Simplification

Hello Humans!

The other day I totally over simplified the self publishing process. I just said, "And then self publish" but it is not as easy as just that.

There is a lot more to it and I suggest you do your own research after reading through my notes. Everywhere I have looked has suggested different things, so do as much research as possible. I have done some of the hard yards for you, so hopefully I can help.

1. After finishing your MS, Editing is number one. You must get your MS edited. Yes, you do. No arguments. If you don't have the money (like me) then find someone that is willing to edit your MS in parts. Mine is getting done 10,000 words at a time, so the payments are small chunks periodically, rather than a big amount at once.
2. Get a web site. If you haven't already, go get yourself an author website. I was once told by a MS assessor to "Dream Big" and go get an author page. So I did. WIX offers free website and have a great range of templates to choose from.
3. Research. Research all your options. At as many different websites as possible.  
4. Choose a self-pub option. Whether it be KDP, or Smashwords, or POD through CreateSpace or, ACX, or the any number of offset printing presses or vanity publishers. Pick one or a few and start researching them. 
5. Tax info. Organize your tax stuff, especially if you are not a US citizen.
6. Hire a book cover designer. Do your research on these too. I have found some as cheap as $69 and some as expensive as $3500. You do get what you are paid for though,so save up and try to get an artist that fits your style and budget. We all judge books buy their covers, People!
7. Hire a MS interior designer (if your chosen method of self-pub doesn't include that service)
8. Apply for an ISBN, copyright, etc. Also the cover info like blurbs, Reviews (ARCs, which I will talk about later) Hashtags, bar codes etc.
9. Set a cover price. Once again this comes down to research. Look at what price books sell for. And think about what you buy yourself. Normally, if I don't know the author, I won't pay any more than $5 for an ebook, or $15 for a paperback.
10. Select a publication date.
11. Develop press materials.
12. Plan and implement a reasonable marketing PR and add campaign. Think about the things you know you will stick to. There is no use in starting a Tumbler account for your author page if you will let it fall into disrepair. Also, do some research on how other Indie authors have done it.
13. Begin the pre-sale of your book. Start promoting to distributors and lining up booksellers and taking out ads and have your book listed with online retailers.
14. If you are not already, get yourself on Goodreads. If you have not published anything at all, maybe think about publishing a few short stories just to get yourself out there and start building a fan base. Offer them for free so it just gets your name out there. Smashwords is awesome for this.
15. Make a book trailer for Youtube. Start a Youtube channel. (I won't be doing the Youtube thing because I am shy. I haven't even got an author photo yet. Oh yeah, get an author photo!)
16. Publish your book! (and ship to people if applicable)
17. Continue to promote yourself. But remember, you are not a dick. Subtle promotion always works better than being shoved down peoples throats. 

I am positive that I have missed some things. If you can think of something I have missed, let me know in the comments or you can contact me on Twitter or Facebook or Google+ or Pintrest or email ... Not on Tumbler though, I do NOT understand Tumbler!

Hugs
AMC xxx 

It is a long, but not lonesome, road ...

Hello Humans,

I have been weighing up the options in my head. I have compiled a kind of "to-do" list for both options. Self-publishing and traditional publishing.

Self-publishing

• Finish book. (der)
• Submit my book to a structural & copy editor. (a must. Anyone thinking of bypassing this step when they are going to self-publish is silly. Rethink. Save up for it.)
• Create a cover image. A GOOD cover image. People judge books by their covers. I know I do.
• Self-publish on as many platforms as possible. (Kindle, Smashwords, ACX, etc.)
• Market the crap out of my book. Tastefully. It is not a dick, I don't want to ram it down people's throats.
• Collect up to 70% of royalties. 
• Continue to work my ass off. 

Traditional

• Finish book.
• Slog my book to literary agents and pray that one of them gets my weirdness.
• If that happens, pray that my agent finds a publisher willing to take on my weird little book.
• Pray that my book does not get torn apart in the editing room.
• Pray that it get given a good cover.
• Market the crap out of my book. Once again, tastefully.
• Collect 10% of royalties after the advance has cleared its mark.
• Continue to work my ass off.

If you are reading this and trying to decide which way to go, hopefully I have shed some light for you. There are lots of us out in the void trying to do the same thing. 

I have had a hang up about self-publishing for years. I didn't think that it was "real" publishing. But I am coming to realize that, these days, a self-pub author has just as much chance of getting themselves out there as a traditional one.

Go into a book store (if you can find one of these rare and endangered beasts) and have a look at the names of the authors that have done all of the traditional list above and still you have never heard of them.

It makes me sad. 

Writing is such a personal thing. And we put ourselves out there, strip ourselves naked to the world, tear our flesh from our bones to bare our mind and soul. Show our scars to the void and for what? For the hope that someone out there in that void will look out and catch a glimpse of something familiar in your scars. And there will be a connection made. 

What if there is no one out there?

But there is ... There are lots of us out here, shouting into the void. Do yourself a favor and check out this amazing woman. Jenna Moreci is a wonderful writer and vlogger that you MUST watch. NOW. She will make you laugh and give you amazing tips. 

It is a long road, the one us writers trudge, but we need not do it alone. We are a community. A weird one, but a community none the less.

Hugs

AMC xxx

My road to publication ...

Hello humans!

So ...
Just to let you all know in advance ... I have no idea what I am doing. I am lost.

I have found myself at a crossroads.

The publishing world is cut throat. I know this. But with self publishing so accessible these days, what is an author to do?

So, I am making this Blog. Maybe I can help other authors out there make these tough decisions. I will be researching both sides of the coin and trying to make my choice. 

First I will tell you a bit about myself. I am a writer. I am many things. A parent, a wife, a florist, a nerd, a hugger. But, for this Blog, I am a writer.

If there is anyone out there in the void reading this, feel free to comment. Let me know your experiences. I am here to listen and help.

hugs,
AMC xxx