Category Archives: Company News

Columbus Publishing Lab to Sponsor The Great Novel Contest 2020

We’re pleased to announce that we’ll be sponsoring The Great Novel Contest 2020, hosted by the Ohio Writers’ Association. This year’s contest winner will be awarded a publishing contract and $1,000.

The contest opens on January 1, 2020 and closes on January 31. Find instructions for entering and more prize information on the contest page here.

Our business model has always revolved around providing writers with opportunities to succeed as authors. That’s why we support organizations like the Ohio Writers’ Association and cool contests like this one.

We’re thrilled to be a sponsor, and we wish all of the entrants luck as we head into the submission period. May the best novel win!

Acquisitions Editor to Lead Panel Discussions and Present at Local Writers’ Retreat

 

We are excited to announce that our Acquisitions Editor, Quentin Russell, will be presenting at the Second Annual Mount Gilead Autumn Writers’ Retreat this Friday and Saturday, October 25th-26th alongside authors Mindy McGinnis and Matt Betts, as well as professional book reviewers Daniel Greene and Christina Dorr. He will be participating in a variety of panel discussions, including, “Character Driven vs. Plot Driven Storylines,” “How to Keep Your Ideas Fresh,” and “Changes in Who Is Doing Critical Reviews and How.”

Columbus Publishing Lab is excited to get out of the office and spend the day connecting with local writers. It’s events like this that show the Columbus area is a thriving place for writers! We are happy to get the opportunity to invest in the writing community around us, and we hope to see you there! Thanks to the Mount Gilead Area Writers Guild for putting the event on.

Going to miss the retreat? We offer free publishing consultations, so don’t hesitate to call us at 614-805-3982 or email Quentin at info@columbuspublishinglab! We’d love to connect with you.

Now Hiring — Sales Position Available

Columbus Publishing Lab seeks a motivated, reliable salesperson. Sales experience is required, but knowledge of the publishing industry is not.

We will provide initial and ongoing one-on-one training and support to ensure the right person has the knowledge and tools to honestly represent our business in a way that showcases the value of the services that we provide. 

This is not door-to-door or MLM sales. We do not cold-call. You will be interacting with clients who have expressed a specific interest in our products and services. The opportunity to publish a book is an important and long-sought-after prospect for our clients, and we’re committed to treating them honestly and setting realistic expectations. Your function within the company is an integral part of connecting authors with the services they need to make their dreams a reality. 

Our company exists at the forefront of an exciting and rapidly adapting industry. The best candidate is a fast learner who can represent a variety of services with confidence and integrity.

You will be supported by a close-knit team of young professionals. Our office is located in a historic building in downtown Zanesville. Upon completion of training, the salesperson will have the freedom to set their own hours. You will likely end up working some late afternoons, evenings, and weekends, as leads are available to meet.

The salesperson will receive a base salary, plus commission. We are seeking a reliable candidate who loves to interact with a variety of people. The ideal candidate is a fast learner and an effective communicator who loves to enthusiastically follow a lead from generation to sale.

Job duties include:

  • Meeting potential publishing clients in the Central Ohio area to sell book publishing and book marketing services
  • Assist with in-house marketing and lead generation
  • Social media marketing
  • Some administrative duties

Candidate must have their own transportation to meet potential clients around the Central Ohio area.

You won’t be chained to a desk, dialing numbers from an endless list. Rather, you’ll have a ton of freedom to be your own boss and make connections with interesting people who are excited to talk to you. To that end, the ideal candidate is a self-starter who consistently gets results.

REQUIREMENTS:

An interest in books is an asset. Potential clients want to work with people who love books as much as they do! Through an initial training period and ongoing education, you’ll learn the ins and outs of the publishing industry and book production process. 

Impeccable communication skills. The ideal candidate understands email and phone etiquette is responsive and pleasant, and can clearly and simply explain processes in layman’s terms. Written communication should be grammatically correct and typo-free.     

Self-awareness. After an initial training period, this position will be mostly self-led. You’ll have all the tools, support, and feedback you need to make sales, and the freedom and flexibility to meet goals in a way that works with your personality and work style. With great power comes great responsibility, and it’s important that you are self-motivated and able to manage time effectively. 

