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Self Publishing with IngramSpark: 5 Tips for Designers

2021-02-19
Woman in a sun hat while reading a book and smiling
Photo by Mental Health America (MHA) from Pexels

I just wrapped up my first experience self publishing with IngramSpark and an author client. My initial impressions:

  1. The experience has added much value to my business offerings.
  2. I had a doll of a client for my introduction to self publishing.
  3. And I am so proud to have been a part of such a positive contribution to the field of early childhood development.

To clarify, the services I provided were unique in their scope. What I mean is that I did the copy editing, design (including cover and layout), proofreading, some publishing research, and a little last-minute photo retouching.

In addition, because I was the copy editor, I was able to make content recommendations throughout the design process. These last tweaks included final additions such as reviewer quotes and back-of-the-book descriptions.

Reflecting on Self Publishing with IngramSpark

Now that the process has wrapped up, I’ve been reflecting on the most challenging aspects. I’ve also been noting a few things I wish I had known at the start.

So here’s my list of five tips, plus a bonus, I wish I’d known going into this process of self publishing with IngramSpark. These points will be heavy on my mind next time around, and I recommend other freelance designers and editors take note!

1. Beware of revision fees when self publishing with IngramSpark.

Calculator with coins and bills gathered around it to show the rising costs of self-publishing with IngramSpark
Image by Bruno /Germany from Pixabay 

We ended up publishing all formats, including the print edition, with IngramSpark because it’s the leader in self publishing. However, besides having notoriously inefficient customer service, IngramSpark loves to charge a revision fee of $25 for each file.

Now, I did know this going into self publishing with IngramSpark, but I did not understand that “each file” means the cover (1) and the interior file (2).

That’s two files, so if you need to change both after IngramSpark has generated an eproof for you to approve, IngramSpark charges $50. That is already a pretty hefty fee, but that adds up if you need to do multiple test runs. I’ll talk about that more down this list.

2. Paper weights have dramatically different effects.

Open book with pages in middle folded into the shape of a heart
Image by Linus Schütz from Pixabay 

If you’re going to print in color, paper weight is very important. We decided to go with the lightest and cheapest weight, 50 lb, to keep the price of the book down. However, the 70 lb weight is really the most ideal for photos.

We had about three photos in each chapter, which is the main reason we had to do multiple print runs. With each test, we tweaked certain photos and held our breath that those would be the winners.

We did do a test run with a local printer, but they only had 60 lb paper. That test run turned up deceptively beautiful pages, so we were quite disappointed when we got the first printed copies from IngramSpark.

If you or your client have access to a professional printer with 50 lb paper, try a few test pages there. Both of you will save time and money before self publishing with IngramSpark.

3. Using cover templates can be challenging when self publishing with IngramSpark.

A woman holds a large stack of hardcover books to show how spines can change while self-publishing with IngramSpark
Image by MorningbirdPhoto from Pixabay 

IngramSpark provides cover templates. These templates are useful and easy to obtain from its website without even having to sign into an account.

However, being new to this game of self publishing with IngramSpark, I found the spine guides a bit challenging. With each paper weight change, you have to get a new cover template. That’s because the spine has to be wider to make up for the thickness of the pages. You also need a new one for each change in page count, obviously.

In the beginning, I found this challenging to grasp because I struggled to get my image to fit on the page properly. My image was a bit complicated in that the back cover was split up into several pieces. The pieces combined to mimic a large forested background that was actually quite small in the original photograph shown on the front cover.

Fortunately, the cover turned out great and the “pieces” were not at all obvious. However, it was difficult to reinsert them into each new template revision. In short, make room in your budget for revisions if you have a complex cover design when self publishing with IngramSpark!

4. Printing takes a long time.

An hourglass is about three quarters full on top with the other quarter of sand on the bottom to show the slow passage of time while self-publishing with IngramSpark
Image by nile from Pixabay 

When you submit a new file or two, be aware that it takes up to two days for IngramSpark to process it before you can order a print copy. But the next thing I didn’t know was that I should wait until the first order has been printed before submitting new files.

Basically, we thought we would get a print run on the 70 lb weight first. Then we would immediately submit files in the 50 lb weight. The result was that we both got the 50 lb weight.

I complained to IngramSpark and was briskly informed after waiting four days for a reply that I should have been more patient. Basically, I should have waited almost two weeks before asking for another print run or just set up a new title—for a $49 fee plus the cost of an additional ISBN, of course.

I gently then asked what can they do about the inconvenience since it is not clear on their website when self publishing with IngramSpark. After another four days, I got a promo code for revision fees. That timing turned out well because I needed to submit new files the very next day.

