Sometimes when you’re writing, the ideas and words flow. Other times, not so much. We know how frustrating that can be, so we gathered up some of the best strategies for writing others have shared for getting your ideas out of your head and into your product.
TIP #1: Write first, edit later
We read this in a blog from productivity expert Laura Vanderkam titled Write Fast, Edit Slow and loved it! “When you write fast, you just get it down. You let the momentum of seeing words add up push you forward," she said. "Turn off the inner critic because you’re not trying to create a perfect manuscript, if such a thing is even possible (it isn’t). ... Done is better than perfect because there is no perfect without being done. I truly believe it is easier to turn something into something better than to turn nothing into something”.
TIP #2: Know what works best for you
Everyone creates differently. If you're someone who thrives on routine, make writing a habit. If you like to wait until you're "in the zone,", then you might want to try batching. Here are tips for both writing styles:
MAKE WRITING A HABIT: What works for many people is setting aside regular time for writing and making it a habit. Set aside specific time blocks for writing. If you feel overwhelmed, start small. Write for 30 minutes a day at the time you feel most productive or creative. You'll be amazed what you've accomplished after just a few weeks of doing this.
LEARN HOW TO BATCH: We loved this tidbit writing expert Melissa Cassera shares about getting in the mood to write. She said: "Some people love writing “a little bit every day.” I do not. I like to schedule a handful of big writing days per month (called “batch days.”) When the next scheduled day rolls around, I write a ton of material in one, long, mostly-uninterrupted burst. It’s like baking a whole bunch of word-cookies all at once."
TIP #3: Get rid of interruptions
If you find your writing going nowhere due to distractions from family, friends or surroundings, take control! Silence your phone, turn off your email, send the kids to grandma's or a playdate for a few hours. If working from home is too distracting, head to your favorite coffee shop and sip on a delicious drink while letting the words flow.
TIP #4: Take a break
You can't type on that keyboard forever, and your brain deserves to rest and recharge once in awhile. So be sure to take regular breaks, this will give your mind a chance to hit the refresh button and loosen up all those brilliant thoughts that can get stuck in the bottleneck of intense focus.
We love working with you! And we love it when you share what you like about working with us. So in case you’re new to Vervante, or want to learn more about the different products and services we offer, we've rounded up 20 things that make us stand out.
#1: Publishing that helps your business grow: Here's why we are different: We encourage you to sell from your own site. We will then take care of the details of printing, packaging and shipping your orders. This way you capture the customer data, build your list, streamline the ordering process for your customers and build and grow your loyal fan base.
#2: You can use ANY shopping cart: You choose the shopping cart solution that works best for you. Then, using email, Zapier, our API or a simple text email format, we accept orders from any shopping cart.
#3: Publishing your way: We offer a variety of printing methods: digital printing, inkjet and offset, plus several cover and binding options so whether you need one or thousands, we’ve got appropriate printing and manufacturing solutions.
#4: Worldwide order fulfillment: We ship anywhere in the world using USPS and UPS services and keep you up-to-date on its status. Shipping confirmation emails are sent to recipients with tracking information. All of the order information such as status and tracking numbers are posted to your account online.
#5: Inventory Management: We can print, store, and drop ship your products on demand. We provide you with access to online, real-time inventory reporting so you know exactly what we have on hand. You set the re-order points for each item, and we'll automatically send you an email when it's time to replenish your inventory.
#6: Custom printed boxes and personalized packaging: Printed boxes for bundles, new products, VIP or subscription boxes are very popular. Vervante can help create, package, and ship these to your customers. We also offer a wide range of packaging options to help you create a box or package that stands out from the crowd. Customize your packaging on the outside with creative graphics, branding or stickers. And customize the inside with colorful tissue paper, attractive bags, mantra cards, or other unique inserts.
#7: Free Design Guides: Got design questions? We've got the answers! Free and easy to download, we've provided guides on our website for using Canva, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Illustrator that take you step-by-step through many of our most-asked about products and processes.