Self-taught and unconventional candidates are encouraged to apply. Sales experience is required, but we care more about what you can do than your credentials. It’s OK if your previous experience isn’t related to books or book publishing.

Basic administrative skills and knowledge of social media. Applicants should have useable knowledge of Facebook and Twitter, as well as email and basic office software (Microsoft Word, etc.). Must be self-motivated to expand marketing skills/strategies as needed. 

ABOUT US: 

Office environment. Our office is located in a historical building in downtown Zanesville, Ohio. Zanesville offers big-city amenities with a low cost of living. The environment is casual and flexible.  There is potential for this position to include work-from-home opportunities.

COMPENSATION & COMMITMENT: Base salary plus commission. Expected $30,000-$50,000 per year.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION: Interested candidates should include contact information, an introductory letter and resume. Please send this information to emily@columbuspublishinglab.com.

ABOUT THE COMPANY: Columbus Publishing Lab publishes books for authors and small presses across most genres. We work hard for our clients because we respect the trust they place in us, and because work is more fulfilling when you like your job, your work environment, and you have the freedom and flexibility to create work you can be proud of.  The company was founded in Columbus, Ohio, and now operates its primary office out of Zanesville, Ohio under the direction of CEO Emily Hitchcock.

Proud Sponsor of The Great Novel Contest 2019

We’re proud to partner with the Ohio Writers’ Association for The Great Novel Contest 2019, sponsoring prizes for both the grand-prize winner and the contest runner-up.

The Great Novel Contest opens on May 1, 2019 and runs through May 31, 2019. Find all of the contest details here. 

The winner of The Great Novel Contest will receive $3,000 in credit for author development services through Columbus Publishing Lab, as well as a publishing contract from Bellwether, an imprint of the Ohio Writers’ Association. The contest runner-up will receive $1,000 in credit for author development services through Columbus Publishing Lab. Examples of services that can be purchased with this credit include:

  • Website design
  • Social media marketing
  • Platform building
  • Consultation
  • Editing and more!

We work with authors, small presses, and midsize publishers every single day, producing professional books and then marketing them to the masses. The winner and runner-up of The Great Novel Contest will each receive a boost to their marketing  budgets, as well as access to our team of experts.

Read one author’s social media success story here.  

What is The Great Novel Contest? 

The Great Novel Contest is hosted and managed by the Ohio Writers’ Association, an organization that publishes books, hosts workshops and classes, and provides myriad resources to writers in Ohio (and beyond). OWA held its first novel contest in 2013, with the intent to produce a contest in a format that respects authors, is fair and equitable, and provides a legitimate opportunity.

This year’s contest is open to original novels or nonfiction manuscripts, such as a memoirs or creative non-fiction. No children’s books or erotica will be accepted. All manuscripts must be previously unpublished.

The Ohio Writers’ Association will begin accepting submissions beginning May 1, 2019.  Submissions will be accepted until May 31, 2019.  Every manuscript submitted will be reviewed by at least one judge, without exception. All manuscripts will be judged “blind” (the judge will not be provided with the author’s name).

This contest is a fantastic opportunity for authors both new and established. We’re thrilled to be a sponsor, and we wish all of the entrants luck as we head into the submission period. May the best novel win!

Questions? Contact us here. 

Now Hiring — Graphic Designer

We are seeking a full-time graphic designer for book design and publishing projects. Apply now for a creative position with a growing company in the publishing industry.

You will work on a wide variety of projects from inception to print, with a large amount of creative control and self-direction from day one. You’ll be supported by an experienced industry veteran who will kick your work to the next level.

The graphic designer will be responsible for book cover design, interior book design, and marketing-related design work for print and digital platforms.

We’re a close-knit team. We believe that a dedication to exceptional work isn’t synonymous with a stuffy corporate atmosphere, and we know our employees do their best work when they have the freedom and flexibility to be creative.

You will not be chained to a desk cranking out one type of project over and over. Book publishing is a creative industry and you’ll gain experience with a wide variety of projects.

