New books require a lot of work
I was telling a friend of mine the other day that I needed to make a detailed list of how to do each step of taking a book from my brain to publication. I still need to do that. ;) But , as Troubled Skies approaches the completion of yet another phase, I thought I'd start things off with a blog post.
So much of writing a book seems obvious (ex. have an idea, type it up, edit it). And so much of it lurks on the edges of my awareness (ex. advance marketing). I can honestly say I do as much research on how to market and sell books as I do to clarify things for myself while writing.
Back to the "list." I had the idea; I struggled to get it typed up; and it's 3/5ths of the way edited (it's not enough to have someone else look at it and suggest corrections, the author also has to review the suggestions and accept them or work around them). It's still at least a week from being ready for publication, probably two weeks, but that means I need to start thinking about copyrighting it, registering it to an ISBN with Bowkers, and formatting it (manuscript and cover) for Amazon Kindle. Not to mention trying to locate five or ten pre-launch readers who are willing to wait to post their reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads.
So the short version of the list so far:
1) Decide to write a book/Have an idea
2) Type it up
3) Have it edited/Review edits
4) Begin marketing/Contacting reviewers
5) Register book to an ISBN with Bowkers
6) Submit manuscript and cover to copyright office
7) Format manuscript and cover for submission to publishing company
8) Don't go crazy trying to juggle everything
I hope you've enjoyed this post; there will be more to come. Questions? Comments? Concerns? Jokes? Post 'em below, please! :D
So much of writing a book seems obvious (ex. have an idea, type it up, edit it). And so much of it lurks on the edges of my awareness (ex. advance marketing). I can honestly say I do as much research on how to market and sell books as I do to clarify things for myself while writing.
Back to the "list." I had the idea; I struggled to get it typed up; and it's 3/5ths of the way edited (it's not enough to have someone else look at it and suggest corrections, the author also has to review the suggestions and accept them or work around them). It's still at least a week from being ready for publication, probably two weeks, but that means I need to start thinking about copyrighting it, registering it to an ISBN with Bowkers, and formatting it (manuscript and cover) for Amazon Kindle. Not to mention trying to locate five or ten pre-launch readers who are willing to wait to post their reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads.
So the short version of the list so far:
1) Decide to write a book/Have an idea
2) Type it up
3) Have it edited/Review edits
4) Begin marketing/Contacting reviewers
5) Register book to an ISBN with Bowkers
6) Submit manuscript and cover to copyright office
7) Format manuscript and cover for submission to publishing company
8) Don't go crazy trying to juggle everything
I hope you've enjoyed this post; there will be more to come. Questions? Comments? Concerns? Jokes? Post 'em below, please! :D
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Claire
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Apr 26, 2014 07:11PM
I find there's a lot that goes on between "have an idea" and "have it edited" that goes beyond "typing it up." I am doing research for the next book I. the Toki-Girl and Sparrow-Boy series, and ideas are coming, but I am in the middle of steps 4 - 8 and am very much going crazy!
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Claire wrote: "I find there's a lot that goes on between "have an idea" and "have it edited" that goes beyond "typing it up." I am doing research for the next book I. the Toki-Girl and Sparrow-Boy series, and i..."lol, yes, I'm in the same spot(s). Research is a great way to get past writer's block, can't believe I left it off the list!
I've had to put my next book on hold while I try to get things rounded up for this release. Among other things, the copyright office is closed today, doggone it!
Good luck, Claire!
