So if you're thinking about self publishing, why not start with an educational eBook?
In the "old" days not so long ago, it was difficult to get published with only the option of the traditional route - and with that came the same old problem I always encountered when trying to find my first job - if you won't employ me (publish me), how will I ever qualify for that thing you call "experience"?
Writing and publishing an eBook will ensure you become a published author thus your portfolio is up and running. It will help you establish your brand and you can begin to position yourself as an expert in your subject matter. There is very little risk so consider it a one-time investment and if you already have a blog and post regularly, the content is just sitting there waiting to be used.
Everybody is writing about writing. You need to find a niche and fill the demand. This is easier said than done, but with a little mind mapping and thinking time, something is bound to shine through. It just needs creativity and your own personal writing touch! Once you've found an idea, introduce it on your blog and through your social media and see what kind of response you get.
An eBook should have structure. Ideas need to be presented in an organised way so the book flows. With this in mind, don't take your blog posts as they are and simply drop them in as chapters. There needs to be transitions between the different topics and be sure to include fresh content as well.
You still need to hold your audience's attention just as you would with a story, so keep the writing tight and succinct because this type of eBook is created to teach your readers. Once read from virtual cover to cover, I imagine your text will be referred to over and over (if it was a success) so it should be "skim presentable". What do I mean by this? Make the information pop off the page - use headings, subheadings, bullet points, colourful text blocks, photos, illustrations, diagrams. I'll always remember when studying for my Science GCSEs, we had these new "bitesize chunks" textbooks to revise from. They gave me a fighting chance because they brought the boring details to life and I ended up with a double B. I honestly thought I'd failed in all three exams. I'm no scientist!
If you use industry specific terms, make sure you explain what they mean. Give your eBook substance so that it packs a stimulating informational punch. Throw in facts and examples and try to present the details in a fresh, original and exciting way.
Most informational eBooks are 50 A4 pages or less so if you set yourself deadlines, it could be published and on the virtual shelves in next to no time. A lot of people write in MS Word and then release as a PDF, and if you keep the size to 2MB or less, readers can email it around easily. Of course, you can put more time, effort and money into your project and make it a proper looking book should you wish, but if you're determined to keep your first attempt simple, a PDF would be the way to go. And there's no rule that says you can't re-release the original text with additional content in the future...
The beauty with eBooks is you can hyperlink to any references thus making the book / text come alive for your readers. Interaction is key. Hyperlinks are especially useful in your table of contents. The other point to consider when writing the text is using key words you can later exploit in your SEO endeavours.
Get an ISBN for your book so people are more likely to take you seriously.
There are many many outlets for selling your work - Amazon (KDP) and Smashwords to name just two. Each have their pros and cons and experimenting will help you find what works best for you. For example, Smashwords will allow you to download different formats for your book and sell copies on your website.
Next up we'll be looking at a typical plan for writing, launching and selling your informational eBook.
Monday, 2 September 2013
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Amazon the giant
I know how I feel about Amazon - I'm going to embrace it and all of the opportunities it provides for self publishing. However, it's important to gain a balanced perspective on this giant, so we can make informed decisions how best to use our time, energy and money when it comes to putting a self published book out there.
We know Amazon holds the lion's share of the eBook market, but is this good or bad for authors?
There are views that suggest Amazon is short changing us and here's why:
They have the monopoly so whether we like their policies or not, we don't have the audience or the financing to go elsewhere.
Under Amazon's various imprints, they've priced eBooks significantly lower than Traditionals ever could, thus securing their position as the eBook's gatekeeper.
In light of the above, have we gone from stuffy publishing houses telling us what is good to read, to Amazon allowing the market to be swamped with the good, the bad and the ugly - even spam - book covers with no content?
99p for a book is a ridiculously low price and has been described as Amazon's fast-food pricing model - a pound for a burger at Maccy Ds that takes five to ten minutes to make verses a pound for a book which took years...! Is that price point doing us, as authors, a massive disservice?
Just throwing these thoughts out there. What is important to remember, is that at any time you can change the price of your book (higher or lower), remove your book from sale and even sell it elsewhere without any contractual obligations to Amazon. So in that respect, it's a very flexible platform to work with. As with most things in life, you get too involved in the politics and soon the enjoyment is sucked right out of you. I'm keeping an open mind for now.
And Amazon still struggles in print publishing - not that they care as digi is their "thing" - but swings and roundabouts people. At the moment, there appears to be room for everybody.
We know Amazon holds the lion's share of the eBook market, but is this good or bad for authors?
There are views that suggest Amazon is short changing us and here's why:
They have the monopoly so whether we like their policies or not, we don't have the audience or the financing to go elsewhere.
Under Amazon's various imprints, they've priced eBooks significantly lower than Traditionals ever could, thus securing their position as the eBook's gatekeeper.