#8: You Can Create Disc-Bound Products! We are one of only a few companies that provide punching for a disc bound product, giving you the ability to create these highly-desirable and super-hot items. If you have a product with us that you'd like to convert for disc binding, we can help you do that too! Check out these articles: "How to Create a Disc-Bound Planner," and "How to Convert a Planner into Disc-Bound."
#9: Daily Planners Galore! If you want to create and sell a planner or journal, we can help you make it happen. We even offer the ability to sell spiral-bound or disc-bound planners on Amazon (something Amazon's self-publishing service does not offer.) We provide step-by-step guides for creating planners on our website and videos filled with ideas and expertise to help you create exactly what you want.
#10: Card Decks with Unique Packaging: Our card decks are highly customizable – they can be printed at any size, with square or round edges and in either full color or black-and-white. And when it comes to packaging – the only limit is your imagination! We’ve packaged card decks in drawstring bags, clear pop-up boxes, button/string poly envelopes and custom-printed boxes.
#11: No Hidden Costs: We believe in providing our customers with competitive prices and no hidden fees. Some of our competitors add a markup of 33% on postage. Just think how this can really add up over time! We charge exact postage fees and no mark-ups.
#12: Comprehensive Online Access to Reports, Orders, Tracking & More: The Vervante Author Dashboard is like having a central "mission control" for everything you create with us. It's an all-in-one location for placing orders, checking invoices, customizing products and more.
#13: No Package Requirements: Other companies require authors to purchase costly publishing packages to get started. These range from $449 - $1999 and usually include a lot of extras you probably don't need. We offer individual products and services so you only pay for what you need.
#14: Samples / Preview Copies of Products: You've finished writing your book or creating a new product. The design files are done and everything looks amazing... on your computer screen. But how does it look in real life? We offer print-on-demand for many of our products that allow you to order one copy of your book, card deck, planner, or other product. We want you to be happy with what you’re creating and taking the time to print a preview copy is a great way to make sure it’s everything you want it to be.
#15: Books, books, books! We print books any size, any number of pages – no pre-set page sizes and limited cover options. Whatever you want, how many you want and when you want. Paperback, hardcover, coloring (for kids or adults!), children’s books, collaborative books, cookbooks, journals, planners, and whatever else you can think of.
#16: All the legal stuff you need to know: ISBNS, LCCNS, Copyright... If you’re going to share, sell, or distribute a book in any way, it’s best to protect it legally and set it up correctly for industry specifications. We educate our customer on everything from purchasing ISBNs for retail sales to protecting their intellectual property using copyrights, and we can help you through the process to make sure it’s done right.
#17: Custom Packaging and Personalized Packing Slips: We offer a wide range of packaging from boxes to bags to creative options that you can customize to make your book or products really stand out. And every package we send out includes a packing slip that you can customize.
#18: Printing & Publishing Industry Experience: We know how important it is for authors to have access to resources and guides that they trust. That’s why we offer free resources featuring a wide range of expert guides, how-to’s, technical specifications and more, all written by our team of experts with decades of experience in the publishing industry, that keep our clients up-to-date and in-the-know for all things publishing.
#19: Personal customer service & support: Need help? No problem! We're here to make sure that your questions are addressed quickly and efficiently to ensure that your project is a success. We provide several ways to get help, beginning with an FAQ page that contains detailed answers to many common questions about our products and services and is available 24/7. Next steps are to either email us at [email protected] or schedule a phone conversation with one of our publishing specialists using the link on our Contact Us page. No matter how you reach out, you can be sure that someone experienced, attentive, and passionate about publishing is waiting to help.
#20: Always Something New: We are always working diligently to stay on the leading edge of our industry and offer you the latest and best in what your customers want - and you need.
There's lots more, but we think this will give you a good idea of how we can help you create, sell and share the books and products you want - in the way that's best for you. Thank you for your kind words. We appreciate you and your business!
