Publish Your Book in 6 Weeks: a BookBaby Guide

As a NaNoWriMo sponsor, BookBaby is providing a comprehensive, 6-week guide to turning your first draft into a published book that “will catch readers’ attention, get reviewers talking, and take you to the next level in your writing career.” Download the full guide now, or get a preview of it below:

You worked hard writing your novel; it would make sense that you’d want your words to find an audience. What you do from here on out will determine whether or not someone reads the words in your manuscript. That’s why it’s important to find the right balance between strategically planning your launch (so you’ll be able to build interest in your book), and getting things done according to a timeline—because the last thing you want to do is sit on a finished manuscript indefinitely.

So: what goes into planning your book’s launch into the great big world out there?

(Note: You’ll most likely be working on several of the steps mentioned below concurrently. For simplicity’s sake, let’s assume you’re allotting 2-4 weeks for each step with overlap. At that rate, you’ll be able to successfully launch your book in 6-12 weeks. )

Step 1: Know when you’re really done with your book

First, try re-reading your manuscript with fresh eyes. Pretend it’s a brand new book written by someone else. If you find any flaws, fix ‘em; but chances are you’re too close to your own writing to be able to make objective decisions at this point. That’s why you need to find some careful and qualified readers to help you polish up your manuscript before publication.

Bring your manuscript to your writing group and circulate it among trusted writers, teachers, mentors, or other professionals in your community. If you don’t have an extensive local writing community, get help from online writing and critique groups on the NaNoWriMo forums, or sites such as Skypen, World Literary Cafe, You Write On, or Authonomy. 

Step 2: Edit your book (It’s essential.)

Even the most successful authors in the world work with professional editors, and you should too. Unfortunately, editing is the publication steps indie authors most often skip, and it shows in their work. No matter how good your manuscript, an editor can help you make it great. 

Whether you need to work with a developmental editor on a major revision, a copy editor to make your prose sparkle, or a professional proofreader, editing is essential to publishing a successful book.

To see how a professional editor can help you improve your book, get a sample of your writing edited for free by FirstEditing.com.

Step 3: Prepare your book for publication

Before you print your books and/or publish an e-book, you’ll want to come up with some jacket copy and a captivating book blurb that will help you sell your book. You should also consider printing galleys and sending them out to services such as Kirkus Indie for early review. That way you’ll have some quotes from professional book reviewers to include on the back of your book, in your press materials, on your website, and more.

When it’s time to move ahead with publishing, make sure your book has a great cover, is formatted properly for e-book conversion, and that your printed book has an attractive and reader-friendly design.

Step 4: Get a jump start on book marketing basics

The last thing you want to do is publish a book and then start thinking about how to market it. You need to begin your book marketing preparations well in advance of your launch.

If you don’t have a website, get one! Then put together your basic book promotion materials, including:

an author bio
an author photo
web content that boosts your online presence
hi-res image of your book cover
a press release
book trailer
and more

You should also look into running a Goodreads giveaway in advance of your book release to build anticipation and increase your chances for additional reader-generated reviews.

Step 5: Publish your book

The time has arrived. You’ve prepared, and now you’re ready to: 

print your book and distribute the first 100 copies before your launch date.
publish your e-book for iBooks, Kobo, Kindle, Nook, and many more.

Step 6: Promote your book

Once your physical books are printed and your digital books are available on all the popular eBook retail stores, it’s time to get the promotion machine going full-steam-ahead:

promote your book on an indie budget with these 20 thrifty ways to get your book out there.
promote your book with social media, and be sure to follow these ten social media rules for authors.
plan your own virtual book tour, including stops at various book blogs, publishing industry websites, podcasts, radio shows, and more.
plan an actual book tour.
seek out more reviews for your book from bloggers, book critics, and more.
explore a few of these book launch strategies.

If you’ve completed everything up to this point, nice going! It’s time to pat yourself on the back; you’ve taken your book all the way from the first word on the first page through publication and promotion. The only thing left to do is host an unforgettable book launch party to celebrate your achievements with your supporters. 

Have a blast. You earned it. 

Christopher Robley is the 2013 winner of Boulevard’s Poetry Prize for Emerging Writers. His writing has been published in Prairie Schooner, Poetry Magazine, RHINO, Magma, and more. Robley’s music has been praised by the likes of NPR, the Los Angeles Times, and the Boston Globe. Skyscraper Magazine called him, “one of the best short story musicians to come along in quite some time.” He is also the editor for the BookBaby Blog and CD Baby’s DIY Musician Blog. 

“The End.” Now what?

From manuscript to published book

As a NaNoWriMo novelist, you may’ve written 50,000 captivating words — but you don’t have a finished book yet. You’ve still got to think about editing, design, printing, eBook distribution, promotion, and more.