In light of the above, have we gone from stuffy publishing houses telling us what is good to read, to Amazon allowing the market to be swamped with the good, the bad and the ugly - even spam - book covers with no content?
99p for a book is a ridiculously low price and has been described as Amazon's fast-food pricing model - a pound for a burger at Maccy Ds that takes five to ten minutes to make verses a pound for a book which took years...! Is that price point doing us, as authors, a massive disservice?
Just throwing these thoughts out there. What is important to remember, is that at any time you can change the price of your book (higher or lower), remove your book from sale and even sell it elsewhere without any contractual obligations to Amazon. So in that respect, it's a very flexible platform to work with. As with most things in life, you get too involved in the politics and soon the enjoyment is sucked right out of you. I'm keeping an open mind for now.
And Amazon still struggles in print publishing - not that they care as digi is their "thing" - but swings and roundabouts people. At the moment, there appears to be room for everybody.
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
The Traditional Publisher's weakness
A little word today on the Traditional Publisher's weakness:
It's interesting to read about the transformation of the publishing industry over the last few years. One thing I am picking up over and over is where there are weaknesses in the traditional publishing model, we, as writers, can exploit them and turn things on their head to make them work for us.
An example of this is the Trad's lack lustre approach to the digital age and the potential it holds. While we all long for a traditional book deal with that giant advance (although don't forget, you don't start earning royalties until the advance is paid back through book sales), the way to build a brand for ourselves and create a catalogue of our published work is to go down the self publishing route first - specifically with eBooks where the financial outlay and risk is minimal.
And why wouldn't we, when the potential to earn more and keep the investment running over a longer period of time with a digital rights contract with Amazon is readily available to us? It's a steady and predictable revenue stream to base our future writing endeavours on.
But, as with anything, for all the love we may have for Amazon in redefining the publishing model, sadly it does have its weak points too. We'll look at some of these in my next post.
It's interesting to read about the transformation of the publishing industry over the last few years. One thing I am picking up over and over is where there are weaknesses in the traditional publishing model, we, as writers, can exploit them and turn things on their head to make them work for us.
An example of this is the Trad's lack lustre approach to the digital age and the potential it holds. While we all long for a traditional book deal with that giant advance (although don't forget, you don't start earning royalties until the advance is paid back through book sales), the way to build a brand for ourselves and create a catalogue of our published work is to go down the self publishing route first - specifically with eBooks where the financial outlay and risk is minimal.
And why wouldn't we, when the potential to earn more and keep the investment running over a longer period of time with a digital rights contract with Amazon is readily available to us? It's a steady and predictable revenue stream to base our future writing endeavours on.
But, as with anything, for all the love we may have for Amazon in redefining the publishing model, sadly it does have its weak points too. We'll look at some of these in my next post.
Monday, 26 August 2013
An injection of realism in your writing life
I read an article at the weekend that really resonated with me and my writing life. It was about self publishing and how it won't replace traditional publishing, but it might supplement and influence it. The pros for self publishing in the article got me thinking.
In life, as sad as this is, people are only deemed a success if they are rolling around in money. You can apply this principle to anything. For a writer, it means they are only a success when they are selling lots of books.
I'm certainly not saying don't have ambition, but creative minds need to be realistic - and everybody has to start from somewhere. Self publishing is a solid platform to take that leap of faith.
Personally speaking, I have changed my mindset a lot since I first started out. I had to do this in order to be productive, otherwise I would have given up writing a long time ago. Rather than thinking I must make loads of money immediately, I like to know my thoughts and ideas are out there in the world for anybody to receive at any moment. Thinking like this helps keep me focused and motivated. There is potential and that's all that matters. Right now, I view self publishing as a conclusion to my writing projects.
I know I won't always think like this. As humans we always want more out of something. Eventually I will want to have a giant internet following and eventually I will want to be traditionally published... but that will be the next chapter and the next one after that.
Little steps.
Self publishing is enticing because readers can get your book while you're still passionate about it. If you have amassed a decent sized internet following who are interested in what you're working on, then away you go. That's why it's so important to have a blog and social network. In contrast, the traditional publishing model puts money up front (the advance) and then sets about trying to build an audience for a book that's already created.
Whilst being published traditionally is great for the ego - how fabulous would it be to say "Headline are publishing my book in the Spring" - the risk that goes with it is greater as you're placed precariously in other people's hands. For me, control is quite important at this stage of my writing career.
We'll explore more of the pros and cons as this series on Self Publishing progresses.
In life, as sad as this is, people are only deemed a success if they are rolling around in money. You can apply this principle to anything. For a writer, it means they are only a success when they are selling lots of books.
