Indie author survey: thoughts just as you pressed to publish

[L.]

What thought flashed through your mind the moment you sent that first book off to e-publish?

Mine was something along the lines of, "Oh no, I forgot to fix that type-o in page three."

[Kevis]

After years of accumulating rejection letters, I published my first ebook when the Kindle still had fresh paint on it. My thoughts at the time were more along the lines of Megatron's famous words: "Their defenses are broken. Let the slaughter begin."

So much for humble beginnings...

[Rinelle]

With the ebook, it was "Well, that doesn't feel any different", but the print book, which I only hit publish on yesterday, it was "What if I missed something?"

[Micah]

I covered that very questiong in my first (and only so far) blog post: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...

But if I were to describe the moment after pushing the button as a sound, it sounded like nanometer-sized needle dropping into a galactic-sized haystack.

Bon voyage.

[Adam]

Rinelle wrote: "With the ebook, it was "Well, that doesn't feel any different", but the print book, which I only hit publish on yesterday, it was "What if I missed something?""

Having just ordered the "proof" copy for my print version, my first thought was along these lines. "What if it prints terribly?" I'm hoping that when it arrives tomorrow it isn't printed sideways with a blurry cover. I very much want the print portion of the work to be done.

There is something weird, though, about publishing my first book. I'm not nearly as excited about it as I thought I'd be, nor am I as excited as people seem to think I should be. I find myself acting a lot when people ask me how excited I am. I can't help but think that this book is just the first of many, and there's load more work to be done.

Anyone else run into this their first time publishing? I almost feel bad that I'm not more excited.

[Micah]

Adam wrote: "Anyone else run into this their first time publishing? I almost feel bad that I'm not more excited."

Reference my blog post linked to above. (First and last paragraphs being the most relevent.)

[L.]

Kevis wrote: "After years of accumulating rejection letters, I published my first ebook when the Kindle still had fresh paint on it. My thoughts at the time were more along the lines of Megatron's famous words: ..."

You are rare breed. I think most writers are uncertain, but you were storming the gates! Perhaps I judge using my self for the template. Have some extra gumption to send my way?

[L.]

Rinelle wrote: "With the ebook, it was "Well, that doesn't feel any different", but the print book, which I only hit publish on yesterday, it was "What if I missed something?""

I've only epublished, but I know if I published in print, I would be far more nervous. Good for you taking that plunge.

[L.]

Micah wrote: "I covered that very questiong in my first (and only so far) blog post: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...

But if I were to describe the moment after pushing the button a..."

Love that description! So apropos for writers on day one.

[L.]

Adam wrote: "Rinelle wrote: "With the ebook, it was "Well, that doesn't feel any different", but the print book, which I only hit publish on yesterday, it was "What if I missed something?""

Having just ordered..."

That is the lovely thing about writers. We are all so different. There must be some other great first on horizon waiting for you. First sale perhaps?

[Kevis]

L. wrote: "You are rare breed. I think most writers are uncertain, but you were storming the gates! Perhaps I judge using my self for the template. Have some extra gumption to send my way?..."

LOL. What you call gumption, I call having a thick skull. I do have a very romantic way of summing up my experience as an indie pioneer. Unfortunately, it's not nearly as peachy as I make it sound. Still, there's no better feeling than knowing that you control your own destiny. That freedom is what makes all the bumps and scrapes you get while trying to figure out this extremely tough business all worth it.

[Jason]

It was unbelievably exciting. A lot of times I was checking my sales at work, and I was so much more concerned with the dollar or two I was making a day from the story and gaining potential fans than everything I had to do at my job.

[L.]

My blog post on this discussion will go live on my blog To Begin With... tomorrow. www.ldarbygibbs.blogspot.com
I included links to your books (or blog if the book is not yet through the publishing ringer). Thank you for responding.

[L.]

Kevis wrote: "Still, there's no better feeling than knowing that you control your own destiny. That freedom is what makes all the bumps and scrapes you get while trying to figure out this extremely tough business all worth it. "

LOL..."

Yup, Kevis, I'm in it for the bumps and scrapes and the grin that follows. :) My work supplies one set of accomplishments that I am proud of, but writing, that is .... a Connecticut road of hill drops my stomach will never forget.

