ask.

After thousands of dollars in legal fees, John and the gaming company reached an amicable agreement. The terms are confidential, so the actual settlement remains unknown. My hunch is that John is both relieved and pleased with the result. And yet, the settlement only occurred after his reputation took a beating and he suffered many sleepless nights. Don’t put yourself in the same position as John.

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Michael Banner is an international best-seller, penning eleven novels as ML Banner. Next up, his Self-Publishing Empire Series of books, beginning with Set-Up: The Easy Way to Start Your Own Publishing Entity. A serial entrepreneur, Michael has formed dozens of businesses over thirty-five years, including SmallBiZ.com, which has helped more than 100,000 to start their own corporation or LLC. He serves on boards of other start-ups and has consulted thousands, assisting them on how to setup and manage their own enterprises. Recently, he and another NINC member, co-founded Mission Critical Publishing LLC. On his “off” days, Michael’s wife “forces” him to relax at their Mexican beach or cruise to another foreign port.

 

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Workshops

NINC 2019 Full Workshop Schedule

Subject to Change -  Updated 8/5/19

 

Thursday, 9:00 – 10:00 AM

 

Advertising— The Best of the Best, part 1

Speaker: Mark Dawson (Self-Publishing Show)

A snapshot of what is working best in advertising in September, 2019 and the most effective tips & techniques to use these marketing strategies.

 

Growth Hack a Bestseller Part One: WRITING A BESTSELLER

Speaker: Liz Pelletier

The next book you write should be a bestseller. Sounds easy, right? In this two-hour workshop, learn the key elements in most every bestseller and how to ensure your next novel is the right idea, at the right time, written specifically to maximize best-selling traits. You’ll also walk away knowing how to recognize the pitfalls that keep most books from going viral and how to tell a story guaranteed to engage readers. Plus, learn to use an easy system to measure your novel’s viral load before you write even your first word!

 

SEO: An Author’s Guide to Best Practices

Speaker: Kimberli Bindschatel

As the market evolves, we want to stay ahead of the curve. The first step is to understand what Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is and how to implement it. I’ll outline foundational opportunities to increase your visibility and create a solid web presence for a long-term strategy. You’ll leave with a basic understanding of keywords and their use, both for organic search and use in advertising on Amazon, as well as the current trend in book searches on Google. A few simple updates will take your business to the next level.

 

Thursday, 10:15 – 11:15 AM

 

What's new at BookBub?

Speakers: Katie Donelan and Carlyn Robertson (BookBub)

Hear from members of the BookBub team about what’s new on their book marketing platform (including audiobook promotion opportunities!). This workshop will highlight important updates about the tools available to you now and insights into how you should be using BookBub to maximize the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns in driving sales, finding new fans, and building your platform as an author.

 

Planning For Success: The Writer’s Guide To Getting It All Done

Speaker: Sarra Cannon

Gone are the days when writers can just write. In order to find success in today’s market, we need to be social media gurus, advertising executives, administrative assistants, strategists, art directors, and more. How we can we possibly get it all done? In this workshop, Sarra will show you a proven system that will help you get more done, faster, and with less stress. If you’re ready to take control of your time and stop feeling overwhelmed, this workshop is for you.

 

Freelancer Panel

Thinking about hiring a freelancer? Already working with someone? This is the place for authors and freelancers to get tips about delegating, working together, and creating a successful team. Bring your questions!

 

Thursday, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

 

Harnessing Market Forces to Sell More Books

Speaker: Alex Newton (K-lytics)

If you are an indie, hybrid, or traditionally-published author who wants to learn how to use market forces to your advantage, this is for you. In this workshop, Alex opens his data vault of market monitoring results to share the latest news about Amazon market trends and developments. He will cover main genres as well as selected "hot niches." This is not just for write-to-market enthusiasts but for anyone who wants to see one's creative efforts find "hungry" audiences instead of "beating dead horses." Join this session to stay ahead of your competition and gain market knowledge that even your own publisher does not share with you.