REQUIREMENTS:

An interest in books is important. You don’t need to be a bookworm, but we expect you to have an eye for what works on a cover, and get excited about book-ish stuff like typography.

Firm grasp of the English language. You should be able to catch typos and spelling and grammar mistakes in your own work.

Self-awareness. We’ll hand a project over to you, give you all the tools, support and feedback you need to do the job, and let your creative control reign. With great power comes great responsibility, and it’s important that our designer is self-motivated and is able to manage time effectively.

Self-taught and unconventional candidates are encouraged to apply. we care more about what you can do than your credentials.  Applicants should have some experience using design skills in a real-world setting. It’s OK if your previous design experience isn’t related to book publishing.

Strong technical skills. Applicants should have useable knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator as well as Microsoft Word. Must be self-motivated to expand technical skills as needed. Illustration and fine arts skills are a plus but not required.

ABOUT US: 

Office environment. Our office is located in a historical building in downtown Zanesville, Ohio. Zanesville offers big-city amenities with a low cost of living. The environment is casual and flexible.  There is potential for this position to include work-from-home opportunities.

COMPENSATION & COMMITMENT: Negotiable, up to $32,000 yr., salary.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION: Interested candidates should include contact information, an introductory letter, resume, and samples of your work or a portfolio link. Please send this information to emily@columbuspublishinglab.com.

ABOUT THE COMPANY: Columbus Publishing Lab publishes books for authors and small presses across most genres. We work hard for our clients because we respect the trust they place in us, and because work is more fulfilling when you like your job, your work environment, and you have the freedom and flexibility to create work you can be proud of.  The company was founded in Columbus, Ohio, and now operates its primary office out of Zanesville, Ohio under the direction of CEO Emily Hitchcock.

A New Day for Columbus Publishing Lab – Introducing Emily Hitchcock as Chief Executive Officer

Dear friends, clients and colleagues,

It is my pleasure to introduce Emily Hitchcock as Chief Executive Officer of Columbus Publishing Lab.

My role with the company is changing. I’ll still be working with Emily and our staff as a developmental editor, but my primary focus will be outside of the company where I will be launching a non-profit school for creative writing.

Emily has served alongside me as the Chief Operating Officer for many years. She has learned the industry inside and out, and is already more familiar with the day-to-day operations of our company than I am. She is hardworking, creative, honest, and pushes herself to excellence every day. I am confident that she’ll continue to represent the company with integrity, and to carry on the tradition, values, and mission that have defined our organization.

I step away from my role as CEO confident that every author and client our company serves will continue to receive excellent service and transparent communication.

It has been a pleasure to serve so many wonderful authors. I look forward to working alongside Emily and seeing the company continue to soar under her direction.

This transition will not affect any services that our authors and clients are presently receiving.

Thank you for your support and understanding in this transition. Please contact us with any questions.

Here’s to a new generation of excellence at Columbus Publishing Lab.

– Brad Pauquette
Founder, Columbus Publishing Lab

P.S. Learn more about my non-profit organization, the School of Kingdom Writers, at www.SOKW.org.

Now Hiring: Digital Production Intern

We are hiring for an in-house position at our office in Zanesville, Ohio.

We have listed this position as an internship, however, applicants seeking full-time work are encouraged to apply.  Pay rate is negotiable for candidates with a developed skillset and experience.

JOB TITLE: Digital Production Intern

DESCRIPTION: The Digital Production Intern will assist the production team in the creation of e-books, audiobooks and website materials.

The intern should have a keen interest in book publication, with a willingness to learn new skills. The ideal candidate works well in an unsupervised environment, and understands the value of producing professional, consistent results. As an exceptional communicator, the intern should be open to constructive criticism, and have realistic expectations for a production environment.

The ideal candidate has a basic understanding of HTML code, as well as an impeccable sense of English spelling and grammar.

Self-taught and unconventional candidates are encouraged to apply.

The intern will learn to independently complete the following tasks:
Creation of e-books (HTML)
Creation of audiobooks
Website coding (HTML, PHP, JavaScript)
Social Media Marketing

COMPENSATION & COMMITMENT: $9 per hour, beginning at 10 hours per week.
Additional hours are available for interns who quickly demonstrate proficiency. There is strong potential to lead to full-time employment for the right candidate.