In conclusion, all this takes a long time, not only because you have to wait for the files to be processed, printed, and then sent to you, but also because IngramSpark customer service is sluggish at best and the online chat option is hit or miss and not really all that helpful from my experience.

Update

Right at the end of this process of self publishing with IngramSpark, I joined the #IngramSparkAuthor Community Facebook group. That is how I found out that I could message IngramSpark through its own Facebook page. The difference was remarkable. I got someone on chat within an hour or two each time, and my issues were resolved the same day.

The rep I worked with was named Patrick. Patrick sure saved the day when we were having issues with transferring my account over to the author’s. We needed it fixed fast to stay on target with the intended distribution date (which had been delayed from late October to early February).

5. A fast-paced schedule is relative when self publishing with IngramSpark.

A large analog clock with a miniature woman climbing up the digits and hanging onto the second hand
Image by ThePixelman from Pixabay 

We were naïve about self publishing with IngramSpark. The author and I had a productive first conversation in August, I got started on copyediting in September, and we finished the content revisions with no delay by the end of that month. Then when we discussed the design schedule, I actually suggested that we could have it all done in a few weeks!

First Delay

The first week was cool, we decided on a basic layout and maybe got held up a day or two. Then we needed to do some research on self-publishing logistics and that’s when we had our first real delay.

We ended up pushing our initial test run to just before Thanksgiving (late November), with the innocent assumption that we would then publish in early December. That would have been just about five weeks later than originally determined.

Second Delay

When we got our first copies of the book, we realized that a few things needed tweaking, especially those photos on 50 lb paper. Another two weeks later, and we got the next version.

We only had to tweak two photos then, finalize the back cover, edit the acknowledgments, and provide new metadata. But since it was a couple days before Christmas, we didn’t get the final test run until early January.

Third Delay

This final run was the winner, but then we started to look into the ebook edition. We originally thought we would go with Draft2Digital, which has excellent customer service. However, D2D couldn’t get us the colorful headings and photos that self publishing with IngramSpark seemed to promise.

The final conclusion was that we would have to wait another two weeks while IngramSpark converted the paperback to EPUB and then decide if we were happy with it.

Then! Once the EPUB was converted, IngramSpark neglected to send the author a link to the file. They did proudly proclaim, however, that the book had been put into distribution! A couple days later, we had discovered the Facebook chat option I mentioned earlier and were able to get a file to look at.

Finally Published!

To our pleasant surprise, the EPUB looked great, and we published both editions on February 1, 2021. That was just a little more than three months later than our original target.

Bonus Tip

Always, always, always set up the account in the author’s name when self publishing with IngramSpark. I followed some bad advice somewhere out there in the cyber ether and set up the account in my name.

As a result, I had some painfully anxious moments later when I realized it could take up to a month to transfer the account over to the author. I was also warned that she might need all new ISBNs in the process. Fortunately, we worked it out in the end, and it didn’t take as long as expected. But, just save yourself the stress and don’t risk it!

Final Thoughts on Self Publishing with IngramSpark

Although I may have bashed IngramSpark quite a bit for customer service and seeming overcharges, the resulting product is beautiful and well worth it. That’s especially if you’ve already been through the process once and know what to expect.

Takeaway #1: Have a Realistic Timeline

Even if you and your client are fast workers, production is bound to hold you up at some point. And that’s the game in publishing in general as I’ve gleaned from others working in the field.

Takeaway #2: Consider the Time of Year

We began the design process shortly before the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, which is closely followed by Christmas and New Year’s. If you publish any other time of year, you might not be held up as much as we were. At one point, IngramSpark was warning customers that, due to the holiday season, print runs could take up to 10 days before even being shipped out!

Takeaway #3: Keep Track of Your Costs

When self publishing with IngramSpark, be sure your client has a solid budget. Also, suggest that the author have a contingency allowance of about 20% more for those unplanned expenses like additional test runs or last-minute photo tweaking.

Takeaway #4: Establish a Good Team

The fact that I can both edit and design probably kept us from being even four or more months later than originally planned because we didn’t have to call on an editor for last-minute proofreading. If you don’t have such a skill set yourself, be prepared to need extra time at the end for someone who can’t just hop in whenever they are needed. 


I hope this post has been helpful to you as you embark on your own adventure of self publishing with IngramSpark. To keep up to date on my weekly blog posts, learn tips on freelancing, and get my ebook Quick Guide to Freelancing (for free!), be sure to sign up for my newsletter.