I'm certainly not saying don't have ambition, but creative minds need to be realistic - and everybody has to start from somewhere. Self publishing is a solid platform to take that leap of faith.
Personally speaking, I have changed my mindset a lot since I first started out. I had to do this in order to be productive, otherwise I would have given up writing a long time ago. Rather than thinking I must make loads of money immediately, I like to know my thoughts and ideas are out there in the world for anybody to receive at any moment. Thinking like this helps keep me focused and motivated. There is potential and that's all that matters. Right now, I view self publishing as a conclusion to my writing projects.
I know I won't always think like this. As humans we always want more out of something. Eventually I will want to have a giant internet following and eventually I will want to be traditionally published... but that will be the next chapter and the next one after that.
Little steps.
Self publishing is enticing because readers can get your book while you're still passionate about it. If you have amassed a decent sized internet following who are interested in what you're working on, then away you go. That's why it's so important to have a blog and social network. In contrast, the traditional publishing model puts money up front (the advance) and then sets about trying to build an audience for a book that's already created.
Whilst being published traditionally is great for the ego - how fabulous would it be to say "Headline are publishing my book in the Spring" - the risk that goes with it is greater as you're placed precariously in other people's hands. For me, control is quite important at this stage of my writing career.
We'll explore more of the pros and cons as this series on Self Publishing progresses.
Friday, 23 August 2013
Self publishing controls
Writing a book and publishing it yourself gives you something that not many occupations can - at the end of it you hold a physical manifestation of your hard work in your hands. All of those hours, all of those emotions and all of those words come together to leave a tangible mark.
As we've discussed, the appeal of self publishing are the controls you, the writer and creator, can exercise over your book. You can decide on a title, how much to sell it for, what it will look like, when it will be published and how you will market and sell it.
Do invest in an Editor because if nothing else, they will tighten up your writing, plot, characters and story line and let you know if you have a good idea - and how that good idea could become a great idea. Don't give up if the initial feedback results in more revising. It almost certainly will. However, this doesn't mean you aren't ready for publication and never will be. Do those revisions to create the best book you possibly can FOR YOU - but don't be so quick to give up your autonomy.
Maintaining the book's integrity is something we all worry about. I have an idea for this. Put the first few chapters up on story sharing websites. Gain an audience first through the numerous social media channels to see what people think. After all, they will be the people who buy your book when you eventually put it out there.
Digital printing and print-on-demand has paved the way for quick and economical book distribution not only for your readers, but for you as well. The elimination of financial exposure means you can experiment with marketing throughout the product cycle.
Don't rush to publication. I think I did with my debut. The problem was I didn't know what I wanted. I took so long to write the damn thing, I couldn't wait to get it out there so I could move on to the next one. I didn't realise I was doing everything in reverse. I didn't do my homework. I ended up with substandard editing, an ok book cover and a doomed price. It could have been so much better. And it will be - because we owe it to ourselves.
Self publishing isn't a last resort. Self publishing is a choice. I love having the freedom to experiment, to correct experiments that didn't work out and to push myself to make it better next time. Writing and publishing is a journey. I consider my debut an investment in my education.
Within days your book can be in the hands of your readers and within days you can see if anyone is buying it.
Unlike Trads, we are willing to share information about everything - pricing, formatting, marketing tips and tricks. There is a community feel to the way the industry has evolved. The Trads have shrunk but the freelancing market is brimming with experts to help us.
As we've discussed, the appeal of self publishing are the controls you, the writer and creator, can exercise over your book. You can decide on a title, how much to sell it for, what it will look like, when it will be published and how you will market and sell it.
Do invest in an Editor because if nothing else, they will tighten up your writing, plot, characters and story line and let you know if you have a good idea - and how that good idea could become a great idea. Don't give up if the initial feedback results in more revising. It almost certainly will. However, this doesn't mean you aren't ready for publication and never will be. Do those revisions to create the best book you possibly can FOR YOU - but don't be so quick to give up your autonomy.
Maintaining the book's integrity is something we all worry about. I have an idea for this. Put the first few chapters up on story sharing websites. Gain an audience first through the numerous social media channels to see what people think. After all, they will be the people who buy your book when you eventually put it out there.
Digital printing and print-on-demand has paved the way for quick and economical book distribution not only for your readers, but for you as well. The elimination of financial exposure means you can experiment with marketing throughout the product cycle.
Don't rush to publication. I think I did with my debut. The problem was I didn't know what I wanted. I took so long to write the damn thing, I couldn't wait to get it out there so I could move on to the next one. I didn't realise I was doing everything in reverse. I didn't do my homework. I ended up with substandard editing, an ok book cover and a doomed price. It could have been so much better. And it will be - because we owe it to ourselves.