 

Analysis of the Thriller: How to Break into and Conquer this Lucrative Genre

Speaker: Tom Colgan

Learn the inside scoop on thrillers with Berkley Editorial Director Tom Colgan as he discusses what publishers look for and what readers crave—the premises, settings, and concepts that drive sales, how pacing and characterization can make or break your book, and what you may have in common with Lee Childs and James Patterson. Bring your questions: this workshop is designed to answer your specific questions on one of the hottest genres in fiction.

 

NINC-ovators Panel

Speakers: Matt Buchman, Sarra Cannon, Wayne Stinnett, and Yumoyori Wilson

Come hear from your fellow NINC members who are expanding their reach and income streams through audiobooks, YouTube, increasing output, getting organized, and creative advertising.

 

Thursday, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

 

Writing the Breakout Book

Speaker: Tom Colgan, Danielle Marshall, Liz Pelletier

Three top editors talk about strategies, tips, and techniques—complete with real-life examples—to help you write the breakout novel.

 

Create a Large Print Edition with Vellum

Speaker: Brad West of Vellum

A Large Print Edition can help your book reach new audiences, and is simple to create using the latest version of Vellum. This workshop will show how to adapt your current book for Large Print, and cover aspects to consider when listing your book for sale. This talk will begin with a brief overview of Vellum for any who have not used it before.

 

 

Thursday, 3:15 – 4:15 PM

 

Reach more Barnes & Noble readers by publishing with Barnes & Noble Press

Speakers: Sarah Dickman, Julie Braunschweiger

Please join Sarah Dickman, Director of Business Operations, and Julie Brauschweiger, Senior Associate, to learn about Barnes & Noble Press, B&N’s self-publishing platform for eBook and print-on-demand. Closely aligned with our national retail stores, B&N Press is a fast, free, and easy way to publish your books to reach millions of B&N readers. This in-depth talk will present authors with best practices and an overview of new features designed to help you get the most out of publishing direct with B&N Press.

 

Forensics for Fiction: Make Your Crime Pay

Speaker: Geoff Symon

When writing about crime and investigations, what is the balance between accuracy and overkill? Geoff Symon shares his experience as a 20-year Forensic Investigator with authors of every popular genre. Learn about actual forensic techniques and terminology in order to avoid common fictional mistakes. Come with forensic questions to this interactive Q&A session, and we’ll bring authenticity to the scene of your crime.

 

The Standout Writer

Speaker: Becca Syme

In a saturated market, the key to reader engagement is memorability—being exponentially better than others in your marketplace at meeting reader expectations. When we try to be good at everything, we kneecap our capacity to standout. But how do you know what a “standout” writer looks like? Join success coach, Becca Syme, to learn about how maximizing your strengths can be a more effective and efficient craft tool than fixing your weaknesses. Stop being mediocre and be memorable.

 

Thursday, 4:30 – 5:30 PM

 

You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Story, Part 1: The Bigger Picture

Speaker: Houston Howard (SuperStory Works)

Learn the foundational principles behind not just writing a story, but building a Super Story — one that can survive in an age of distraction and harness all the tools available to you. Discover the secrets behind creating a 21st Century brand that can go viral in a hashtag world.

 

Is Your Author Website Pulling Its Weight?

Speaker: Caro Bégin

Author websites can help promote books and collect newsletter subscribers, but they can also increase your income and build brand appeal. This workshop will cover various dos, don’ts, and general best practices for streamlining your content and optimizing your site. You’ll also learn how to increase your income through direct sales and affiliate earnings. If you’d like to turn your author website into a well-oiled, automated sales machine, then you won’t want to miss this talk. You will leave with an actionable to-do list and a better understanding of how an optimized website can help fine-tune your marketing, please readers, and drive sales.

