Do's and Don'ts of Self-Publishing

A self-publishing article by Noel Brinkerhoff

It used to be where people who self-published were considered neophytes who weren't good enough to be published by more traditional publishers. They clung like barnacles to the edges of the book world, trying but not gaining access to the inner sanctum -- a place on the shelves of Barnes & Noble and a trip to Oprah's couch.

These days, however, self-published authors can make themselves lots of money, build platforms for the launch of further projects, and even sell their books at Barnes & Noble. Some have landed deals with larger publishers after selling a few thousand books with their own blood, sweat & tears, and even found themselves face to face with the Queen of the book clubs herself.

The first Do of self-publishing is to grant yourself the power to see your words in print. No one is going to come down from on high and give you permission to be published, so you might as well start with a hearty pat on the back for finishing a book. After all, its almost a national joke about how many people are writing or planing to write the great American novel at some nebulous time in the future. You are the only one who can truly decide to empower or dis-empower yourself at this juncture.



The second major Do of self-publishing is to do your research. Most people are in such a hurry to see their words in print that they neglect what will happen after the printer delivers 40 or 50 heavy boxes of books to their doorstep. Enterpreneur publishes a great step-by-step start-up guide for Self-Publishing Businesses that teaches you how to market your book, get repeat business, manage your business finances, and more.

The third major Do of self-publishing is to hone your writing until it shines. New Novelist, from Write Express, is software that can help, whether you're writing fiction or narrative non-fiction. The software takes your idea and builds it intuitively into a full-fledged story, and comes with testimonials from no less than Will Self, a novelist published many times over. Your writing will sparkle, and you'll be a lot less frustrated if you use this important tool.

The first major Don't of self-publishing is don't expect someone to sell your book for you. If you're self-publishing, you're taking on the roles of author, publisher, publicist and distributor, so you will need to think up clever ways to connect with your potential readers. One way I find extremely helpful is to hook up with Verizon Super Pages. They can help you get a web site up and running, if you plan to sell your book this way, or even help you bring some money in, through Pay-Per Click Advertising, while you're waiting for people to purchase your wares. It's a great place to place ads and start getting your name out there.

And the last major Do of self-publishing is be as loud and proud about your book as you want to be. Yahoo Search Marketing has one of the best and fastest ways to get noticed in the crowded world of books. Sponsored Search puts your book in front of millions of eyes, alongside relevant articles and product reviews. Fast-tracking your listing will widen your reach, including your listing on CNN.com, AltaVista.com, and some of the other largest sites currently in business. Doing it this way not only ensures you traffic to your site, it cements your reputation as an expert and an author.

That leads us to the last really important Do of self-publishing, which is to celebrate your achievement. Writing a book is not easy -- that's why we lionize (some of) our writers. Take pleasure in the fact that you have successfully put your thoughts into print, and are well on your way to publishing success!

Copyright 2006 GrammarGods.com

Noel Brinkerhoff is part of the team at http://www.GrammarGods.com. He has been a professional writer for over ten years, specializing in journalism and screenwriting. For seven years, he worked as a reporter for the California Journal and State Net Capitol Journal in Sacramento. He is equally well-versed in book adaptations, and can provide excellent script coverage and story notes, as a former reader for the Chesterfield Screenwriting Fellowship.

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The Joys Of Self-Publishing

A self-publishing article by Yvonne Bornstein

There are hundreds of books written on the subject of "How To Self-Publish".

There are but few authors who can speak of a day by day account and procedure on the road to a finished, ready-to-be marketed, self-published book.
Your book.

Self publishing is an art form.

It takes courage, patience, a keen listening ability, some business savvy and above all, methodology of how to tear checks from your check book and credit cards from your wallet very quickly and painlessly.



I am one of those authors.

Yvonne Bornstein

I learned the hard way when self publishing my book - 'Eleven Days Of Hell: My True Story Of Kidnapping, Terror, Torture And Historic Fbi & Kgb Rescue'

Without sounding pompous, I have since become quite the expert at this self publishing game and have been asked to consult in many cases. I made a few mistakes along the way, but now have it down to a fine art. It is a tedious process, not for the faint of heart.

If one follows the directions and takes heed from a satisfied author (like myself!) you will be extremely proud of yourself and your book. You will feel like skydiving or climbing mountains!

If you need help, yell, I will come running!

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Self-Publishing 101

A self-publishing article by Chris Tolamalu

Typically, authors write their books, send them to agents or publishers, and then hope for the best. However, some authors opt to not leave anything to chance; they take matters into their own hands and make sure that the book is published. Welcome to the world of self-publishing, wherein books or other media are published by those who have written them.

Self-publishing enables the author to not only ensure that the book is published, but also gives the author complete control over content (traditionally, the publisher does maintain some editorial control over the matter). Other aspects that the publisher traditionally controls - design of the book, the layout of the text, the appearance of the cover, the bookbinding, the quality of the paper, and so on can also be controlled by the writer when self-publishing.



How is self-publishing different from traditional publishing? Besides the fact that the author is also the publisher, self-publishing means that the author pays for the publication out of his/her own pocket, and also has to handle marketing on his/her own.

When self-publishing, the author does not get the printer to print the typical 7,000 copies that the publisher orders. In the self-publishing model, the author pays for the initial press run, which is usually small. Unlike the publisher, the author does not warehouse the books, but stores them maybe in a home or studio. The author may sell the book directly to readers and other end customers. Alternately, the writer may consider retailing by offering it on consignment through retail stores. There are also those writers who print the book themselves, using either a xerographic process or a computer printer. Sometimes writers print on demand, and keep absolutely no inventory.

Cost issues may also mean that the showy full-color cover used by traditional publishers is absent. Bindings suitable for short press runs, like staples, comb bindings, or wire-bindings may be selected over the perfect binding that is used for larger press runs.

Besides fiction and non-fiction books, other reasons for self-publishing include: Sales brochures, catalogs and price lists, annual reports, prospectus, flyers, posters, pamphlets, niche market books, invitations to events, and religious materials.

Remember that though routing your book through a publisher has its own advantages, self-publishing means that your work can reach your audience very fast, you can set your own prices, and you don't have to share a cent of your earnings with agents and publishers.

Chris Tolamalu is interested in self publishing. See http://www.selfpublishingblog.com for more information.

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