This little Self-Publishing Guide has it all. Denise Hamilton of Ink Tree Marketing has put all her book marketing and publishing experience into this straightforward and comprehensive guide. The cost is quite reasonable for the amount of information that's packed in to the guide. You'll find it a very helpful addition to your resource list if you are considering self-publishing your book. The author sold 250,000 copies of her book without taking a single workshop or seminar, and with absolutely no training or experience. Learn More about this guide.
Hell and Hallelujah:
Top 10 Mistakes Made in Do-It-Yourself Publishing (and How to Avoid Them)
Cement a little every day. It was Henry Miller who said that. I know I said that already in my first article for www.wapyb.com. Write and publish your book. It’s hell. And hallelujah. Watch for and avoid these common mistakes made in do-it-yourself publishing.
10. Settling for Less. This is your art. It deserves the best. Don't settle for less. You can swing deals—and should swing deals because, let's face it, you're on a do-it-yourself (DIY) budget—but make damn sure you’re getting the most for your money and time. Invest in the best and you'll never be disappointed. Disappointments are unavoidable but you'll be a lot less disappointed when you deal with competent, experienced beings (A.K.A. "professionals") from the beginning.
9. Trying to Impress Your Friends. When I completed the first draft of my second novel, ALARM, I sent the manuscript to over a dozen “writerly” friends all over the
U.S. The return was dismal. Don't waste your time doing this. Other writers can't help you. Most are struggling to help themselves. Limit mailings of your first draft to individuals who will do a swift, stern, kick-in-the-pants copyediting of the work. Revise your manuscript and get on with it.
8. Not Querying Potential Publishers Before You Do-It-Yourself. A proper publishing deal would save you a lot of money. Not necessarily grief, beefs, sleeplessness and high anxiety, but it would save you a lot of money. And time. It would also free you up to focus more on promoting the release. You can do both (publish + promote), but first try to interest an established press to invest in you and your work.
7. Assuming All Designers Read. Under no circumstances should your book be designed by someone who hasn’t read your manuscript. Every. Single. Word. Of your manuscript. Most designers don’t read what they are contracted to design. They may "skim" or "read parts" but reading something in its entirety is a different kettle o’ fish. If you feel you would have to pay extra to ensure that the designer will thoroughly read your work, find someone else for the job. Straight-up. Find someone who wants to know exactly what—and whom—she or he is dealing with. That is: your book, and YOU.
6. Not Setting Deadlines. Let's say you find a suitable designer for your book. You've seen their portfolio. They actually have a portfolio. They have up-to-date design programs and they know how to use them. They have a scanner. Hot damn. You're in business. But if you don't set a deadline for all of the design work and corrections to be completed, you're in trouble. All designers know how to read a calendar. And count money. Put it in writing. Get it done on time.
5. Choosing the Most Inexpensive Printer You Can Find. I wanted ALARM to be regarded first and foremost as a book. That's why I insisted on a perfect-bound format with CD pockets neatly folded-up and glued on the inside front and back covers. Nice. But my choice in printers was foolishly based on price rather than on the company’s practical experience with book-publishing. I had to deal with innumerable printer errors—some of them utterly preposterous—and I was unable to get enough advance copies on time for potential reviewers. Don’t let this happen to you. Make sure the printer you choose has the chops it will take to produce your vision in a timely, professional manner.
4. Getting Sidetracked By Art-Talk. If you find yourself getting balled up in art-talk banter with the girl processing your print order—books, CDs, business cards, flyers, stickers, whatever—you’re losing it. Skip the art-talk, bub, this is business. Tighten it up. This is your craft, remember? Your baby. It deserves strict attention to detail. Always insist on seeing the printer’s proofs. What you “sign off on” and pay for is what you should get as the finished product. Don’t settle for less. I repeat myself sometimes. I repeat myself sometimes.
3. Not Giving Yourself Enough Lead-Time. Forward-thinking is imperative. Absolutely imperative. Get bar codes, ISBN numbers, blurbs for the back cover, a post office box, etc., as soon as possible. Set up business accounts with online mail-order companies such as Amazon and CDBaby. All that stuff. It takes time. Magazines and newspapers need to receive press releases and review copies at least three months prior to your release date. Three months! Plan accordingly.