 

Thursday Night Owls

 

7:15 – 8:00 PM

Adventures in Fundraising

Let's Get Physical

Audiobook Update

 

8:15 – 9:00 PM

Managing Mental Health

Taming the Dragon

Critique group meeting

 

 

Friday, 9:00 – 10:00 AM

 

Advertising--The Best of the Best, part 2

Speaker: Mark Dawson

A snapshot of what is working best in advertising in September, 2019 and the most effective tips & techniques to use these marketing strategies.

 

Growth Hack a Bestseller Part Two: MARKETING A BESTSELLER

Speaker: Liz Pelletier

You’ve got the right story written in the best way to become a bestseller, but now what? In this one-hour workshop, learn how to evaluate the market, leverage the right social media platform in the right way, pricing decisions, and how to position your release in a saturated market to quickly rise above the rest. From the psychology of promotions to evaluating the viral load of publicity strategies to the psychology of ad composition by targeted demographic and platform, we’ll cover it all. Plus, learn to use social media like a pro with just an hour a day!

 

Newsletters: Never Run Out of Things to Say

Speakers: Chasity Jenkins-Patrick and Kathy Williams

You know how and why to send newsletters, but the trick is finding the perfect content for your unique audience. What do readers want to know? What the heck do they care about? We are going to tell you exactly that, AND we are going to give you real-world examples of what works and what doesn’t. Our tips will keep your current subscribers entertained, on the edge of their seats and click happy. Plus, we'll give you some handy-dandy take homes to study and use, because we are nice like that.

 

Friday, 10:15 – 11:15 AM

 

Using Big Data Insights for Higher Royalties

Speaker: Alex Newton

Some book marketing strategies work better than others. Imagine you could cut through the results of hundreds of thousands of books to see the highest-yielding ones. Alex will bring fact-based insights to questions concerning bestseller lists, category optimization, ranking factors, best price levels, format strategies, serialization, KU penetration, Kindle deals, ads, book covers, and more. Don't worry if you are not a numbers person. Alex has a unique talent to convey seemingly complex matters in an easy-to-understand and fun manner that lets you walk home with actionable insights.

 

Acts of Submission

Speaker: Carol Saller

Each year readers submit thousands of grammar and style questions to the Q&A page at The Chicago Manual of Style Online, and for more than twenty years Carol Saller read every single one. To her, the number of standoffs between writers and editors (“My editor insists . . .”) began to present a theme: that in editorial battles, the reader is the one who loses. Saller’s book The Subversive Copy Editor arose from her search for win-win strategies, laying out what makes a writer “difficult” and how not to be that writer. This session presents the advice behind the book that Publishers Weekly called “practical, relentlessly supportive and full of ed-head laughs.”

 

Building a Successful Podcast

Speaker: James Blatch & John Dyer (SPF Sponsor)

Thinking about starting your own podcast? Learn how to create an addictive and useful regular show that will help build your brand and gain you readers. James Blatch and John Dyer are the team behind the immensely successful Self Publishing Show, which now boasts more than a million downloads. James & John will describe the key elements not just to make your podcast successful but also valuable to your business.

James is a former BBC television and radio news reporter and presenter, John is a former teacher and film examiner at the British Board of Film Classification.

Friday, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

 

Turbocharging Series Sales on Amazon

Speaker: David Gaughran

Learn a variety of methods for boosting sales across a series, including how to dominate your niche on Amazon via a range of marketing and advertising strategies to promote an entire series. Discover ways to improve readthrough, optimize metadata, seduce the ever-capricious Amazon algorithms, make Kindle Unlimited page reads soar, and get readers on the hook so they jump on your series right away instead of it languishing on their Kindle forever.

 

Write to Market Masterclass

Speaker: Chris Fox

Your novel’s success is tied to a single question. Who is your audience? This seminar will teach you to locate that audience, and to tailor your book to their expectations without sacrificing your creativity.