[Micah]

L. wrote: "My blog post on this discussion will go live on my blog To Begin With... tomorrow. www.ldarbygibbs.blogspot.com."
Nice one, thanks!

[Adam]

L. wrote: "That is the lovely thing about writers. We are all so different. There must be some other great first on horizon waiting for you. First sale perhaps?"

I think the first few reviews--good reviews, hopefully ;)--will be extremely exciting.

[Adam]

Micah wrote: "Adam wrote: "Anyone else run into this their first time publishing? I almost feel bad that I'm not more excited."

Reference my blog post linked to above. (First and last paragraphs being the most ..."

You're certainly right about the first (good) reviews being a mark of true excitement. I know my wife likes it, but what does a stranger on the internet think of it?

The print "proof" arrived yesterday and it looks good. The wife started reading it last night, making sure everything is in its right place, but I hardly slept. Felt really anxious, rather than excited, although excitement was absolutely a part of it as well--hands were shaking as I opened the package to reveal my book.

Talking with my wife over breakfast this morning I came to realize a part of the "anxiety" is that I know the thrill of the "first time" is gone now. I've wanted to be an author since the 4th grade, and now I've finally published my first book, and it's great, but what's next? I'm a bit afraid that I won't have the same drive, the same resolve, now that this goal has been accomplished.

Thankfully I have two different drafts of books that I'm working on, and still having lots of fun doing it :)

[Micah]

Honestly I get more nervous when I get the first draft of my book covers back from the designer. Just got the cover for my next publication, another eBook, a novella this time. Even the second time that produced excitment and a bit of anxiety.

Once you've published, though, your feelings will probably have a lot to do with your expectations.

Happiness = Reality - Expectation

So to be happy about your results, you either have to work hard to increase the reality of your work's reception (sales, reviews, etc.)...or reduce your expectations. ;D

[L.]

Adam wrote: "L. wrote: "That is the lovely thing about writers. We are all so different. There must be some other great first on horizon waiting for you. First sale perhaps?"

I think the first few reviews--goo..."

Yes, I agree. A good review brings sales and affirmation. The best kind of double wammy.

[L.]

Adam wrote: "Micah wrote: "Adam wrote: "Anyone else run into this their first time publishing? I almost feel bad that I'm not more excited."

Reference my blog post linked to above. (First and last paragraphs b..."

You are still in the middle of the process. It's an extended excitement I imagine when you are working with print production. Your goal is still on its way. Enjoy. And having the next book in process is one way to keep the motivation going and you have that, too. ;)

[Kevis]

L. wrote: "My blog post on this discussion will go live on my blog To Begin With... tomorrow. www.ldarbygibbs.blogspot.com
I included links to your books (or blog if the book is not yet through the publishin..."

Great article. I, too, would like to hear from more authors. Everyone's got a unique story to tell and I always like hearing about others' journey.

[L.]

Kevis, Thank you for dropping by. I hope authors keep responding. That "you're not alone" expression carries no weight if there is no one to share with.

[Philip]

My KDP book launch felt unreal and disconnected, although I enjoyed seeing the free downloads happen along with the first reviews. Print was a different surreal experience. There was my name on a physical book. What followed was even more odd, giving the copies to friends and family and then being asked to sign them. All very odd, embarrassing even.

Books two and three still had that feeling. For those of you who have not done the physical print, there is sill nothing like it for making you feel like a proper writer however quaint that might sound in the digital age.

[L.]

Thank you, Philip, for adding to the conversation and sharing your experience. Since I have enjoyed numerous paperbacks and hardback books, my bookcases can attest to this, I would love to slide one of mine off the shelf. I imagine it will have an entirely different feel when I can hold it in my hand. But for now I feel holding my book on my e-reader is a fair replacement. :-)

[Sherri]

That first thought was "finally!" It took a while for me to find the guts to self publish. To me, it felt like freedom.

[Philip]

L. wrote: "Thank you, Philip, for adding to the conversation and sharing your experience. Since I have enjoyed numerous paperbacks and hardback books, my bookcases can attest to this, I would love to slide o..."