Finally, if you want to pick up some writing or time management skills for your freelance business, check out my courses available on Udemy and LearnDesk. You can also follow me on social media by clicking one of the links in the sidebar, or you can share this post using the links below:

Decaf Turkish Coffee: Love in an Ibrik

2021-02-12
A cup of decaf Turkish coffee in front a laptop
Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay 

COFFEE.* Now that I have your attention … I’m going to talk about my newest love that any freelancer with a die-hard java obsession that’s unfortunately paired with a caffeine sensitivity should pay attention to: decaf Turkish coffee.

Quick heads-up:
This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission should you decide to purchase items I recommend via affiliate links.

I’ve been drinking coffee on and off all my adult life. For many years, I drank it straight, black, and strong just as I enjoyed it in a little cup in Paris when I was an art history student.

Later, I learned to add a pinch of salt to cut the bitterness. And for a short time, I added some conciliatory heavy cream when I had to cut caffeine in my 30s because it messed with my blood sugar.

And to make matters worse, at the start of my 40s, I had to cut coffee completely when I developed acid reflux. I compensated with chicory root tea for a while. I guess that helped build up the anticipation for decaf Turkish coffee later on. I’ll get to that soon.

You Never Forget Your First Love

But the fragrant memory of cuppa joe somehow continued to linger in my nostrils as I woke each morning. It helped that my husband has loathed the stuff ever since he worked as a restaurant server a couple decades ago. He certainly doesn’t insist on having that “nasty stuff” around!

I woman inhales the scent of decaf Turkish coffee

Eventually, though, I gave in to the inevitable and introduced decaf instant coffee in the afternoons. Yes, it was a poor substitute but a substitute it was, nonetheless.

With instant coffee, I was able to more easily control the strength and monitor any adverse reactions. Of course, over time I increased the number of teaspoons and started to wonder if I should just start getting the quality stuff again.

I had discovered that mid-afternoon, after my lunch had settled, was the best time to avoid any heartburn. It was also the perfect time for decaf Turkish coffee as I would next discover.

Swept Away by Decaf Turkish Coffee

After my husband and I bought a sailboat, we found, among the many treasures left behind by various previous owners, a special little device. We originally thought the device was just for steaming milk, so it sat in a box for a while.

An ibrik used for decaf Turkish coffee
My well-loved and adored ibrik, found on a sailboat

I believe the one we have is called an ibrik, and it has proven itself the perfect decaf Turkish coffee maker.

Now, each mid-afternoon, after finishing up some copyedits to a report or stopping for a break from designing a research brief, I step over to the kitchen and brew up some decaf Turkish coffee.

Before putting it on the stove, I savor the aroma of Gevalia, the cardamom I liberally sprinkle into the grounds, and the divine splash of vanilla. My first love has returned! Yes, my first love is coffee, and any true coffee lover would not judge me for that.

Decaf Turkish Coffee Is Simply the Best

I’m going to make a declaration that you may, at your own risk, argue against if you like. Brewing coffee this way is the best way!

There, I said it. I’ve tried French press, pour-over, moka pot, Keurig, drip, and—shudder—instant. I’ve ground my own beans ahead or right before imbibing.

But my decaf Turkish coffee has so far proven to be the best of them all. I thought I had reached my limit as an addict and it could never get any better, especially without the benefit of caffeine. However, I have pleasantly discovered how wrong I was.

It’s the Thought That Counts

I know I don’t do it particularly the “right” way, though. I’m supposed to boil the water first, not put all the ingredients in at once. And I’m also not supposed to strain out the grounds rather than let them settle to the bottom. I’m also definitely not supposed to add half and half to it.

But you do your decaf Turkish coffee and I’ll do mine. And I’ll sit by the window sipping this delicious brew (who am I kidding—I’m probably watching Netflix or Hulu more often than not) before heading back to my desk to finish the rest of the day’s freelance work.

To keep up to date on my weekly blog posts, learn tips on freelancing, and get my ebook Quick Guide to Freelancing (for free!), be sure to sign up for my newsletter.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Remember to enjoy the simple things, especially during these challenging times. How do you like your coffee? Can you claim it as your first love too? Please let me know in the comments or share this post using one of the links below.

*I would have left coffee just like that in its own paragraph if not for stupid SEO. But, alas, I have to make sure I have a key phrase in the first paragraph if I want to rank.

Time Blocking with Google Calendar (Part 2)

2021-02-05
A screenshot of one week in January using time blocking with Google Calendar. Days are blocked off with color-coded time blocks for specific tasks with long projects listed at the top.
A snapshot of my system for time blocking with Google Calendar

In my previous post, I discussed the daily task checklist as a tool for organizing freelancer schedules. In this post, I’ll take a look at the pros and cons of time blocking with Google Calendar.