 

Planning To Thrive

Speaker: Sarra Cannon

In today’s publishing atmosphere, many people seem to be in survival mode, constantly hustling just to keep their head above water. But what if you could thrive as an author? What if there was a way for you to prosper and grow a long-lasting career without feeling as though you could drown at any moment? Join author Sarra Cannon as she gives you practical tips and strategies to help you develop a long-term plan that focuses on joy, balance, and building the career of your dreams.

 

Friday, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

 

Mastering Amazon's A9 Algorithm and Your Book's Rankings in the Market

Speaker: Dave Chesson

Ever wonder why Amazon shows someone else's book over yours in the search results? Or why you can't seem to be found for a keyword you've targeted? In this session, we'll take a deep dive into Amazon's A9 algorithm, how it functions, and how you can make simple changes to control your book's discoverability...and no, this isn't about keyword stuffing or hacking the system.

 

You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Story, Part 2: Practical and Tactical Strategies

Speaker: Houston Howard

You know WHY you need Super Story in today’s viral world; learn HOW to identify and utilize the various multi-platform creative strategies all authors should be implementing. These extremely practical approaches will allow you to not only better engage audiences in an over-saturated market, but also to create a growth plan for multi-platform scalability.

 

Scrivener: Not Your Average Word Processor

Speaker: Gwen Hernandez

Beginners and experienced users will benefit from this introduction to Scrivener’s best features. Learn how to create a new project, understand Scrivener’s interface, organize and work with files and folders, import your existing work and research, color code your files, set word count targets, and more. Feel free to bring your laptop, loaded with Scrivener, so you can follow along. To get the free trial, go to www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php. If you choose to purchase, use the code GWENHERNANDEZ at checkout for 20% off (non-affiliate).

 

Friday, 3:15 – 4:15 PM

 

Relaunch Your Novel

Speaker: Chris Fox

Learn to formulate a plan for your backlist, one that will allow you to produce income for the rest of your life. From omnibuses to full relaunches we’ll cover ways to put your backlist to work.

 

Panel: The State of Publishing in 2019 and Beyond

Speakers: Tom Colgan, Danielle Marshall, Liz P

Three top editors discuss what's happening in publishing, today and as we look toward the future.

 

How to Get Out of a Marketing Rut

Speaker: Kilby Blades

Most experienced authors are already well-educated on most marketing topics but still feel stuck and at a loss for how to recover from marketing disappointments. This session will discuss what authors can do when they’re experiencing plateaus, feel lost or confused by their own data, or have titles that are ill-equipped or decreasingly well-positioned to compete in a changing marketplace. This module offers higher-level tactical/practical solutions and delves into behavioral economics concepts (heuristics that relate to managerial decision making) to explain some of the psychological pieces.

 

Friday, 4:30 – 5:30 PM

 

Brainstorming the Future of Publishing II

Speakers: M.L. Buchman and Mark Lefebvre

Take control of your own industry! Come join the fun as M.L. Buchman and Mark Lefebvre lead a guided brainstorming session to tell vendors what it is we want for the future of publishing. Let your imagination soar--we'll make sure the vendors are listening!

 

Deconstructing Fiction: An Example

Speaker: Jordyn White

Learn how to deconstruct successful works of fiction with the purpose of elevating your creative skills. We’ll talk about tips for getting the most out of this method of study, then dive right in and deconstruct a sample together. This exercise is enlightening for all writers regardless of their level of skill, including very advanced authors. You haven’t experienced a craft workshop quite like this one.

 

Your Story World: Beyond Eye Color and the Weather

Speaker: Diane Garland

A solid story world and strong continuity are critical to any series. But how do you remember all the interesting little details you’ve created in previous chapters/books? Diane Garland shows how to organize the myriad of details into one cohesive unit that can grow and expand with your series, giving your reader a richer and more varied story experience.