Have you ever watched an unboxing video on YouTube or Instagram?
The suspense as a delivery box is opened… the drama of slowly peeling back layers of tissue paper… the surprise and fun discovering all the goodies inside!
It’s no wonder that people are hooked on these videos. It’s fun to receive a package, but it’s a much more exciting experience when it contains so much more than expected.
Special packaging like this goes by a number of names: Subscription Boxes, VIP Boxes, Book Launch Boxes, Planner Debut Boxes … but the name doesn’t matter. What matters is creating a way to deliver your products in a bold, captivating, and memorable way.
You can use this idea for everything from book launches and product debuts to special events and VIP deliveries. Any time you want your customer to feel extra special, VIP Boxes are guaranteed to get the job done.
The beauty of this idea is that it’s very customizable. You can create as much as you want, add any products you like, and customize the design and details. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
STEP #1: Start with one core product – then add some extras: Choose items to add to your box that will complement the product ordered, or that will add value to the event or program your customer signed up for. Some ideas are:
STEP #2:Add a personal message: Create a card with a personal welcome message from you. Include instructions for use, affirmations, mission or mantra statements, contact information and anything else you think would be useful and elevate the experience. This will be the first thing people see when they open the box and you want to make a great impression.
STEP #3: Think about presentation: Do you want the products nestled inside layers of colorful tissue paper? Add a touch of glamour with confetti? Carefully position in shredded packing paper or bubble wrap in colors that match your brand? Take a look at unboxing videos for similar products to yours for ideas on presentation, then let us know what you’d like to do.
STEP #4: Choose your box size: Select a box size that is appropriate for the number of products inside. You want everything to fit snugly with just enough room for packing material so items inside won’t rattle around and your products will arrive safe and sound. (We can help you choose the right size.)
STEP #5:Customize your box: A great design makes a great first impression for your customer. And it lets them know that something truly special is inside. There are two types of boxes you can choose from. We can print a custom box, like the one pictured here, or we can use a white hinged standard box and print custom labels or stickers for the lid and inside the box.
Our standard white hinged boxes (also at right) are great for on-demand or lower volumes. Both are great options for delivering your product with your branded message in a super-special way.
STEP #6: Warehousing, fulfillment and shipping: Special boxed items like these involve multiple parts that need to be assembled, packaged and delivered just right. Here at Vervante, we provide the resources and services you need for all types of boxes – for special launches, monthly subscriptions, seasonal or annual programs, special events and more – with storage, assembly and shipping that fits what you need.
If you're ready to create a box that provides an extra special experience for your customers, we can help. Start by sending an email to [email protected] for a free quote. Let us know the products you plan on using, the box size and anything else you want for this project and we'll help you get set up. Better yet, put your head together with our CEO, Cindy Tyler, and she'll provide the advice you need for the box you want to create. (Schedule a phone call by clicking here)
We love working with you! And we love it when you share what you like about working with us. So in case you’re new to Vervante, or want to learn more about the different products and services we offer, we've rounded up 20 things that make us stand out.
r packaging on the outside with creative graphics, branding or stickers. And customize the inside with colorful tissue paper, attractive bags, mantra cards, or other unique inserts.
#14: Samples / Preview Copies of Products: You've finished writing your book or creating a new product. The design files are done and everything looks amazing... on your computer screen. But how does it look in real life? We offer print-on-demand for many of our products that allow you to order one copy of your book, card deck, planner, or other product. We want you to be happy with what you’re creating and taking the time to print a preview copy is a great way to make sure it’s everything you want it to be.
Have you ever watched an unboxing video on YouTube or Instagram?
with just enough room for packing material so items inside won’t rattle around and your products will arrive safe and sound. (We can help you choose the right size.)
boxes you can choose from. We can print a custom box, like the one pictured here, or we can use a white hinged standard box and print custom labels or stickers for the lid and inside the box.