There is a cost issue of course for the hard copy. I used Lulu the copies were well bound but they are not cheap even for me. I was going down the CreateSpace route but ran into tax form issues I'm in UK. Added complication was the whole ISBN issue. As a UK author I have to get my own, more hassle. Still my books are now in the British library, where I have no idea, but I had to send them copies. I also have to send to five other library collections - so that's 18 copies (three books) I have to provide for free plus shipping just so I can be properly registered.

I hadn't realised any of that before I pressed publish. Also you have to have a single ISBN for each edition so Hardback, Paperback, Kindle and other ePub adds up to four per book. Move printers or change format of printed book e.g. size and that's another ISBN. Smashwords ISBN's are $10 but in the UK you have to buy blocks of 10 at over £200 via Nielson. More considerations before going into print. That's why KDP is so cheap and therefore well used. It does mean my printed books are potentially available in any UK library and other booksellers by ordering by ISBN. That's good if I got the orders...Oh well more marketing.

[L.]

Thanks for breakdown of the process. I'm in the US, so I don't have many of your issues. I am published at both Smashwords and Amazon. I'll probably hold off on the paper version yet. I can see how the build up of excitement with publishing in that form would be different with so much more to have to deal with. For me, preparing the ebook was much easier than writing it, not that editing isn't hard work. :-) Smashwords was a comfortable publication experience, and publishing there first made it very easy to publish at Amazon.

[Jean-Michel]

Amazon Createspace works pretty well, but there are a few gotchas:

1) First and foremost, AVOID extended distribution. It is a waste of $25, and we found it actually cost us income (which went up after we discontinued it)

- You will find yourself competing against bottom-feeders like The Book Depository, who will use their 40% discount (which comes out of your royalty) to underprice your Amazon/create space offerings, reducing your income per book

- My wife and I have detected at least one sale abroad (in the UK, to a relative of hers) that was fulfilled months ago, but has never been paid. This has something to do with The Book Depository using different PoD presses via the extended distribution pipeline than those used for direct Amazon/Create Space sales, and the Book Depository apparently not reporting the sale back to Amazon. We have documented this one instance (and were able to do so because we know the purchaser and she kept her invoice) where my wife has not been paid for a sale after 6 months. There is no possible oversight on this (other than blind luck), and we are very concerned this may not be an isolated instance.

2. Get your cover done professionally. This is critical to making a good first impression, particularly if you get your books into local bookstores and are competing for attention against books published by the big boys.

3. Corrections are easy enough to upload to Create Space, Kindle, etc., but you still need to get a professional edit and proof the manuscript thoroughly. Updates require the manuscript to be re-examined by Create Space, Kindle and PubIt, so your book will be unavailable for a day or two while your corrections are uploaded and (re)approved.

Again, don't spend $25 on extended distribution just to be undercut and lose sales.

We also use Kindle and PubIt separately, as that avoids giving an extra 10% to Create Space for Kindle ebooks, and allows people to purchase an .epub format ebook from Barnes & Noble if they are so inclined. We found Apple to be a waste of time and effort...the vast majority of ipad users seem to use the kindle app. Kindle accounts for probably 80% of our ebook sales, PubIt the rest. iBook sales are statistically insignificant.

Hope this helps,

Jean-Michel Smith
Author of Autonomy - A Sci-Fi ride through the eye of the singularity

[Alan]

Hi All
Only just discovered this thread.
I work as part of a team - last thing before publishing we did a full read-through (aloud, to each other, it took more than 2 days) looking for typos, then sweated our way through the banking details, cover details, front matter, back matter, hyperlinked table of contents, etc on KDP . . .
When we pressed the final button I think the only thing on my mind was "Thank the Gods that's over, I need a beer!(or three)" (see here )

[Vardan]

quoting the pet sematary: hey ho here we go again! :)

[Vardan]

also - this one is surely going to be a hit :)

[L.]

Sherri wrote: "That first thought was "finally!" It took a while for me to find the guts to self publish. To me, it felt like freedom."

Same here, Sherri. Something like 20 years. I think Alan and Varden echoed my other thoughts at the time. It is amazing how many startling impressions take over in that defining moment of "off you go now." I remember I grinned an awful lot after I go over the worries about what I might have missed.