Looking to self publish? Here's some advice from fellow writers across the #writingcommunity on Twitter!
What the writers say....
"Put together a team, content editor, a fine editor, a group of ARCS, a cover designer and a publicist. Maximize your social media across multiple platforms, and remember that 85% of all e-books are sold through various online platforms"
@RGRyan777
Decide who you want to be as a grown up writer and work your plan. Get a real editor. Write and the read. Write much more. Get beta readers who tell you facts. Edit again. Half of being a recognized author is marketing so have a plan. Remember for most of us, this is a long game. Have fun. Make friends. Edit again.
@CollingsMaccrae
1) Become successful at marketing something…anything (this, I need to do).
2) Self publishing is not self editing.
Be willing to stick with this. Success does not come easy.
@sprites_bb
Keep an eye on the size of your book. It will impact your printing and delivery costs, which in turn will impact your price setting and profit margin.
@matthewgeddes70
Don’t expect overnight success with your first publication. Keep writing, publish more books and build your business with hard work and patience.
@DionneHaynes_UK
I suppose I wish in hindsight I would have been more prepared to market the book I’m publishing. Getting the book available for print is so huge and such a giant victory, but the road after that is not designed to coast on that momentum. Be prepared to push.
@kpmaloyauthor
Don't be disheartened by a slow start! Keep writing and do what you reasonably can to advertise. Don't get unmotivated, keep on writing!
Use beta readers and, if you can, an editor to help you get your book publication ready. Make sure they're willing to be brutally honest.
@river_sailor
Get some money behind you to promote. People won’t buy your books if they don’t know they’re there.
@AdamGiblin1
PROMOTE PROMOTE PROMOTE! Get out there and advertise your book on Twitter and Facebook and tell everyone you meet you have a book out, lol. The more people you attract the more you will sell.
@eileenwanita
Wait at least three months and whilst you do build momentum for the book with community engagement, development of marketing collateral, saving for ads etc.
@booksafterbed
Ensure book is edited & proof read by a professional, not a mate! Invest in a great cover - it's the window into a book. Embark on a teaser campaign across social media before launch Organize a blog tour of your book to help readers get familiar with your work. Promote. Promote
@JMSimpsonauthor
Join the Society of Independent Authors,
@IndieAuthorALLI With access to the resources and the members forum you have everything you need to publish in a professional way.
@MarthaDunlop
Check your categories carefully, make sure you match blurb and cover to those. Check the Amazon top 100 for that categ if unsure.
@SnapeNick
Plan your launch meticulously. So many things (ARC's, bloggers, award nominations etc.) have a long lead time and you don't want to miss out on any of their opportunities.
@gblackwellbooks
Trust your instinct. There’s a reader out there waiting for your book. Your story is unique. No one can tell it like you do. Prepare a budget. If not, Kickstart to fund it. Takes lots of work, but at the end is worth it.
@GiannaMariaMtz
If you don't have author social media accounts (and plan on it), start them ASAP. It takes a long time to build a 'real' account with people you want to follow that make sense, and to build up a comfortable backlog of posts so you don't look like a bot.
@wontwriteitself
Find your community. While writing appears to be a solo sport, you need a while team behind you to launch a book.
@AmberRaeToro
Honestly, I would invest in something like Vellum (that’s what I use). It makes the process of formatting simple and prepares the document to be uploaded in a variety of formats. That and market, market, market. Just my two cents.
@Triple_31
Understand why you're self publishing, because your motivation may change your strategy. "I want to make a living" is very different than "I want people to read my art"
@BenSchenkman
Believe in your wares, be resolute and prepare for a lot of work & ‘wearing many hats’ as you seek to promote your book to a wide enough reading base to achieve meaningful sales.
Two things:
-Edit to where you think you're really really done, then edit again.
-Use KU to your advantage. Readers are more willing to take a gamble on a book if it's free to them. You can always change to going wide later.
@jeff_schanz
Go to as many events as possible so you can sell in person, talk about your book(s) on social media often, and don't lose hope! You've got this!!!
@Breanna_S_Elder
Read what you have written out loud to make sure it makes sense. We write sentences differently than we speak in day to day conversations. Don’t tell anyone until it’s published. Then invite your loved ones to read or send them a copy. No one can plant a seed of doubt that way.
@Berteena
Don't put all your eggs in the Amazon basket. Don't whine & complain on social media. Invest in (story) editor. Grammar is easier to fix than logic gaps & plot holes. What JW James said. Writers: Stop preaching to the choir. ( Few talk to their readers, I've observed this)
@atrtink
My advice would be to know who your intended audience/niche & show them love. Many new writers have a "the whole world is my audience!" but in truth, different people are attracted to different themes & genres more than others. Find your people.
@JNeiraAuthor
Know your audience. Create an avatar of your ideal reader and write for yourself and them. Know your genre. Know the expectations. Know your competition. Become part of the genre. Don't alienate it.
@rhyswritesmm
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