 

Friday Night Owls

 

7:15 – 8:00 PM

Reader Group Rodeo

Back from the Dead: Reviving a Dormant Career

Team Players

 

8:15 – 9:00 PM

Baby Got Backlist

Cross Promo

Career Planning in a Time of Change and Uncertainty

 

 

Saturday, 9:00 – 10:00 AM

 

BookBub Ads Masterclass

Speaker: David Gaughran

In this deep dive into BookBub Ads, you will learn advanced techniques to improve your campaigns on the hottest advertising platform: testing tips, optimization advice, and killer strategies — everything from nailing down your true author comps to the cheapest day (and time) to run your ads. We’ll look at how to run cost-efficient, large-scale campaigns that can really move the needle, ways to take advantage of the very latest changes to the platform, and some surprising uses for BookBub Ads to give your promotions extra oomph.

 

Dead Right: Autopsies for Authors

Speaker: Geoff Symon

Corpses pop up in every genre, from family funerals to violent crimes to creatures that won’t stay buried. Forensic investigator Geoff Symon walks you through the real of the morbid. This workshop introduces authors to the specifics of the postmortem, from time of death estimates to Y-incisions. Get the facts for your fiction – we’ll cover it all from cadaver to slab!

 

The Silent Killer of Author Businesses: Disregarding Cash Flow

Speaker: Jordyn White

Intimidated by finances? Not a “math person”? This unique crash course is tailored to creatives who are convinced money isn’t their strong suit. There will be plenty for more experienced money managers, too. We’ll outline the (truly) simple steps to track cash flow, illustrate how projections can smooth out the ups and downs of author income, and discuss why cash flow is critical to the future of any business. You’ll also get tips for developing a healthy mindset around money, as the instructor shares the true and harrowing tale of how she went from money dunce to money master.

 

Saturday, 10:15 – 11:15 AM

 

The Advanced Fiction Keyword Strategy that Impressed Even Amazon

Speaker: Dave Chesson

Learn the secrets behind a fiction keyword strategies that is so good that even Amazon promoted it and changed they way they discuss keywords to authors. With this strategy, you'll learn how to generate keyword ideas for fiction books that buyers not only use, but aren't competitive and can help get your book in front of more readers. This workshop is a deep dive into proven strategies for increasing sales and getting discovered on Amazon.

 

Surviving (and Thriving!) in Traditional Publishing

Speakers: Victoria Thompson With Charlotte Hubbard, Susan Meier

What are the secrets to achieving long term success as a published author? Three traditionally published authors—whose careers each span over three decades—share their secrets on how to survive (and thrive!) in the turbulent world of traditional publishing.

 

Global Trends in Digital Publishing: Insider Insights from Kobo

Speaker: Tara Cremin (Kobo)

Learn the latest strategies for growing your global self-publishing business, with behind-the-scenes stats from the most globally focused retailer, Kobo. We’re here to tell you what’s new at KWL (hint, it’s AUDIO!) and the latest marketing strategies and trends.

 

Saturday, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

 

Reading the Global Market
Speakers: Mark Lefebvre and Kevin Tumlinson (Draft2Digital)

Draft2Digital explores how a globally focused strategy can help you reach more markets worldwide and increase your readers, book sales and royalties.

 

Analysis of a Breakout Novel: From Midlist to Bestseller

Speakers: Danielle Marshall and Victoria Stone

Have you ever considered starting over? Learn how Victoria Dahl wandered away from a mid-list rut in romance to jump into a new career as Victoria Helen Stone, bestselling author of psychological suspense for Amazon Publishing’s Lake Union imprint. Victoria and Danielle Marshall, the Editorial Director of Lake Union Publishing, will discuss the ins and outs of writing outside your comfort zone, when it makes sense to make a genre switch or use a new pen name, and the specific marketing levers that help a new “debut” author break out.

