Congratulations, you’ve finished writing your book!
You’re already leaps and bounds ahead of those who only talk about writing a book. So, VERY well done.
Thinking of self-publishing?
Then stay with me. I’d like to share with you some of the fundamental DOs and DON’Ts regarding self-publishing (in a two-part blog series). Like anything new, the publication process will prove a steep learning curve, but that’s not to say it can’t be enjoyable. Arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can before you begin, and the less likely you’ll be to make mistakes. Some of this advice comes from my own self-publishing experiences and the books I’ve published on behalf of my talented author clients.
Ready? Let’s go …
The DOs of Self-Publishing
DO MAKE SURE YOUR BOOK IS AS GOOD AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE
Before you search for a ‘How to Publish on Kindle’ book or YouTube video, focus your mind on your book. Is it the best version it can be? Or have you had a ‘that’ll do’ attitude towards the end because you’re getting impatient for publication? Be truthful now. It will become your biggest regret if you don’t spend a little extra time at this stage. Publish in haste repent at leisure, isn’t that what they say?
DO INVEST IF YOUR BUDGET ALLOWS
If your budget stretches to a proofreader or an editor, then please hire one. It’s one of the best investments you can make if you’re serious about self-publishing and your author reputation. If you don’t have a budget, then download the free version of Grammarly or something similar to give you a head start. And check out my blog: PROOFREADING TIPS TO MAKE YOUR WRITING SPARKLE. Are you looking for a proofreader/editor? Then feel free to message me.
Similarly, if your budget extends to a cover designer, then all the better. But if you have to choose between proofreading and designing, I’d invest in the content first.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
Is there a book with the same title as yours in the same genre? Is there a famous author with your name? If you’re called Jack Kelvin Rowling, I’d advise you don’t use your first initials and surname as your author name. Check out the best-sellers in your genre – what do their books/covers/blurbs look like, and who is their intended audience? This research may spark more ideas than you initially expected, but any time invested in research is well spent and could prevent troubleshooting later in the publication process.
BENEFIT FROM OTHER SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHORS’ EXPERIENCES
There are many social media groups for self-published authors. Just search for them the next time you’re on your favourite platform. Many of the communities I’ve seen on Facebook, for example, are supportive, well-monitored, and aren’t full of spam. People are usually more than happy to share any mistakes they’ve made along the way, and if they’re two or three steps ahead of you, then who wouldn’t want to listen to their experience and learn their own lesson from it? Indie authors are usually some of the most generous people we writers ever come across. In time, you’ll be the one helping out the newbies. You can read my Indie Author Interviews over on the blog.
DECIDE HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO DO YOURSELF
The publication process has seven fundamental steps; some you may be more than comfortable with, and others which might make you erupt in hives. (Grab yourself a copy of my FREE EBOOK if you’d like to find out what the seven steps are.) From proofreading through to publishing, there is much to learn. My advice? Decide where your strengths lie and hire a self-publishing expert to take care of the rest. Don’t risk stalling at the first or last obstacle. You didn’t invest all that time in writing your book for no one to see it.
Read part two – The DON’Ts of Self-Publishing – here!
Read more about publishing on Kindle in my blog (and book) here.
If you’re looking for help to self-publish feel free to message me and we can have a chat.
Michelle
Self-Publishing Services for UK Independent Authors