At the end, I’ll provide a brief conclusion about both systems. Then, you’ll get my final verdict based on this way super-duper deep and exciting examination!

Quick heads-up:
This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission should you decide to purchase items I recommend via affiliate links.


PRO
Time Blocking with Google Calendar

You can allocate time to different-size tasks.

When you are time blocking with Google Calendar, you set aside time for a specific task or project at a specific time of day and focus only on that during that time slot.

If the task takes several hours, you can allocate time, say 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., then take lunch, answer emails, and complete some other task that also needs to be done that day (also time blocked), and then carry on with the original task from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

CON
Time Blocking with Google Calendar

You have to be able to identify how long a task will take.

It can be difficult to determine how long a task will take, and it can be challenging to figure out how to complete other tasks around it that also need to be done that day.

Solution?

Keep track of how long tasks take you using a spreadsheet or other tracking medium you prefer. I use Microsoft Excel* to log my start and end times and then note what project I worked on. Over time, I’ve built up a record of how long different types of tasks take me. And I use that to determine my time blocks for each task.

*To learn more about my tracking system, check out my course “Complete Time Management for Freelancers” on Udemy and LearnDesk.

PRO
Time Blocking with Google Calendar

You can schedule priorities according to your daily rhythms.

When you’re time blocking, you can schedule your most important tasks and most demanding tasks strategically throughout the day. For example, I know that I do my best copyediting and writing work in the mornings, so I block off that time of day for those types of tasks.

However, I also have to balance deadlines, so sometimes I have to compromise a little and maybe push some writing to the early afternoon if a client is waiting on a design project first thing.

CON
Time Blocking with Google Calendar

It can be hard to identify high and low priorities.

With so much on your plate, that ever-growing list can be overwhelming. Which one is the most important, the most urgent, or both? For example:

  • Your most demanding client needs you to turn in a couple mockups by noon.
  • Your dog is barking and needs to go out.
  • Your tooth is throbbing and you need to make time for an urgent dental appointment.
  • You still haven’t been able to get started on building your new website.

Solution?

Take time to think about what’s really important. I’d recommend reading Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. In it, Covey provides sage advice on how to identify what’s important, urgent, not important, and not urgent.

The key is to work toward living most of your life in the quadrant of “important and not urgent.” Once you’ve done that, you can handle whenever those “important and urgent” things arise. As you start time blocking with Google Calendar, you’ll find that the more you time block, the more seamless identifying priorities will become.

PRO
Time Blocking with Google Calendar

You can plan out your day carefully and precisely.

When you’re time blocking with Google Calendar, you can plan out your day and even your week down to the half hour or even the quarter hour. You can feel assured that what you’ve set out to do that week has its place and will get done.

And if tasks end up taking longer than anticipated or deadlines shift, you can easily just move those blocks around, especially if you’re using an online calendar. Just drag and drop!

CON
Time Blocking with Google Calendar

You have constant interruptions that disrupt your carefully planned schedule.

Unfortunately, interruptions will strike eventually, and sometimes they can be substantial. And maybe that’s even just the nature of your type of freelance gigs.

You can have good intentions, set up all your tasks when time blocking with Google calendar, and know exactly how long each will take you … Then a client calls you to discuss some urgent issue for what was supposed to be 5 minutes that turned into 2 hours.

Solution?

Consider a combination of time blocking with Google Calendar and daily task checklist! Use time blocking for meetings and non-negotiable tasks or make time blocks flexible.

If your clients are less active in the mornings, plan your most demanding tasks for that time. Then leave the afternoon free for less urgent and less demanding tasks that are laid out on an organized, prioritized to-do list. You can use a combination of Google Keep checklists and Google Tasks or some other app or web-based tool.


Conclusion

In sum, and in my determination to prove that time blocking with Google Calendar is the best system, I somehow managed to state that both are pretty great. And used in conjunction, they are a force to be reckoned with.

To learn more about how to manage your time and priorities effectively, check out my online course. In “Complete Time Management for Freelancers” you’ll learn to identify priorities, organize them, and get them done. In addition, you’ll learn to keep focused and maintain good habits. Your enrollment includes access to resources like the time tracker I mentioned above, worksheets, and book recommendations. The course is available on Udemy and LearnDesk.

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About Amy

Picture of Freelance Amy: Head and shoulders of woman holding a coffee mug with a world map and bookshelf behind her.
Freelance Amy

My name is Amy, and I have over a decade of experience offering editorial and design services in the education industry. I also teach online courses and blog about all things freelance related.

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