 

13 Reasons Why Authors NEED an INC (or LLC) NOW!

Speaker: Michael Banner

This timely workshop is designed, by an author for fellow authors, to help participants understand why forming a business entity for their writing business (whether they’re purely self-publishing or a hybrid) should be done now, and not later. Additionally, participants will gain familiarization with the filing process, actually developing the skill to create their own business entity for the lowest investment. During the workshop, a business entity will be formed for a selected participant.

 

Saturday, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

 

It's All About SEO: How to Make Your Books Findable on Search Engines

Speaker: Ricardo Fayet (Reedsy)

What do Amazon, YouTube, and Google all have in common? They’re the three most used search engines in the world — but they're not the only ones. In fact, every online book retailer is a search engine. And in this crowded publishing world, getting your book to rise to the top of search results is the most sustainable way to build a writing career.

Reedsy's Ricardo Fayet will explain how the ranking algorithms of the main search engines work, and offer practical tips and case studies on optimizing your website, blog, and product pages to sell more books.

Reedsy have grown their blog from 5,000 to 600,000 monthly visitors in just 3 years — almost exclusively through Google SEO.

 

Star Turn

Speaker: Damon Suede

Today’s readers have no time for cookie-cutter casting. What makes a main character sparkle? How do you identify the best lead to navigate your story? Unforgettable protagonists anchor blockbuster books and steer your writing process. This hands-on character class will teach you to embrace and expand popular tropes to craft a cast that showcases your voice, sets your story's hook, and creates leads worth following.

 

Diversify Your Storytelling: Emerging Platforms and Story Formats

Speaker: Kilby Blades

Emerging Platforms and Story Formats. This session will introduce some of the newer and emerging formats that authors are using to distribute their work and will analyze the trajectories of several newer formats and publishing outlets that have been around a few years (e.g., Radish, Tap by Wattpad, Hooked, Choice of Games, etc.). This session will be part commentary and emerging industry analysis, part overview of the submission process, (what they’re currently buying) and intel culled from interviewing current authors.

 

Saturday, 3:15 – 4:15 PM

 

BookFunnel for the Advanced Indie Author

Speaker: Damon Courtney

You’re a NINC author, so you’ve already got some books out there, and you’re getting some sales. But, what can you do to take your author career to the next level? Damon Courtney, the creator of BookFunnel, is going to show you some of the more advanced features of BookFunnel and how authors are blazing their own path in the indie world. Selling direct from your own website, selling or giving away books in person, and creating your own members-only subscriptions are just some of the ways that BookFunnel authors are crushing it and making readers happy at the same time.

 

Character Building

Speaker: Damon Suede

Bestsellers start with fascinating people. Go beyond looks, persona, and boilerplate traits with a simple, powerful technique that will strengthen your plots, your hooks, and your voice so you can build the perfect cast to dazzle your readers without gimmicks or hiccups. Whether you like to wing it or bring it, you’ll leave with a new set of tools to populate your pages and lay the foundations of unforgettable fiction.

 

Create Attractive Ads That Get Clicked

Speakers: Josh Wiley, Corey Alderin, Kathleen Sweeney of Book Brush

During this workshop, you will learn about common mistakes in book ads so you can avoid them and make better ads that get clicked. We will show you actionable steps to improving your ads for different platforms and how to turn a failing campaign into a success. Even the “graphically challenged” author can create attractive ads by following these steps.

 

Saturday, 4:30 – 5:30 PM

 

Does Your Business Plan have a Happily Ever After?

Speaker: Joe Solari

Many obstacles that authors face aren’t specific to publishing; they’re common issues faced by most small business owners. Just as a writer can become a better storyteller by improving skills in the craft, so can you have the mindset to make you a boss of your business. In this session, you will learn about how to ride the meta-trends wave, how to find alignment in your various business roles, business strategies and tactics that help build long-term wealth, and how to use the tax code and business practices as your most potent tools in accomplishing your wealth creation goals.