2. Not BeingPrepared For The End-Of-The-Novel Blues That Will Hit You—And Hit You Hard. After ALARM came out, I got depressed. Hella depressed. I wasn’t prepared for it. A friend knew exactly how I was feeling. It’s the same post-release depression that hit him after every book he’s ever put out. It comes from exhaustion, he wrote, from the exhilaration of release wearing off. The best thing to do is to just crash. It’s like sleep after a long night of partying or sex. When it’s done, it seems so empty. But you need to keep going. The work you are doing cannot be done by anyone else. Crash. Have some bacon and eggs for breakfast, and see if a thought or two doesn’t squeeze its way into your consciousness.
1. Thinking Your Shit Is The Next Big Thing. It was William H. Gass, I believe, who said quality has always had a small audience.
Listen to Mike Daily and his band O’GRADY perform “Only Girls Can Smoke In Here” at the publication party for Northwest Edge III: The End of Reality (fiction/film anthology from Chiasmus Press).
Mike Daily's 10 Only Girls
Mike Daily is a novelist and recording artist who frequently performs his work in
Portland,
Oregon, as vocalist for the experimental fiction rock band, O'GRADY. Click http://youtube.com/watch?v=G9AThIH_pnE to watch Daily perform “Oh For Fook’s Sake!” from his new book (and double CD set) ALARM. ALARM carries on the humorously visual narratives of Mick O'Grady, introduced in Daily’s first novel, Valley. Of that novel, Ray Gun Magazine wrote, "Mike Daily packs so many stylish smash cuts into Valley, MTV dulls by comparison." See http://www.myspace.com/alarmdailynovel and http://www.overheardpublicity.com.
Hi there. I'm a 21-year-old girl who's working on a science fiction novel. I've worked on it on and off since I was sixteen. I'm not entirely sure self-publishing is an option for me, but I definitely appreciate the information. Thanks a lot!
I'm 17 and working on several different stories (still have not decided which to fully put time and effort into first). I also am not sure what's best for me but these are good things to take into serious consideration. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your experiences and making them available online.
I was surprised at how much I found on the internet. I learned not to get lost in it, stay focused and remember the basics.
I wasn't out to get rich, just do what I love and still pay the bills. Every time money became the issue it was a struggle but never sell yourself short either.
Helping people is good, for free or in yet another "book". I am turning this comment into one and boring readers by now. Thank you again for sharing.
I am just starting to write a book and appreciate your input about printers proof reading and printing. I have run a business in the printing industry and totally agree with you-all writers/self publishers take note -Mike Daily knows what he is talking about!
It's good to see that new authors are sharing their experiences. Hopefully future authors will pay attention. Publishing is not an extension of your writing--it requires a whole different thought process and activities. I've been "self" and otherwise publishing my books for over 25 years and currently travel around presenting workshops on publishing/writing-related topics.
I tell hopeful authors that there are really only two things they must do in order to be successfully published:
1. Study the publishing industry. It is imperative that you have some understanding of this world.
2. Write a book proposal BEFORE you finish your book. (Yes, for fiction, too.) This will tell you whether or not you have a viable product and help you identify your audience and discover where they are. It will give you ideas for establishing your platform (your way of attracting readers) and you'll learn how to build more salabi...
Hello my name is Joshua i live in Oklahoma some where. I want to thank you for posting your comment very helpful information that you shared.I lost my 13 year old son two years ago and now I am trying too write a book about that experience how I made it through that ordeal I am reading your book now called The Right Way to Write
I am also one who has been working on my stories since I was 16 years of age and now that I am 21 now I feel like now is the time for me to get my pages together for the whole world to read. Now that I have researched the published industry I feel that I can move forward with my dream. Thanks alot for the advice and inspirations. Look for my name!!!!
This article was very helpful to me. There are a lot of decisions that will need to be made in order to make your dreams of writing and/or publishing a book come true. Reading your article helps to give you a realistic picture to get the end results! Thanks!
This little Self-Publishing Guide has it all. Denise Hamilton of Ink Tree Marketing has put all her book marketing and publishing experience into this straightforward and comprehensive guide. The cost is quite reasonable for the amount of information that's packed in to the guide. You'll find it a very helpful addition to your resource list if you are considering self-publishing your book. The author sold 250,000 copies of her book without taking a single workshop or seminar, and with absolutely no training or experience. 