A higher pay rate is available for applicants who can demonstrate a developed HTML skillset.

We would like to fill this internship ASAP.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION: Interested candidates should email info@columbuspublishinglab.com with their name, contact information, an introductory letter, and resume.

Now Hiring Digital Production Intern

Project Updates

We’ve been so busy producing books for authors and small presses that we’ve neglected to share all of the neat projects we’ve completed over the past several months. Starting next week we’ll begin posting case studies detailing the publishing process for each recent Columbus Publishing Lab book. Here’s a teaser of what you’ll find in our updated catalog of work:

  • An incredible true account of World War I converted from a typewriter-written manuscript to a printed book, ready to be passed on to future generations.
  • An award-winning novel shedding light on the dark underworld of sex-trafficking in small town America.
  • A children’s book from a TLC reality TV star.
  • The second volume of a popular Columbus-centric coloring book featuring hand-drawn scenes of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods.

This is just a small sample of the cool books we’ve published, and we can’t wait to tell you about all of them! Follow us on social media (Facebook here, Twitter here) to get updates on our goings on, insights into the publishing industry, and the occasional grammar joke.

Columbus Publishing Lab is a close-knit company made up of hardworking people dedicated to professionally producing books. We provide a personal publishing experience to each of our authors, with the same high-quality services you would expect from a traditional publisher. If you have a manuscript you’d like to publish, contact us here.

May 2016 Newsletter

You can’t spell “marketing” without “mark.”

Marketing tip: Know exactly who you’re trying to capture.

Most amateur marketing campaigns suffer from overgeneralization. I know what you’re bullseyethinking: “I don’t want to exclude any potential buyers.” But the truth is that if you’re creating a marketing campaign that will appeal to everyone, then you’re creating a marketing campaign that probably won’t motivate anyone. The person who is exposed to your advertising can’t just “like” it, it needs to be powerful enough to motivate them to take an action. If you’ve ever practiced archery, you know that the more specific your target is, the more accurate you’ll be. Aim small, miss small. The same is true for marketing campaigns, and the lower your budget, the truer this principle is.

As you consider marketing anything—yourself, your book, your business (and if it’s a book, you’re marketing all three of those things)—your first step is to succinctly identify your target. As a fun writing exercise, describe them exactly. Where are they right now, what are they wearing, what’s the last book they read, movie they watched, what did they eat for breakfast? I know you want everyone to buy your book, but who would be the BEST person to buy your book? Who’s going to like it the most? Once you know who your mark is, you can begin to formulate a plan to motivate exactly that person. Lucky for you, there are more than 300 million people in the United States, and at least a few of them are exactly like the person you’ve described.

When you have $1,000 to spend on marketing, it would be foolish to think that you can capture everyone. But no matter how specific your criteria get, there are $1,000 worth of people like them out there in the world, and if you appropriately identify them, you can target the buyers who want exactly what you have to offer.

When you market, know your mark. Aim small.

-CEO Brad Pauquette

 Want to be first to receive tips like this one? Sign up for our mailing list! Every new subscriber gets a free PDF of The Self-Publishing Handbook by Brad Pauquette, and we solemnly swear never to spam you. Click here to sign up or learn more

We’ve Moved!

Columbus Publishing Lab has moved! Our new location is 620 Alum Creek Dr., Columbus, OH 43205.  We’re on the third floor of the building in suite 304. If you’d like to stop by, we do ask that you make an appointment before coming in.

Contact Columbus Publishing Lab here. 

This location is easily accessed from I-70, and is literally seconds off of the highway.

When coming east on I-70, get off at the Main St. exit (not the Alum Creek Dr. exit). The Main St. exit will spit you out onto Alum Creek Dr. and the building will be a half mile down on your right, before you get to Main St.

When headed west on I-70, take the Livingston Ave. exit. Turn left off of the exit onto Livingston Ave., then take an immediate right onto Alum Creek Dr. The building will be about a half mile down on your right, before you get to Main St.

Parking is available at any of the guest spots in front of the building.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by clicking here. We look forward to seeing you in our new home soon!