You Asked About Self-Publishing

Peace, this is a long post to answer some questions I’m asked often. Also, info I wish found all in one place.

First. Whatever genre you’re writing in, at least peruse books in that genre. Know who the bestsellers are and why.  This is also the first step in finding an agent if you want to be traditionally published.

Two. To build an audience research call for submissions on projects in your genre. Many large publishing houses do subject collections, like erotica short stories and accept submissions from new unrepresented writers.

Submitting also allows you to network in your genre. This could also lead to traditional publishing or a small press.

Three. Self publishing doesn’t mean do everything yourself. Even your favorite writer has a minimum of three professional editors.
Budget for at least three. Don’t ask your friends unless they are English teachers. Even that’s sketch.

Yes, you can edit your own work. In fact, you must do the best you can before you send it to your first editor.

Friends can beta read when the book is done, but proofreading is not professional editing.

Four. Three editors
1.Content editor. Addresses plot holes, pacing, character development and sentence structure.
This is the most intense edit, and the longest process. Most importantly, you should make your own corrections.
First, editors don’t always know what you mean. These changes are suggestions. Not to mention, going through every word with a content editor
makes you a stronger writer. By teaching you how to flesh out your own story. It also allows you to see how an audience would comprehend what you’ve written. Sometimes what we think we’re saying isn’t what is heard. This editor may correct some spelling and grammar by nature, editor and all, but their purpose is helping you convey and write the best story. For nonfiction, pace of story, order of events, removing repetition and irrelevant information that doesn’t serve your goals for the  book. For poets, they help pick and organize the poems by theme and flow. They also edit.

Poets. Read your whole book out loud before and after this edit.

After you’ve reviewed all the suggestions, made your story tight and nothing is moving, it goes to its next editor.

2. Grammar/ line editor. This editor can make the changes because the writing is set. I still think you should, because writing is a process and you learn a great deal from your mistakes. However, this depends on your budget, the skill of the editor, and how much you trust them with your voice. If you can afford Angela Y Davis’s line editor, let them make the changes. If you’re cutting corners and trying to save money, you need to know what changes are made.

Some people who claim to be editors don’t really know how to edit. They rewrite in their voice. Or rewrite to fit the King’s English, erasing character voice differentiation and colloquial language.

Story is tight. No spelling or grammar errors. Line edits are done. The book is so good you can’t wait to share it.

But wait. There should be no issues but people are human, and you may still be mixing the magic and misspelled or left a word out.

This is when you print copies for beta readers or friends. Give instructions.

How is the pace?
Please check spelling/grammar.
What were your favorite parts?
What did you hate or want more of?
Did anything not make sense? Writers working with writers/editors, may have too high of an expectation for their readers’ comprehension . Was the language understandable?
Did you have to look up any words?
How often?
Which chapters were hardest to read?
Do any other writers, books, movies come to mind? (This question helps with your marketing and tag words)

You need all your reader packets back. You need to address all your readers concerns.  Whether you change something or say, “whateve, girl, this is lit.”

Then read your own manuscript twice. Once for a final edit. Then aloud.

READ IT OUT LOUD. This is so important because it verifies your voice. It smooths out the flow.

3. Last editor!
Editor/formatting
Book should be in final print format. Final editor proofreads heavy. A little grammar and spell check. They should make sure each chapter starts on the right page. They will make sure the opening and closing pages are correct.
They may look at type settings and making sure everything is fully justified.

Note: Smaller print exhausts readers’ eyes. Short paragraphs make them feel like they are moving through text fast.

Don’t use fonts difficult to read. Anything that looks like cursive. Even if it’s not a traditional book, you need to find three fonts and stick with them.

This edit should verify the books format fits publishing standards.

I forgot. First and second edit should be double spaced so editors can write in lines.

Beta copies should be fully formatted, single spaced for print but on full printed pages so that they can write in the margins.

Last edit can be an actual proof of the book.

Review: Title on binding, it should be centered.
Does the cover look like you expected? Should it be darker or lighter? Is the title clear? Is it spelled right?

This way every page is checked. After you get it back and make necessary changes, you should be good to go live and order prints of the finished book.

Five. Friends and family are not your audience. Cultivate an audience. Research how.

Six. Why do you have a website if no one knows your name? If this is your first book and you aren’t Beyonce, use KDP so you will be suggested to people you don’t know looking for books in your genre.

Seven. Copyright that first manuscript draft, no matter how horrible it is, before you send it to anyone. Then send in updates as you edit. Create a copyright of a collection of your work.

When you’re going to publish buy a new copyright for that specific book.

This should have been like number one, but I wrote this in a rush and would have had to change er number to correct that. So… Bam! Here it is.

Eight. What is the difference between self publishing and traditional publishing?

And

What are the pros and cons of self publishing versus traditional?

These are two different questions. Google can answer the first one. It’s technical.

The second is more nuisanced and depends on your goals, network, platform/ audience and commitment.

And traditional publishers can create an audience. They publish unknown writers all the time. But that’s a whole other post of whys and hows.

Nine. I’ve used several types of publishers. Smashwords. I loved the idea of the word grinder. I published with a vanity press, which sucked. KDP is the best of all the self-publishing options outside of traditional printers.

Traditional printers base their prices on page count, paper, color vs. black and white, the type of cover AND how many books you’re printing. This is why you can’t just call and get a price. If I order your same book but get 1000, and you are getting 100, I may pay $1 per book, while you may pay $3.50 per book.

Printers don’t care if it’s copyrighted or if you have an ISBN. If you’re going to sell them out of your trunk, at your poetry shows and off your website, an ISBN isn’t necessary.

If you want book stores to carry it, or your local library you need an ISBN. You could buy your own but some places are weird about this, which limits where your book is sold.

Also, you can’t give your library a copy because they need library copies. These books are made more rugged for heavy use. Last time I checked, only a library can order them. Which they usually do directly from a publisher.

Ten. I don’t want to do everything myself. Do you? So I like that KDP ships my books. I like that they keep track of sells for taxes. I don’t want to house tons of books. I don’t want to be going to the post office all the time. Or checking to see if I sold some. Idc. Don’t send me notifications either.

And tbh, I’ve sold more books online than in person. More importantly, KDP makes your book available to be carried every where, even internationally.
Local printers don’t, and you still gotta make that ebook.

Eleven. Never buy reference books. Use the library. Go to book stores and then get books at your library. You can request the library order books and be first on the waiting list to read it.

Between Google and the library you have tons of free resources. Only buy books you will return to throughout during every writing project.

I own sooo many books.

Lastly, what number am I on? KDP has formats for several different types of books you can use for any printer. You don’t have to know how to format. When I started publishing I had to do it manually.

There are publishing standards for books. It’s not just what looks good. Get someone to format it if you don’t know the standards. Or you don’t want to fill in the pre-made formats. Some writers just write and pay for all the other parts to be done by others.

It’s ok to hire help. Your book will read better and look professional.

List your editors with cover designer.

I wrote this off the top of my head to share with folks. Forgive my imperfections. I pray this is helpful.