How Do I Publish My Book?

One question I've gotten several times is...

"How do I publish my book?"

That's a big question.

There is a simple answer...kinda...but not really.

I can't say, "Ya just add flour, sugar, and butter, mix and bake for 10 minutes."

Here's how you sort out the answer to that BIG question.

What Are My Publishing Options?

Traditional/big house publishing (means getting an agent)
Small press pblishing
Self/independent publishing

I've done all 3, and that's another story for another day.

Good News and Bad News

The good news: Publishing a book is so EASY that literally anyone  with a pulse and computer access can do it for free! Just go to Kindle Direct Publishing. Boom, you're published! Most of you will decide that answers your question and go away. Except ...

The bad news:  Publishing a book is so easy that anyone can do it, and most self published books are utter CRAP, like the one I tred reading that switches between present and past tense several times on the first page!

Here are 3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You  Make Publishing Decisions

Why am I writing this book? AKA, What is my goal with the book?
What do I expect from this book?
How much time, money, and/or energy am I willing/able to invest?

"Why am I writing this book?

If you answer: To get a story out of me. or share my family's stories.

If this is what you ant, you may not need to publish at all, because just writing the story is enough. You can always have a few copies bound at an office store. This isn't something you are wanting to share with the world.

If you answer, "I'd like to publish my book and print some copies to sell to family/friends/clubs/etc."

Great, You can use KDP.

If you answer, "I wanna sell a million books or have my book made into a movie" ...

It happens, but not often. Everyone can now publish a book. Most shouldn't, or they need extreme help first. Expect to put in a lot of sweat equity and actual money for this to happen.

What do I Expect from this book?

If you just expect to get that story out of you and maybe make a few (your currency)s, that's fine.

Also fine if you have big dreams, but big dreams mean big investments of time, sweat, tears, and money.  Which leads us to

How much time, money, and energyam I willing/able to invest?

Investments are time, money, and energy. Everything can be boiled down to those 3 ways of contributing.

If you expect to make any money at all, know some cold, hard facts.

Most books only sell 10 or less copies.
3% sell 100 copies or more.
1/10 of 1 % sell over a million.
I'm just sayin...it's a rough business if you really have big expectations.

If this is your big dream, expect to go full-out. Join a critique group, learn about the craft of writing. Strive too improve. Attend writers conferences.

Could you be the next sensation? Absolutely. BUt it takes more than wishing.

My friend Andy LoRusso, the Singing Chef, is one of the few who has done just that.

What's your next queston? Let me know in the comments, and I'll answer in a future post!

Cheers to your B.L.I.S.S.-FULL Life!!

Ronda Del Boccio

Award winning author, photographer and artist

About Ronda Del Boccio

Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She has been mostly blind since birth, but she never lets that stop her doing what she wants to do. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.

Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read

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