Changed My Mind
I'm gung ho. I've decided not to send Dissected to the agent again. (notice how I changed the name again?) I'm just going to throw my hat into the self publishing ring. And I'm excited...really excited.
I'm doing a lot of research. I've had many friends who've gone before me who are willing to help out. I'm designing the cover. If this one goes well, I may just do them all this way and forgo traditional publishing all together. Who knows?
Any of you out there self pubbed? If so, how's it going?
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Thanks Charles. I've really been researching this and have friends that have been there before me that are helping me through the process. The thing is, I just need to learn the publishing side of things. I've already delved into the formatting, and am learning about ISBNs and distributions.
I've got the writing and marketing thing down. Because of my first book I have a fan base, connections with bloggers, book stores, libraries and schools. And I have a giant support system. I will include you on that list now. I thank you for your advice and your offer to answer questions. I'm very ready for this.
The company-demands compete with your author-demands, but it has some advantages. I can use my own formula for determining what I'll published.
I worked out some of the kinks of publishing on a couple of children's books of limited scope. Like everything else, the more you publishing you do, the better you get at it. I'm saying, you might want to practice with a test book that's not a primary project. (That's a word to the wise)
Finding a couple of editors and trusted advanced readers--a.k.a. building an organization--is an essential element for success. Even then, the entire weight of success is on your shoulders.
Until you generate sufficient cash flow, your company is only 1-deep in all departments. I often joke my Chief of (Marketing/IT/Sales/Production/etc) does good work, just not enough of it.
To do all of this well, you'll need to think more like a publisher than as an author. However, that doesn't give your author requirements any relief. You'll need to continue to do anything you already do there, plus the publisher's job.
You might remember that you video-reviewed an early version of my first novel during the first ABNA several years ago (The Dragoneers). Since refining and publishing it, over 18,000 copies, mostly eBooks, have found their way to readers.
To my amazement, a few of those readers have become my volunteer editors/readers/social media advisers/and general enthusiasts who've encouraged me to press onward when everything gets lonely and stale. Without them, I'm not sure I could have finished the second novel (The Lost Dragoneer). So I'm not only growing as a author but also as a publisher.
Because I have zero labor costs, my company turns a slight profit. Once I get a few more of my novels written, maybe it will generate enough of a cash-flow to subsidize other authors. I'm just not there yet.
If you have any specific questions, I'm available on Facebook.
C. D. Sutherland