I assume you worked hard writing your novel; obviously you want your words to find an audience. What you do from here on out will determine whether or not anybody actually reads those words in your manuscript. That’s why it’s important to find the right balance between strategically planning your launch (so you’ll be able to build interest in your book), and getting things done according to a definite timeline — because the last thing you want to do is sit on a finished manuscript for another year or two.

If you’re willing to put energy into the publishing and promotion process, it’s possible to establish an author brand, build your readership, and boost your chances of self-publishing success in a matter of months. This article provides one possible path towards that goal.

Note: You’ll most likely be working on several of the steps mentioned below concurrently. For simplicity’s sake, let’s assume you’re allotting 2-4 weeks for each step with overlap. At that rate, you’ll be able to successfully launch your book in 6-12 weeks. 

Step 1:

KNOWING WHEN YOU’RE REALLY FINISHED WITH YOUR BOOK

First, try re-reading your manuscript with fresh eyes. Pretend it’s a brand new book written by someone else. If you find any flaws, fix ‘em, of course; but chances are you’re too close to your own writing to be able to make objective decisions at this point (as if you could ever make objective decisions about your own work!). That’s why you need to find some careful and qualified readers (NOT your friends and family) to help you polish up your manuscript before publication.

Bring your manuscript to your writing group and circulate it among trusted writers, teachers, mentors, or other professionals in your community. If you don’t have an extensive local writing community, get help from online writing and critique groups such as www.skypen.com, www.worldliterarycafe.com, www.youwriteon.com, or www.authonomy.com.

Step 2:

EDITING YOUR BOOK, AND WHY IT’S ESSENTIAL

Even the most successful authors in the world work with professional editors, and you should too. Unfortunately, editing is the publication step indie authors most often skip, and it shows in their work.

No matter how good your manuscript, an editor can help you make it great.

Whether you need to work with a developmental editor on a major revision, a copy editor to make your prose sparkle, or a professional proofreader, editing is essential to publishing a successful book.

To see how a professional editor can help you improve your book, get a sample of your writing edited FOR FREE by FirstEditing.com .

Step 3:

PREPARE YOUR BOOK FOR PUBLICATION

Before you print your books and/or publish an eBook, you’ll want to come up with some jacket copy and a captivating book blurb that will help you sell your book. You should also consider printing galleys and sending them out to services such as Kirkus Indie for early review. That way you’ll have some quotes from professional book reviewers to include on the back of your book, in your press materials, on your website, and more.

When it’s time to move ahead with publishing, make sure your book has a great cover, is formatted properly for eBook conversion, and that your printed book has an attractive and reader-friendly design.

Step 4:

GETTING A JUMP START ON BOOK MARKETING BASICS

The last thing you want to do is publish a book and THEN start thinking about how to market it. You need to begin your book marketing preparations well in advance of your launch.

If you don’t have a website, get one! Then put together your basic book promotion materials, including:

an author bio

an author photo

web content that boosts your online presence

hi-res jpg of your book cover

a press release

book trailer

and more

You should also look into running a Goodreads giveaway in advance of your book release to build anticipation and increase your chances for additional reader-generated reviews.

Step 5:

PUBLISH YOUR BOOK

The time has arrived. You’ve prepared, and now you’re ready to:

print your book and distribute the first 100 copies before your launch date.

publish your eBook for iBooks, Kobo, Kindle, Nook, and many more.

Step 6:

PROMOTE YOUR BOOK

Once your physical books are printed and your digital books are available on all the popular eBook retail stores, it’s time to get the promotion machine going full-steam-ahead:

promote your book on an indie budget with these 20 thrifty ways to get your book out there.

promote your book with Social Media (especially on Twitter), and be sure to follow these10 social media rules for authors.

plan your own virtual book tour, including stops at various book blogs, publishing industry websites, podcasts, radio shows, and more.

plan an actual book tour.

seek out more reviews for your book from bloggers, book critics, and more.

explore a few of these free (or mostly free) book launch strategies.

———

If you’ve completed everything up to this point, damn! Nice going. It’s FINALLY time to pat yourself on the back; you’ve taken your book all the way from the first word on the first page through publication and promotion. The only thing left to do is host an unforgettable book launch party to celebrate your achievements with your supporters, fans, and the media.

Have a blast. You earned it.

———-

This article provides just the tip of the iceberg in terms of self-publication strategies. If you’re looking for more details about successfully publishing your novel, download our FREE guide: “6 Steps to Take Your Manuscript to Marketplace in 6 Weeks.”

Author Bio: Christopher Robley is the 2013 winner of Boulevard’s Poetry Prize for Emerging Writers. His writing has been published or is forthcoming in Prairie Schooner, Poetry Magazine, Poetry Northwest, RHINO, Magma, Beloit Poetry Journal, and more. Robley’s music has been praised by the likes of NPR, the LA Times, and the Boston Globe. Skyscraper Magazine called him, “one of the best short story musicians to come along in quite some time.” He is also the editor for the BookBaby Blog and CD Baby’s DIY Musician Blog.