 

Everything Writers Don’t Need to Know about The Chicago Manual of Style

Speaker: Carol Saller

“Chicago style” is the style overwhelmingly preferred by US publishers. But CMOS is nearly 1,200 pages long! What does that mean for the writer? Aren’t creative writers allowed to break all the rules? This introduction to CMOS by one of its editors covers the essentials—including what you can ignore and what you need to know before you break the rules. Learning some of the top preferences of copyeditors will help you submit your work with confidence to agents and editors.

 

Make Your Own Audiobook - A Simplified Guide

Speaker: M.L. Buchman

Audio is the up-and-coming market, but the price of entry can be a horrific $300 to 500 per finished hour and up. M.L. Buchman has recorded and published over 30 audio titles. Come learn the questions to ask yourself about the decisions you need to make. Find out why you're wrong when you “hate your own voice.” Learn about tools, techniques, and free studio space. Quantify direct, and most importantly of all, indirect costs. Come and learn how to decide if you’re willing to tackle the “Narrated by Author” beast.

 

Saturday, 7:00 PM - Beachside Blowout Buffet (You don’t want to miss it!)

 

Sunday, 9:30 - 10:30

Annual General Meeting (NINC Members Only)

 

Sunday, 10:45 – Noon

Lou Unplugged (Open to all attendees)

Speaker: Lou Aronica

by

Nink Knowledge: Mixing Traditional Publishing & Self-Publishing

This article, written by Lindsay Randall, is from the July 2019 edition of Nink, the monthly newsletter of Novelists, Inc.  (NINC). Nink, which is packed each month with informative articles for career novelists, is a benefit of NINC membership. 

(Editor’s note: For the purposes of this article, hybrid is defined as having published front list in both trad & indie during 2018-2019.)

Is it double the trouble or worth the effort to publish front list titles both traditionally and indie?

Several of NINC’s hybrid authors shared their thoughts, words of wisdom and warning, and how each times releases to widen her reach.

Why publish trad and indie simultaneously?

For author Katie MacAlister, concurrently publishing indie and trad offers the opportunity to push beyond boundaries of style and storytelling while reaping the benefits of publisher support and a conduit to a larger readership.

“It’s the best of both worlds, allowing me freedom to write whatever twangs my strings, yet remain in the traditionally published world,” she said.

MacAlister’s most recent trad title is Day of the Dragon, the second book in the paranormal Dragon Hunter series (March 2019, Hachette Group). Her latest self-pub book is the contemporary romance Ever Fallen in Love, released November 2018.

While the genres may differ, MacAlister noted that she sees an uptick in her self-pubbed sales whenever a new trad book is released.

“My publishers have connections and abilities that I either lack or don’t want to spend time doing. They put books up on NetGalley, arrange for reviews in trade journals, organize blog features, run ads and contests, coordinate PR campaigns online, and so on. They usually have a longer reach with subsidiary sales and contacts within foreign publishing companies,” she said. “It's also nice to be able to write a book and hand it over for editing, production, and cover work without having to arrange for all that myself.”

Indie publishing also netted her a new publisher. She released Fireborn in 2018, the first book in a new series she wanted to write regardless if a publisher wanted it. She’d no sooner posted news of the release than Kensington made an offer. It was a bid MacAlister liked. Kensington will re-release Fireborn in June and two other books in the series.

“I’d highly recommend being hybrid to any author,” said Bronwen Evans, who writes and publishes historical romance through indie and trad channels. “This market is ever-changing—in fact, it’s more like revolving and spinning. I think it’s good to ensure you have a foot in each camp.”

Attracted to the Earl is her most recent trad release (May 2019, Random House), while her latest indie offering is To Tempt a Highland Duke, released in April as part of the Dukes By the Dozen multi-author boxed set.

Evans said she loves the freedom found in self-publishing and appreciates the marketing available through her traditional publisher.

Words of wisdom and warning

Both MacAlister and Evans said they must deal with non-compete clauses.

