selfpublishingadvisor

Self-publishing and finding your market

Self-publishing books to make money may be, as Seth points out, a lot like hanging out at the singles bar looking to get married. It’s true, you can make money publishing your work, but isn’t it better to write because you love to write, and be proud to share it with people who care?

Of course making money isn’t bad. I’m not going to say making money will solve any problems. I’m confident poverty will not. In considering your long term marketing and sales direction, it may be helpful to know that the output of published titles shot up 87% from 2008 to 2009, according to R.R. Bowker. That means nearly ½ million new titles entered the market in the span of a year. The good news is that online communities, forums, and organizations allow you to find niche markets where you can promote your work to people who care. But do understand this type of marketing involves investment in participation.

Choosing a Publisher, Self-Publishing

Higher Royalty Option Announced

On the heels of its recent release of the new, lower priced Kindle Reader, Amazon’s Digital Text Platform Team announced a new 70% royalty option for self-published authors who own the rights to their publications. It’s worth a look. Learn more here.

Choosing a Publisher, Self-Publishing

Self-publishing vs. Independent Publishing

Guest Post: The Book Doctor on Self-Publishing vs. Independent Publishing

Q: When you spoke at a conference recently, I heard you refer to self-publishing. Isn’t “independent publishing” the correct term now?

A: Yes and no. An independent publisher is a small publisher that may or may not publish the works of the owner, but it always publishes the works of other authors, as well. When you publish only your own books, you are self-publishing. I know the distinction is vague; in either case you have to set up a company and be a publisher, but an independent publishing house accepts the works of others, as well as the works of the owner.

Also, when you use a firm that helps you publish, so that you don’t have to set up your own company, you are a self-published author, as opposed to a traditionally published author.

In the end, we are simply talking semantics. If you spend any money at all toward the printing of your book, you are self-published. Being self-published used to carry a stigma, and perhaps that’s why some people don’t want to use the term, but the market has changed over the years, and people’s attitudes have changed with it. At a time when selling a book to a traditional publisher is almost impossible, yet printing your own book has become easier than ever, self-publishing has taken on a whole new character and lost much of its prior poor image. Nowadays the only stigma comes from a poorly written or unedited self-published book. If the book looks good, reads well, is thoroughly edited, and sells well, who cares who paid for the printing?

Choosing a Publisher, Self-Publishing, Uncategorized

Self-publishing and Shelf Space

Perhaps one of the most extraordinary experiences for self-publishing authors comes in holding your book in hand for the first time.

Unfortunately, I see many self-published authors trying to replicate that experience for a handful of others by seeing their books stocked in a brick-and-mortar store. Physical inventory in areas where you can do book signings and readings can be a good thing, but for many finding shelf space in a physical location will be about as productive as pushing boulders up a mountain.

The book industry, while slower than others like the record business, has changed. Now, your ISBN is infinite shelf space. And shelf space where your book will be priced lower, and royalties higher. For readers, your book is just as real, and just as important. Instead of spending all that time, energy, and lost royalty revenue, peddling your books around, let those like Amazon do the work for you. They’ve already made the investment.

Editing Your Self-Published Book

Self-editing in Self-publishing

Victoria Strauss takes practice, patience, and growth in writing a step further in her recent Writer Beware! post, The Importance of Self-Editing.

In addition to learning to self-edit, she discusses the overall value of beta readers, editors, and collaboration – valuable ingredients along the way to developing a platform and identifying the market for the savvy self-publishing author.

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