New Renaissance Ink, LLC (NRInk):  A Publishing House
  • Home
    • About
    • Titles and Authors
  • New Releases
  • Publishing Options
    • Traditional
    • Basic Package
    • Pro Package
    • Submission Requirements
  • The Ink Spotlight
  • Writers Should Know This Blog
  • Special Projects
    • Ink Spotlight Partial Audio Books (PABs)
    • The Let's Write for a Change (LWC) Initiative >
      • Let\'s Write for a Change (LWC) 2015
      • Let's Write for a Change (LWC) 2011 >
        • LWC 2011 Winners
    • Stephen D. Davis Mentorship Award & Scholarship >
      • Stephen D. Davis Award Winners
    • Breast Cancer Awareness Calendar

Work, work, and more work! Such is the life.

9/13/2013

0 Comments

 
As the target date of 16 September approaches, I have a bundle of mixed emotions.  Again, I will have the opportunity to release a body of work in memory of my uncle Harvey, and in honor of all my family and friends who have supported me along the way.  But I'm also very nervous.  I know the work is good, but even after having been a writer all of my life, I still get a case of "Is it good enough?" swirling about in my head.  Not in a crippling fear sort of way, but in an always overthinking everything sort of way.  I tell myself that such is the life of a published author.

I've put in a lot of effort to making this revision of The Other Side of 30, 2nd Edition (TOST2), something that readers can enjoy as much as (hopefully more) than the last release.  I'm a good kind of tired, with lots more to be done, to make sure that the book is available for purchase on time.  Figuring out these links is exhausting, but I want to make finding and buying my book an easy task, so I gotta just work it out.
 
And right on the heels of the TOS2, is the Up from Here project, and then The Other Side of 40 (TOSF), my sort of sequel to TOST2.  All of this, I'm hoping to get accomplished by the end of the year.  Whew! Work, work, and more work!  But I'm liking this life.

I said I wanted to own my own publishing house, and that's what I've got. And everything that goes along with it.  Planning, budgeting, publicity, marketing, hiring editors, designers, publicists, and running everything by my attorney and accountant before making my decisions.  It's not what I thought it would be like, but it's nice to be in this kind of control.  Plus, once I'm good and off the ground with my own pet projects, I'll be a better informed and vastly more experienced publisher.  I can start helping other unknowns and upstarts to get their chances at sharing their work with the world.

I'm not in the "Awesome" phase, yet, but I think I'm on the right track. I no longer fear not being "good enough"  If someone doesn't like the work, I just tuck that away into the "needs improvement" file, and know that I just have to keep improving and growing.
I think that's important for anyone who would call him/herself a writer.  I think that writers who don't improve and grow are not being the best they can be.

As always, good luck, to all writers and artists to put out the best products possible.  We have to remember that no matter how hard the work is to get to quality, junk peddling is not an option. Love the craft.
Buy Now
The Other Side of 30 (2nd Edition)
0 Comments

One Step Closer to Publication is Way Better Than Standing Still

8/11/2013

0 Comments

 
Hello, writers and readers!
The final files for THE OTHER SIDE OF 30 are ready for publication, with the UP FROM HERE files next in the chute.  The final cover looks pretty awesome, and I'm very excited to see how well this second edition will be received by readers.  As for the next steps, I'm going to upload will be for the paperback, and then see how that goes before I upload files for the hardcover and ebook, and start thinking about the 
PAB projects.  

My latest thought is that I want to use case laminate for the hardcover instead of the cloth book cover with a book jacket.  I think it will be nice to have something a little different from what you usually see on the shelves.  Case laminate is a tad bit cheaper, to publish, too.  You don't see much case laminate out there, but I think I like it.  Since most of my books will be shorter novella-style books, I believe that will work as well as, if not better than book jackets.  We'll see. 

Geez.  It seems like so much time is passing between the start and finish of any of my ideas, from thoughts to projects to finished products, but I keep telling myself that the key is to keep moving, even when I don't feel like it.  Small steps are better than no steps, right?  I think that's true for writing and in everything.  Too bad, there's no secret formula to staying motivated, but as writers and publishers, we just have to dig deep and keep going.  *Shoulder to the wheel.*

0 Comments

One Step Closer to Publication of New Release

6/21/2013

0 Comments

 
Finally sent the completed proposed publishing agreements to the remaining contributors of the Up from Here project. 
I'm looking forward to turning out a great piece of work for a great cause, and I'm trying hard to stay motivated through the whole process.  It's nice to be one step closer.  
I know quite a few people who run their own publishing companies, so many others who publish their own books.  Some, I admire. Others, not so much.  I just want to get this right.  I have to admit that I get discouraged seeing how some people make it look so easy and so fast.
This project has been turning and churning in my head since 2009.  It was already like pulling teeth to get people to contribute, especially considering all of the very talented people I know who would have been great to have on board, and along the way, some who initially agreed to participate have bowed out.  Understandably so, since it's taking so long to get it off the ground, but still. I wish I would know more sooner so I could do more faster.  *Sigh*  Some contributors have stayed on board, but I can't help but wonder how long they'll stick with it.  I hope, I hope, I hope!
Geez. It really is a labor of love. So much time, energy and money invested in getting this right.  And then, more time.  And then, publicity!  God, help me.
But yeah. It's still nice to be one step closer.  I hope that readers will find it all worth the wait.  *Shoulder to the wheel.*
0 Comments

"Up from Here" Publishing Agreements

7/4/2012

0 Comments

 
Woohoo! I got one of the publishing agreements back from my attorney for Up from Here. Only 11 more to go! I am so grateful to all of the contributors to this project, for being so patient with this part of the process.  I will be sending the agreements out to each contributor as the get ready.
That said, I am announcing that the Up from Here project will be released in December, in time for the holidays, rather than my originally intended date of 16 September, my late Uncle Harvey's birthday.
Geez.  I'm not sure how other publishers get it done so fast and make it look so easy; but slow and steady is a good pace, as long as it's done right.
As writers, I think it's important to keep in mind that the writing and publishing process is going to be different for each of us, depending on the routes we take.  Some writers will choose to self-publish/POD publish, while others will continue to pursue the traditional model.  Others may find a way to use a combination of both models.  But it is all a great, and apparently, lengthy process.  Writing is just the beginning. 

After publishing agreements are signed, then the work goes to the editors.  Then, we can work on our marketing and distribution strategies.  And then, the project can be prepared for and go to press.  Then, there is more marketing and publicity stuff to do and keep doing, if any project is ever going to be successful.  Whew!
New Renaissance Ink is an up-and-coming publisher, and our steps will continue to be slow and deliberate, for the sake of quality writing and effective marketing and distribution.  By working closely with my attorney on all of our publishing agreements, I'm making sure that my words are true to my intent, for my writers and my business.  Geez Louise, is he methodical and thorough.  A good thing, I know.  My hope is that the writers and readers of New Renaissance Ink products will benefit to the fullest extent from our efforts.

0 Comments
    Subscribe in a reader

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Writer Stuff

    Writers Should Know This is a no frills, learning-as-I-go blog for new writers seeking insight on the writing and publishing journey, and for any readers who may be interested in what we do to get written, published and read.

    Archives

    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All
    Backspace
    Blogs
    Business
    Communication
    Facebook
    Fear
    Life
    People
    Publishing
    Reading
    Reviews
    The Other Side Of 30
    Time
    Up From Here
    Websites
    Writers Conferences
    Writing

    RSS Feed