I have been working on my book, 62 Blog Posts to Overcome Blogger’s Block, which is my first large scale independent book publishing project. There’s a lot to learn. But here are 10 of many lessons from my independent publishing experience.
Independent Book Publishing Experience
1. Be sure to complete your book.
Many people start writing their books, and do not finish. I started my book in November 2011 and completed it in May 2o12. I promise, I didn’t complete my final draft until July 2012. I know I probably revised my book at least 10 times. But I couldn’t have revised it if it weren’t completed.
2. Copyright your work after you’ve nailed your main topic.
It may take two to three drafts before you confirm your topic. That’s okay. Your content is more important than your title. It costs $45 to submit your copyright online and $55 to mail your documents. I would advise saving that $10 and using it toward other books costs.
3. Edit your work.
If this is not your strength, hire an editor. Even if you have the abilities, hire one anyway. You cannot afford to skimp on this step and you definitely cannot be cheap.
As you know, you get what you pay for and I have found this especially true with writing. Your great information will be diluted by a crappy presentation. Try to get referrals from trusted sources.
4. Catchy titles work, but they also need to be relevant to the subject in your book.
Have you ever gone to a fast food restaurant and was really salivating over that sandwich with the juicy-looking meat and fresh-looking bread on the menu, and then you ordered it only to see that you had more bread than meat with a slap of ketchup and mustard and hardly no pickles, lettuce or tomato? How did you feel?
Well, your readers will feel the same way if you offered them up a succulent title with a promise to solve their problems and don’t deliver.
5. Book publishing is not cheap, but it doesn’t have to be overly-expensive, either.
Copyrighting, editing, design, ISBNs, marketing and printing are just some of the expenses you will incur.
6. Pay for a professional designer if you are selling your book.
You may be able to get away with a quick design for a free eBook. Again, get referrals from trusted sources.
7. Writing is the easy part of book publishing process; marketing is the beast.
You have to market your book whether you like to or not. You need a website or blog for your book only. If you don’t have one initially, use your current site until you can get it going. Start promoting your book as soon as you know it’s almost done.
I’m learning that pre-promotion is a great big blessing. In my case, it was an accidental and divinely inspired blessing.
8. Build your platform and fan base.
Literary agent Peter Miller said that publishers are investing in authors that are media savvy. Even if you don’t go the traditional route, you still need people to promote your work and hopefully buy your books. Social media is probably the best way to do this. And it’s free.
9. ISBNs are the numbers you see on the back of books and inside of books.
According to Bowker U.S. ISBN Agency, “The ISBN identifies the title or other book-like product (such as an audiobook) to which it is assigned, but also the publisher to be contacted for ordering purposes.” This number is needed to sell your book in bookstores and self-publish on Amazon, Apple and other online retailers.
10. If the people you hire are not working for you, FIRE THEM.
Don’t feel bad. It’s your project and your money. And their lack of action could hold up the progress of your masterpiece.
How About You?
Have you self-published any books? What was your experience? What were some of your marketing strategies?
Hey Marcie,
Very interesting and helpful post as always. although I’m not thinking of publishing any phisical book for now because of the tedious work involved.
I will be focusing on the self publishing platform (ebook) for now.
Thanks.
BTW: i noticed that you seldomely have comments here.
Theodore, thank you for stopping through. Do you have a book idea at all.
And yes, I am lacking comments here because I have not committed the time to using all the tools available to drive traffic, and I won’t be able to do it for a couple weeks. However, I do have a very active Twitter following which I will leverage for book promotion later this week. I am learning the art of book marketing so my focus switched from growing my sites to marketing my book.
Do you have any ideas on ways I can grow my community?
Hey Marcie,
Thanks for your wonderful suggestions. I published a novel myself and looking forward to release it. I really am worried about its promotion…
Dayanand,congratulations on your novel! To promote it, check out blogs and talk to other authors about how they promoted their books. Also, read books on how to market your book. And don’t forget to use your social sites. It’s a mixture of tradition and creativity. Most of all, have confidence. If you don’t have believe in your work, no one else will.
Awesome information.
Thank you, Cynthia.
I have self-published two books and am writing my third, which at least twenty drafts!! It’s time consuming, but you are right. It is the promoting that is the beast! I also have a blog. The best thing I have done is to join goodreads.com, librarything.com, shelfari.com (which is connected to amazon) and I’m active with the British/American group in shelfari. I have also tried to become active with my online status on amazon.uk.co and amazon.com. Anything you can do helps! Thank you for your comments!
Joyce, thank you for sharing your experience and these resources. I am on Goodreads but I’m almost certain I am not doing it correctly. I am going to check out Librarything and shelfari.
I’m not sure what you mean. I had a few giveaways of my books because it gets you reviews and helps you advertise for free. Also, join every appropriate group you can and you have to participate! If you do, it’s a great community. For instance, I’m with historical fictionistas, self-published authors, authors and readers(that’s a great one!), Filipinos (only because I have written about their country), etc. Try the self-published authors for sure if it fits! Authors&Readers has everyone.
You’ll enjoy it. Librarything is difficult unless you are avid, and I’m not. Shelfari.com is boring but is connected to Amazon, so important! Try all the free ones you can! Joyce
Joyce, thank you for letting us know about the groups and sites available to help use move forward along on our author journey. I will share these sources on my site at a later date. You are a blessing.
Thanks for this post. It has been very helpful. Have you tried to organise author events at bookstores? Could help too.
Hi Brownie, I have not tried bookstores as my book has not yet been published. I will add this to my list of marketing activities.
Thanks for writing this blog. It is great to get new ideas. MS
Mike, thank you for stopping by. I hope I was able to help to you in some way.
Hi, Marcie! I am just adding a note and warning people away from Author House and Author Solutions, which are part of Xlibris and IUniverse. I published my first two books through Xlibris (very satisfied), until they were acquired by Author House or Author Solutions (same corp.) The customer service and editing has suffered greatly. I am so disappointed as I am almost finished with my 3rd book, & I love my publishing representative, but they the entity is so big now that customer svc & editing haven’t remained the same. Just a warning!
Joyce, thank you for the heads up. I will share with my audience. You are greatly appreciated.