Learn how to create a killer support team that will lead you to success!
Congratulations on deciding to self-publish your book! It’s a big decision and I’m so happy to welcome you to the fun-filled world of self-publishing.
Contrary to popular belief, “self” publishing doesn’t mean that you’ll have to do everything by yourself. In fact, one of the first things you need to do when you start the process is to find the right people to work with.
Yep, you get to create your own team! How fun is that? Below is a list of the most important players that you’ll need to put in place to make your book a success.
You will need an editor to help you make your manuscript even better. The right editor for you will make you feel like your writing flies off the page, and that your intention behind your words comes through loud and clear. When selecting your editor, it’s a good idea to give them a short piece of your writing, and asking them what they would do with it. They should do this for free, as a courtesy to earn your business. Your self-publishing coach will probably have a few editors they can recommend for you.
You will need a cover designer: people do judge a book by its cover. Once again, your self-publishing coach should be able to recommend a few designers for you to review. As you’re looking to narrow down your search on designers, make sure you review the designers’ past works and that you speak with them over the phone before you decide. You’ll want to make sure he or she understands what you’re looking for, and that he or she is knowledgeable about what helps a book sell.
You may need a ghostwriter – if you have a great idea, but not a clue how to turn it into a book, a ghost writer is the right person. Using a ghostwriter is very common in today’s self-publishing world. Ghostwriters are easy to find, and you’ll want to ask them for a sample test, just as you will do for your editor. Ghostwriters are a great solution for the busy self-publishing author, as well as for those who have the plot, idea and story in mind, but aren’t sure how to get the words out.
An illustrator – if you write children’s books or need other kind of illustrations. Illustrations can add a lot of character and depth to your story, even if you’re not writing a children’s book. Small illustrations at the beginning of each chapter can pull your reader deeper into your story. For those who are looking into a children’s book, your illustrator will be as important as your editor, as the illustrations are critical to telling the story. Work with your self-publishing coach to audition, narrow down and ultimately choose your illustrator.
And viola! You have a team in place to support your self-publishing journey. Don’t get discouraged if it takes a few tries to find the right people for your support team. Creating this team will be crucial to your success. And just think, you get to tell people you have a team!
Happy writing!
I invite you to contact me:
973-826-2020
