But nowadays you’re able to choose to self-publish anything you’d like.
About 8-10% for mass market paperbacks.
Commission an agent to shop around your manuscript.
Have a vanity press handle publishing.
You would send in your manuscript, and pay a large fee to get several hundred copies published.
It would be up to you to sell them… or give them away.
That was then, this is now.
However, it’s still easy to get burned with self publishing.
Once your manuscript is ready, use a self-publishing service to put your book in front of readers.
Learn from their feedback to make an even better follow-up title.
Do you have an editor?
Even if you don’t have a professional editor to work with, a second opinion always helps.
And you may want to ask someone who you know won’t just give you polite praise.
Also have someone proofread your book before you submit it.
A proofreader can spot spelling and grammatical errors as well as style issues.
The biggest ebook self-publishing platform is Amazon’sKindle Direct Publishing(KDP) program.
You never have to worry about inventory or ordering large print runs to stock the warehouse.
However, print-on-demand services general request a PDF formatted according to their specifications.
You also need to provide some simple information (called metadata) about your book.
Get this rightthis data will influence how your book appears in search results on Amazon and other marketplaces.
A well-written and honest description will help convert more browsers to buyers (and hopefully, loyal readers)!
Many new authors find that Smashwords saves them a lot of time and aggravation.
Professionally designed covers make your book look professional, and help them stand out in crowded online book marketplaces.
In my own experiments,having a professional ebook cover designincreased sales by about 50%.
Reviews from readers, bloggers, and professional reviewers can be crucial.
What is an ISBN and Do I Need One?
You don’t need to buyISBNs.
The American ISBN provider isBowker.
If you want to use CreateSpace for publishing a print book, CreateSpace will supply an ISBN for free.
If your book shows promise as a self-published title, agents will probably reach out to you.
If you have a blog, then you’re already a writer with a platform.
Obviously, you should promote your books to your audience.
Another avenue for community support and feedback are online writing communities.
Be realistic.Your book won’t be the next50 Shades of Grey.
It’s not going to happen.
Don’t let this last point about self-publishing bring you down.
If you’re passionate about writing, self-publishing is an opportunity to practice your craft and publish your work.
Image adapted fromNemo(Pixabay) andPSDgraphics.
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