What made you decide to crowdfund for your project?
I was referred to a veteran editor, but he wasn’t cheap. I considered Kickstarter, though I wondered if a book-specific service might exist. That’s when I found Pubslush. My campaign didn’t cover all of the expenses of self-publishing, but it did take the sting out of steep editorial fees. I also thought of crowdfunding as a form of pre-publicity, a way to generate excitement for my novel. Suddenly you go from “I’m working on a book” to “here’s my profile with a synopsis, excerpt and Q&A… want to help out?”
Did you have any apprehension about the crowdfunding process?
Naturally I was concerned about legitimacy, as this process involves credit cards and electronic transfers. I felt comfortable after some research, however, and the staff was knowledgeable and supportive through email. Secondly, asking people for money has never been my cup of tea, so having a fundraising website made it easier to ask. Also, the concept of “leveraging the crowd” is common now. People found my pursuit admirable and most didn’t have a problem giving a few bucks to help see my little dream come true.
How would you construct your campaign and outreach differently?
I probably had the quietest campaign in history. I didn’t solicit one stranger, or participate in online discussion groups. I also didn’t utilize any of Pubslush’s tools, for that matter. I simply saw my profile as a landing page to which I could direct friends and family, which included around 10-15 people. While I was systematic in contacting my network—emailed at Day 30, 15, 5 and 1—I should have widened the net. Next time I will talk about my campaign with more people and use the tools available. I also think I’ll try phone calls the next time around. Nowadays we tend to think the work is done after we’ve shot off an email, updated our Twitter feeds and Facebook profiles. But a polite phone can go a long way.
What was your most effective method of communication?
Personal emails, as opposed to email blasts to a hundred people in my contact list. Also, after each contribution, I sent a formal, typed acknowledgement letter to each person thanking them for their support. In this age of fast emails and texts, getting a signed letter was much appreciated.
What were you able to achieve with your campaign dollars?
I used the funds for pay for developmental editing services.
Could Pubslush do anything better to assist in your campaign efforts?
I like being informed of available tools, as I tend not to seek them out. For example, Pubslush staff reached out to me asking if they could promote a print version of my novel at publishing conferences. I said yes and sent copies right away. Likewise for this Q&A—they asked and I was happy to oblige.
What did you learn about yourself or the world through this process?
People like supporting other’s pursuits, especially people who are “helping themselves,” if you will. I also learned that I have to remember to be grateful. When people donate money, it’s not just a transaction. Supporters want to know that they helped out and added value. In my acknowledgement letters to contributors I made sure to express that their support meant the world.
How do you see crowdfunding fitting into the publishing process, now and in the future?
My ultimate goal is to publish traditionally, but we’re in the Golden Age for self-publishing, so after around fifty attempts at pitching agents, I decided to self-publish and get the word out. It’s a great time to be an indie author, but it also means authors must be entrepreneurs, aware of both the art and business. Most businesses need start-up capital, and it’s no different with self-publishing a book. Pubslush legitimizes and optimizes fundraising, and a service like theirs will become more important as authors continue to seek self-publication.
What made you decide to crowdfund for your project?
I was referred to a veteran editor, but he wasn’t cheap. I considered Kickstarter, though I wondered if a book-specific service might exist. That’s when I found Pubslush. My campaign didn’t cover all of the expenses of self-publishing, but it did take the sting out of steep editorial fees. I also thought of crowdfunding as a form of pre-publicity, a way to generate excitement for my novel. Suddenly you go from “I’m working on a book” to “here’s my profile with a synopsis, excerpt and Q&A… want to help out?”
Did you have any apprehension about the crowdfunding process?
Naturally I was concerned about legitimacy, as this process involves credit cards and electronic transfers. I felt comfortable after some research, however, and the staff was knowledgeable and supportive through email. Secondly, asking people for money has never been my cup of tea, so having a fundraising website made it easier to ask. Also, the concept of “leveraging the crowd” is common now. People found my pursuit admirable and most didn’t have a problem giving a few bucks to help see my little dream come true.
How would you construct your campaign and outreach differently?
I probably had the quietest campaign in history. I didn’t solicit one stranger, or participate in online discussion groups. I also didn’t utilize any of Pubslush’s tools, for that matter. I simply saw my profile as a landing page to which I could direct friends and family, which included around 10-15 people. While I was systematic in contacting my network—emailed at Day 30, 15, 5 and 1—I should have widened the net. Next time I will talk about my campaign with more people and use the tools available. I also think I’ll try phone calls the next time around. Nowadays we tend to think the work is done after we’ve shot off an email, updated our Twitter feeds and Facebook profiles. But a polite phone can go a long way.
What was your most effective method of communication?
Personal emails, as opposed to email blasts to a hundred people in my contact list. Also, after each contribution, I sent a formal, typed acknowledgement letter to each person thanking them for their support. In this age of fast emails and texts, getting a signed letter was much appreciated.
What were you able to achieve with your campaign dollars?
I used the funds for pay for developmental editing services.
Could Pubslush do anything better to assist in your campaign efforts?
I like being informed of available tools, as I tend not to seek them out. For example, Pubslush staff reached out to me asking if they could promote a print version of my novel at publishing conferences. I said yes and sent copies right away. Likewise for this Q&A—they asked and I was happy to oblige.
What did you learn about yourself or the world through this process?
People like supporting other’s pursuits, especially people who are “helping themselves,” if you will. I also learned that I have to remember to be grateful. When people donate money, it’s not just a transaction. Supporters want to know that they helped out and added value. In my acknowledgement letters to contributors I made sure to express that their support meant the world.
How do you see crowdfunding fitting into the publishing process, now and in the future?
My ultimate goal is to publish traditionally, but we’re in the Golden Age for self-publishing, so after around fifty attempts at pitching agents, I decided to self-publish and get the word out. It’s a great time to be an indie author, but it also means authors must be entrepreneurs, aware of both the art and business. Most businesses need start-up capital, and it’s no different with self-publishing a book. Pubslush legitimizes and optimizes fundraising, and a service like theirs will become more important as authors continue to seek self-publication.