Self publishing isn't a last resort. Self publishing is a choice. I love having the freedom to experiment, to correct experiments that didn't work out and to push myself to make it better next time. Writing and publishing is a journey. I consider my debut an investment in my education.
Within days your book can be in the hands of your readers and within days you can see if anyone is buying it.
Unlike Trads, we are willing to share information about everything - pricing, formatting, marketing tips and tricks. There is a community feel to the way the industry has evolved. The Trads have shrunk but the freelancing market is brimming with experts to help us.
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
From last resort to a successful trend
I can't wait to start over and self publish my saga and this is why:
Every part of the creative process is within my control and because the playing field is level - everyone has the same resources to sell their book thanks to the Internet - the factors needed to succeed (passion and persistence) are within my power.
Publishing houses used to have monopoly over everything, but now we have an up surge of freelancing professionals to help us create amazing books, social media exists where you can build your own community free of charge and we don't have to take huge financial risks.
The physical book format that we know and love is evolving, stretching and changing. So is the way in which we read a story. Apps, eBooks and reading devices no bigger than your palm bring about the ability to share, discuss and interact with content.
It's so exciting... and who knows what's coming next!
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Self publishing musings
I've been reading a lot about self publishing in preparation for this blog series. Today's post is a collection of facts, observations and musings that have sparked my interest.
People worry about pricing their eBooks at 99p because it seems too cheap, but think about it this way: If successful authors are selling their books at £9.99 and you are selling your books at 99p and still making a profit, you don't have anything to prove. Rather, those successful authors have to prove they are ten times better than you!
Wouldn't it be exciting if your book was downloaded somewhere in the world every minute?
Amazon's royalty rates are as follows: 70% if your cover price is between £1.98 and £6.60 and 35% if you price either higher or lower. More on this debate to come...
For many authors, the time spent writing and researching a book is disproportionate to the time we actually spend packaging it and marketing it. So... write the best book you can write, get it edited to make it better, get it proofread to eliminate typos, have a professional design the cover, convert into an eBook, promote and market - and then start all over again on your next.
Traditional Publishers are still behaving as if they have the monopoly. What they do is punish both their providers (the authors) and their end users (the readers) by offering limited creative, financial and other terms to authors, and not fully embracing the digital market to give the readers choice.
As authors and writers we know how easy it is to publish something, but many people are still in awe of authors.
However, let's not forget that telling a story is hard. Getting the perfect blend of description, emotion, character creation, setting, atmosphere etc etc with words is still a very clever art.
Is "self" publishing just user generated content or does it have more purpose and value? Do you see YouTube as content, or as independent film making?
You can get lost in the debate surrounding the nature and meaning of "publishing" - vanity, self, indie, trade... We make our living by selling words, but it seems we can't agree! The task of educating ourselves and the ordinary layman is endless. Don't go there unless you have to. As Humpty Dumpty told Alice, "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean."
Self publishing gives you three fundamental handles on your book efforts - price, control and speed.
There's never been a better time to be a novelist, but along with this liberation comes great responsibility. Authors have more to understand and more roles to take on.
People worry about pricing their eBooks at 99p because it seems too cheap, but think about it this way: If successful authors are selling their books at £9.99 and you are selling your books at 99p and still making a profit, you don't have anything to prove. Rather, those successful authors have to prove they are ten times better than you!
Wouldn't it be exciting if your book was downloaded somewhere in the world every minute?
Amazon's royalty rates are as follows: 70% if your cover price is between £1.98 and £6.60 and 35% if you price either higher or lower. More on this debate to come...
For many authors, the time spent writing and researching a book is disproportionate to the time we actually spend packaging it and marketing it. So... write the best book you can write, get it edited to make it better, get it proofread to eliminate typos, have a professional design the cover, convert into an eBook, promote and market - and then start all over again on your next.
Traditional Publishers are still behaving as if they have the monopoly. What they do is punish both their providers (the authors) and their end users (the readers) by offering limited creative, financial and other terms to authors, and not fully embracing the digital market to give the readers choice.
As authors and writers we know how easy it is to publish something, but many people are still in awe of authors.
However, let's not forget that telling a story is hard. Getting the perfect blend of description, emotion, character creation, setting, atmosphere etc etc with words is still a very clever art.
Is "self" publishing just user generated content or does it have more purpose and value? Do you see YouTube as content, or as independent film making?
You can get lost in the debate surrounding the nature and meaning of "publishing" - vanity, self, indie, trade... We make our living by selling words, but it seems we can't agree! The task of educating ourselves and the ordinary layman is endless. Don't go there unless you have to. As Humpty Dumpty told Alice, "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean."
Self publishing gives you three fundamental handles on your book efforts - price, control and speed.
There's never been a better time to be a novelist, but along with this liberation comes great responsibility. Authors have more to understand and more roles to take on.
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