“My agent works hard to eliminate any non-compete clauses in my contracts, narrowing the language so that I can write outside of a series whenever the whim strikes me,” MacAlister said. “I do try to remain cognizant of how many books are coming out and when. Since I'm not a rapid release sort of writer, I like to make sure I have a new book dropping every few months, and I will shift my self-pubbed books to make that happen.”

As for Evans, the non-compete clause nearly made her walk away from traditional publishing.

“In the past two years, non-compete clauses began to pop into my contracts and the non-compete period got longer and longer,” she said. “I have a good agent, and we tweak most of the clause now and work around it with my release schedule.”

Lyn Cote, who has been hybrid since 2010 and traditionally published for 12+ years before that, said “being a hybrid is a juggling act” of positioning indie titles around the release of trad titles.

She, too, worked through an agent to deal with the non-compete clauses, remaining with Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historical line until its end in 2018 (her last title was Suddenly a Frontier Father, part of the Wilderness Brides series). She stayed because most of her readers purchased their books in Walmart “and Harlequin could get me into almost every Walmart in the U.S. and Canada.”

She noted that sales for both increased whenever an indie book released around the time a traditionally published book came out. (She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical novels. The Heart Hopes is her latest indie title.)

Today Cote said the biggest reality in all retailing is that more people are shopping online.

“When an author looks at a traditional contract, he/she must ask these questions: ‘Where will my publisher sell these books?’ and ‘What will they do to actively make my books visible?’” she said.

Cozy mystery author Lynn Cahoon, who indie writes in romance as Lynn Collins, said “keeping your foot in both worlds gives you an edge over other authors.”

“I now have a better understanding of the entire process for publishing a book, which gives me the ability to ask for things I know the publisher can do and not look stupid asking for things they can't do,” Cahoon said. “As authors, sometimes we don't know enough about the entire book publishing cycle.”

Cahoon’s most recent trad title is Mother’s Day Mayhem (April 2019, Kensington), part of the Tourist Trap Mystery series. Her most recent self-published title is Country Hearts, book five of the Castle View romance series.

“You have to plan your time and energy well,” Cahoon said. “Make sure you’re taking as much time writing and editing your self-published books that you do with your trad. And think about marketing. You can't just put a book up on Amazon (especially under a new name) and expect it to sell.”

For Lea Wait, the model of pubbing both indie and traditionally offers her a larger income (to date, her trad books out-earn her self-published titles), while allowing her the freedom to write what she wants in whatever genre she chooses.

She traditionally publishes mysteries (her latest is Thread on Arrival: A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery [April 2019, Kensington]) and indie publishes historical and young adult fiction (Justice & Mercy: A Post-Civil War Mystery in February).

Wait markets all of her books together, regardless of genre. When speaking or signing, she has both types of books available, plus blogs about both, and features them on postcards she shares with fans.

Timing releases/widening the reach

Each author said they time self-pubbed titles around their traditionally published titles and take care not to dilute the market.

“My traditional books come out about every nine to 12 months,” Wait said. “I try to have indie books come between them.”

For Cahoon, she tries to avoid releasing her self-pubbed romance in the months she has a mystery releasing on the traditional side.

“My trad contracts all say I can't give a book to another publisher before I complete this contract, except anything written under Lynn Collins,” she added. “In a perfect world, I'd love to have one release a month—trad or indie.”

Evans plans her release schedule each January. She also watches cover design on the trad side so that it doesn’t clash with the indie side, and she makes use of her self-published work as giveaways and free reads for newsletter signups, marketing all of her releases to all readers.

MacAlister said she staggers books to release three or four times a year, and adds a link to all works in the end matter of every indie book. “Being very, very organized is a must,” she said.

Wait summed it up like this: “Take a lot of deep breaths and don’t overcommit yourself in either direction. Make sure you meet contracted deadlines. Have fun with the whole idea!”

________________________

Lindsay Randall serves as assistant editor of Nink, and while she has indie published front list and backlist, she hopes to once again work with a traditional publisher.

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