I’m putting up my Wednesday self-publishing post early because tomorrow I’m participating in Talli Roland’s Launch of Watching Willow Watts. It’s an online party/blogfest and everybody will be writing around the theme 'If I Could Be Anyone, I'd Be...'
Now to the business
at hand…
Here’s the stuff I’ve learned about self-pubbing in a nutshell.
Not to oversimplify, but there are TONS of great articles out there on the
process. This is simply a listing of what has stuck in my head from the
articles and ebooks I’ve been trolling through. I've added a few gems of my own too. Here we go.
- Read everything you can find about self-publishing before diving into the business.
- Write a mind-blowingly awesome book or two or three.
- Pass first-book-to-market around to blogging buddies for feedback.
- Edit or get said book edited until it’s so sparkly, it hurts to look at it with the naked eye.
- Have a decent cover done if you aren’t a creative do-it-yourselfer. You never get a second chance to make a first impression and who wants to be entered in an ugly cover contest? Yes! They do exist.
- Since most self-pubbers take the e-book route first, get the darn thing formatted properly. Pay, if necessary. See second chance/first impression comment above.
- Write a blurb that will make readers want to run out and buy the book. Yes, the marketing picks up here.
- Market the book properly. I have a lot to learn in this department because the minute I mention my books, I feel like a prostitute in New Kingston (the local business district) plying my wares or like a self-centred boor. Note to self – get on with posts/interviews.
GrovelAsk people to review your book. Get some honest reviews not written by a doting mom, hubby, or first cousin.
- Be willing to take advice, learn from each experience and try new methods.
- Dust off that thick skin you had to don during critiquing sessions. Reviews can be brutal.
- Oh, yeah and have fun while on this adventure!
My first point above said ‘business’ and that’s what this
venture is to me. So, it isn’t about making scads of money – as if - but I’m
likely to do better if I treat what I’m doing as a business. I’m already
beating back my lazy side as I go along.
So to practice what I’m preaching, here are my covers and
blurbs. Bear with me if you've seen them already. My writer friend, Courtney and I are on stream to release my babies
below on Monday, September 19, 2011. Giving up the Dream is a single story, and will be gratis and Don't Get Mad...Get Even is a collection of five stories, and will be $0.99.
Love, honour and obey. In a perfect life, these
promises are easy to keep. When faced with spousal betrayal, idealistic oaths
take a back seat. Justine Charles made the ultimate sacrifice for her dying
husband. Will she rally after his death or be forced to give up a final chance
at happiness?
What choices do you have when you are abused,
cheated on and left with a trail of broken promises? Don’t Get Mad…Get
Even. Take an inside look at Jamaican
culture and lifestyle through a collection of award-winning stories. You will
laugh, cry and commiserate with a compelling cast of characters, who conquer
their challenges in unique ways.
Have I forgotten anything on the self-publishing front? I
appreciate any advice or help you can give.
Thanks to those of you who have stuck with me on this journey.
Hugs.
Thanks to those of you who have stuck with me on this journey.
Hugs.
I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteAnd everything you said is exactly true, especially the covers and formatting. It's so important to have a pretty book, not just a well-written one. It needs to be the complete passage.
All excellent advice...and other than the marketing part, I've followed most of it :)
ReplyDeleteMy feelings on marketing are similar to yours. But friends like you have helped me spread the word, so I'm grateful.
Please feel free to take possession of either of my blogs any of these days to talk about your writing! :)
All the best, Joy, may you succeed in this business beyond your wildest imagination!
All good tips. I would add this on book trailers - better not to have one at all, than to put out one that looks cheesy/amateurish. (See JL's first impressions, above.)
ReplyDeleteIf you DO get reviewed, and it's not pretty, don't make things worse by ripping into the reviewer, or disputing reviews on Amazon, etc. Be gracious and professional, and maybe people who hated your first book will still be willing to read your next one.
Marlena, yes, I do like me a nice cover to go with a book. This is one of the things I miss when reading an ebook - as weird as that sounds.
ReplyDeleteDamyanti, marketing like a pro does provide something of a challenge. You bet I'll be emailing you. Thanks, as always, for your support.
Beverly, oh yeah. I like watching a good trailer. Good points on responding to reviews. Thanks!
Great tips! And best of luck with your releases! (Very exciting!)
ReplyDeleteAwesome. I'm collecting all the info I can. =)
ReplyDeleteI love your blurbs! Really, they're fantastic. Good luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, Collecting information has been half the fun for me. :)
Susan, thanks. Sometimes they come easy. Another time it's hard to shake anything loose.
Thanks for the tips. I'm at the 'reading everything you can on epub stage...' I'd buy Don't Get Mad, Get Even' just because of its excellent cover and blurb. Great stuff. Keep us posted...D
ReplyDeleteHave you come across Dean Wesley Smith, J.L. He has some very interesting things to say about The New World of Publishing
ReplyDeleteDenise, thanks for dropping in. Thanks so much for your encouragement! I'm happy the blurbs are doing their job.
ReplyDeleteDeborah, oh yes, I have come across his site and have bookmarked it. Now if only I could remember to visit more often than once in a while. He has some sensible, on-point advice.
I read this in the morning but had no access to comment.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't realised that the 19th was around the corner. Please send me info and stuff to publish on my other blog also about the new releases.
They both sound so scrumptious I can't wait and the covers are awesome, so proud of you.
Really helpful insights on self-publishing. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem, Wendy. I'll send you mail.
ReplyDeleteIshmael, thanks for stopping in. I'm happy to share what I'm learning.
Great tips! I'll have to keep these in mind when I finally finish a couple of stories I want to self-pub. Great way to start thinking about it without getting too overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, I like to break things down to smaller bits, because my attention span is tiny. Thanks for dropping in.
ReplyDeleteThree years ago I self published a poetry book "Negative V. Positive.
ReplyDeleteI was very pleased with the quality and service.
I am now self publishing my second one as my poems have accumalted over the past three years.
I enjoyed reading your blog and thanks for the information.
Yvonne.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm glad you found the information here useful.
ReplyDeleteI agreed with everything you said! First imppressions, like a cover and blurb are everything and you can't imagine how much reviews can help sales. Great post!
ReplyDelete*fellow romantic suspense campaigner waving hello!* :)