I wish more authors researched vendors and service providers like this before turning their money over to them, Todd. Thanks.

Sandy

But I must to reply to this article since, after my 4th book, I was so exhausted from waiting for the learning curve to actually curve, that I started venting on paper and ended up publishing “Surviving Self-Publishing, or Why Ernest Hemingway Committed Suicide” (under pen name Ava Greene).

Part instruction, part therapy, the book covered everything I’d been blind-sided by…in hopes of helping other ‘die-hards,’ as I labeled myself. Die-hards are super determined, have at least several books in them, and are willing to learn the publishing ropes in order to save money, profit in the long run, and produce books they’re truly satisfied with.

A few pointers in the book are:
– there are basically only 4 categories you must fall into to get a trad publishing deal
– trad publishing deals can be sorely overrated….know the pros and cons
– authors only planning to publish 1 or 2 books are better off farming out some or all of the publishing tasks — there’s too much to master for just 1 or 2 books
– every author is wildly different, no one’s on your exact path or you on theirs
– zero sales come from people browsing on Amazon who ‘stumble upon’ your book and buy it
– marketing is mandatory
– only some local shops will carry self-pub books, not Barnes & Noble or standard book stores
– self-publishing offers an opportunity to do what you please (tastefully and within reason), creative freedom if you’re prudent about it and trust yourself
– the best reviews I’ve gotten I’ve BEGGED for, from people who told me they loved the book (I’ll take 1 earnest, articulate 5-star review over any 10 flaccid 4-star ones)
– ya gotta have fun
– keep writing, don’t rush to publish, produce books you’ll be proud of forever
– writers becoming authors almost need the illusion of success…”Hope and dreams are perhaps the best fuel there is, sometimes lasting a lifetime.”
– despite everything, you end up with beautiful books that YOU wrote and YOU published

And more…with my usual candor. But oddly, since publishing that, I’ve found that self-pubbers are generally pretty tough—most want do it their own way regardless!

But that book freed me! And my next 3 were much easier and more fun! I now really enjoy the whole process because my expectations are realistic, I take my time, I have 8 books out, and…I know how to do this!

Great tip! Thanks!

Sandy

You’re welcome, John!

Sandy