Photo by Tania Rose on Pixabay
Want to see your book in a bookstore and available for sale online?
Here are some lessons I've learned as a self-publishing author of 7 books — novels that I have uploaded for FREE on Amazon.
TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING
First and foremost, agents and publishers have chosen their careers to make money. You may have written a wonderful book using the proper format and had it professionally edited. But unless your manuscript lands on the right agent/publisher's (or intern's) computer at the very time they are looking for your genre/storyline/character arc/location/time period/ and so on, your book won't make the cut.
If it appears they can make money from your work after investing their own money for editing and creating a book cover, they will be interested. By interested, I mean you will be on their list — newbies please go to the end of the line behind proven moneymakers. Contracts, editing, improvements to your storyline and possibly title, and book cover decisions take time, so don't be impatient.
You now retain the Copywrite to your work, but the publisher owns the print (including digital) rights. Depending on the publisher, your book may or may not end up on shelves in Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and other big-chain bookstores.
Promotion of your work, book signings, and advertising are entirely up to the new writer. The publisher will pass along ideas, but won't spend money on PR. I have one friend who was lucky enough to land a great agent who set up book signings for him.
Louise Penny, the best-selling author of the "Three Pines" murder mystery series, spent the first five years of her writing career booking her own book signings (some with 2 or 3 attendees) before the books became bestsellers.
Photo from No Name 13 from Pixabay
SELF-PUBLISHING ON AMAZON.COM
When I first began to write (seriously) six years ago, I sent out query letter after query letter. I scrupulously researched agents on their websites to see exactly what they were looking for. I like to think my novel "Deserter, Rebel, Renegade" didn't fit exactly into any particular genre (US Civil War era adventure with no battle scenes or graphic violence / focused on the importance of friendship / a forbidden romance with no sex scenes / a story of redemption with a HEA ending) which would make it a difficult sell. But who knows, because none of the agents took the time to say why they didn't want to represent me or my novel.
And may I say as a side note: six years later, "Deserter, Rebel, Renegade" is still my biggest seller.
After months of no-thank-yous, or more often no response at all, I met a self-published author who published through Amazon. When he told me that it was zero cost to upload a book on Amazon, I decided to give it a try.
The learning curve is a little frustrating but doable. The first book took me five days. The last book took three hours. I was 75 the first time. So if I was able to do it, you can too. Also, if you decide to make corrections after publication, you can do so at any time. Start with this link. https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G202172740
Let's discuss your book before uploading on Amazon.
First, I'm going to assume you know the basics of how to write a book and how to tell an entertaining story.
Second, I highly recommend that you find a professional copy editor to help you with proper formatting, spelling, and grammar. My editor charges a penny a word. She didn't edit this blog, so any bloopers are all me. To find an editor, google "book copy editors" and 246 million results pop up. Some start in the $400 range.
Third, a professional-looking cover is important - EXTREMELY important. It's the first thing that a reader sees and should grab their attention like a shopper to a Black Friday sale. Google "book cover artists" and 354 million results pop up. There are artists who can produce an attractive and enticing cover for as little as $100.
Fourth - advertising. I have used Written Word Media and Fussy Librarian successfully. Facebook and Amazon ads have not worked well for me, but they do for others. In the beginning, I didn't make my money back, but it does begin to happen when you have several books online. I did a number of book signings and placed my books in independent bookshops on consignment. For more ideas, go back to Google. Type in "How to advertise my book" - an unbelievable 2 billion results appear.
Fifth. If you haven't already, get started on a mailing list ASAP. Even if it's only 2 or 3 times a year, a chatty email or newsletter to let your fans know what you are doing and what's happening with your current work in progress is important.
In summation, I hope this gives you a little insight into what choices are available to you.
And whatever you decide, never give up, never stop writing. Life is short.
P. Austin Heaton
paustinheaton@gmail.com - email me if you would like to be on my newsletter mailing list.
My author page on Amazon- https://www.amazon.com/stores/P.-Austin-Heaton/author/B07JLQ9P56
