Author, Life Story Facilitator and Publishing Coach
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Each year we engage in reflection, review and resolution.
Following an idea from Denise Wakeman, I’ve created a Top Ten list of the most popular posts from my blog during 2012.
I’ve created it using List.ly so you can can vote on your favorites, comment, share and embed the list on your own blog, if you wish.
Enjoy.
Then, if you haven’t already done so, join me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+
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I had the pleasure of being a beta reader for APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur-How to Publish a Book
Historically, traditional publishers successfully blocked the door to publication for many authors until digital publishing changed the game. With direct access to their readers via platforms such as Amazon Digital Publishing authors can now enjoy faster success and higher profits.
Kawasaki turned to self-publishing when he discovered that a traditional publisher could not handle an order for 500 ebooks. He became a convert, and enlisted the aid of Shawn Welch to help him understand the complexities of publishing ebooks, who created and and produced Kawasaki’s book, What the Plus!: Google+ for the Rest of Us
Kawaski strongly believes
“. . .self-publishing enables you to determine your own fate. There’s no need to endure the frustration of finding and working with a publisher. You can maintain control over your book and its marketing, receive a greater percentage of revenues, and retain all rights and ownership.”
But he does not suggest that self-publishing is easy. Without guidance, it can be confusing, inefficient and unnecessarily expensive.
APE makes it clear that to self-publish successfully, you must be willing to don all three hats: author, publisher and entrepreneur.
APE begins with four good reasons and two bad ones for becoming an author. The desire to make lots of money is one of the two bad ones since earning great wealth from book sales, though possible, is rare.
Whether you are writing your first book or fifth, APE will enlighten and empower you. It is loaded with details about preparing your manuscript, ballpark costs of self-publishing, publishing options, copyright issues, digital rights management and valuable self-promotion techniques, such as how to pitch bloggers and reviewers.
APE offers us publishing Plans A, B and C and urges us not to get stigmatized when we can’t find a traditional publisher. He chucks out the stigmatized phrase “vanity publishing” and ushers in a new one.
“Self-publishing could change from stigma to bragging point–maybe we could change the term to “artisanal publishing” and foster the image of authors lovingly crafting their books with total control over the process.”
By crowdsourcing the editing of APE, the authors attracted hundreds of writers, coaches, entrepreneurs and bloggers in the field who gave priceless input to help catch errors and build in real-life examples, anecdotes and sources.
You will learn in one chapter details on navigating Amazon and from another chapter, tactical and practical guerilla marketing techniques.
The section on becoming an entrepreneur is the most valuable section for the self-publisher. Here you will learn how to create your profile and platform using the major social media sites, as well as details on creating a press release, virtual book tours and using social networks designed especially for writers and readers.
While APE shows us how to self-publish, it does not discourage traditional publishing, nor harnessing the power of a traditional PR launch.
If you’re looking for a get-rich-quick road to self-publishing, this isn’t it.
If, on the other hand, you want a content-rich, user-friendly, comprehensive and up-to-the-minute guide for navigating the self-publishing waters, get APE today. It’s the new self-publishing bible.
About the Authors
Guy Kawasaki is the author of APE, What the Plus!, Enchantment, and nine other books. He is also the co-founder of Alltop.com, an “online magazine rack” of popular topics on the web. Previously, he was the chief evangelist of Apple. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA as well as an honorary doctorate from Babson College.
Shawn Welch is the author of From Idea to App, iOS 5 Core Frameworks, and iOS 6 for Developers as well as the developer of several iOS apps. Previously he worked as a senior media-editor for Pearson Education.
He also helped pioneer many of Pearson’s earliest efforts in iPad solutions. Welch has a BS from Kansas State University.
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Are you encouraged to try self-publishing again or for the first time? Share your thoughts.
If you want to self-publish a book without losing your shirt or your mind, you need help.
Self-publishing is not a solo act.
Yes, you may write your rough draft alone in your room or closet for months with only quick breaks to refuel your stomach and sleep.
But to publish a book that stands any chance of being read, much less being profitable, you need to gather others who can help you with the less-glamorous, but essential parts of getting your book to market.
It takes a village to publish a book to avoid losing your shirt or your mind. ←Click to tweet
1. You
You must be an eager participant not just in the writing, but in the marketing of your book.
There is no “set-it-and-forget-it” in book marketing. ←Click to tweet
No publicist, agent or company will care about your book more than you do. Think of yourself as the contractor and the other folks in your village as subcontractors. You will select them and oversee the work they do for you.
2. Publishing coach or accountability partner
A coach or accountability partner plays an important role. You know that you could get your book written without any prodding, but if you’re like most humans you accomplish more when you have someone nudging you along.
You could build muscles and lose weight on your own too. Chances are, however, that you won’t stick to any fitness plan if you don’t have someone tracking and encouraging you on.
A publishing coach serves an even more important function when you are self-publishing. She will help you evaluate your options in selecting the other members of your village so you aren’t scammed into overpaying for services or being lured into worthless package deals from unscrupulous companies.
3. Editor
Did you let out a loud sigh of relief when you finished your rough draft? Perhaps you thought the hard part was over. Depending on who to you talk to, that may be true.
But I pity the fool who publishes a book without having a professional editor go through it with a fine-tooth comb.
Without a skilled editor, your book will be screaming “amateur” and will become the victim of ruthless reviews on Amazon and other online retailers. Today’s readers are not very patient with books that are riddled with errors or sound like 5th grade compositions.
Once the editor returns your manuscript you still have work to do, refining and polishing.
James Michener was not kidding when he said,
“I’m not a very good writer, but I’m an excellent rewriter.”
4. Proofreader
While the editor was digging into content, ensuring flow, structure and consistency of style, the proofreader is looking for mistakes in spelling and grammar that can mar, alter or skew your meaning.
Proofreaders know that they can’t count on spell checkers, so they use many other means.
5. Book cover designer
Since the cover is the first thing prospective buyers see, it plays an important role. The front cover captures attention, and if it garners enough curiosity the reader goes to the back cover where the details convince the reader to plunk down his credit card.
Even though ebooks typically show only a front cover, it is nonetheless important.
Consult your coach, fellow authors and colleagues to help you find book cover designers who can work with you to create the cover that best represents your book.
6. Interior book/layout designer
Self-publishing a book can be easy, but self-publishing a “professional” book requires skill. Chances are you don’t have all the skills required. That’s why I urge you to gather the experts you need to have in your village.
Up until this stage you may have been working with your manuscript in Microsoft Word. When getting it properly formatting, Microsoft Word is no longer your friend.
No matter how well polished your manuscript is, you can fall into a big pothole if it is not laid out properly. While some of the Print on Demand companies may give you instructions on doing this yourself, it’s still possible to make amateur mistakes that will diminish all the work you’ve done up to this point
7. Printer, Fulfillment and Distribution
Once your book has received the blessings of the first six folks in your village, you’re ready to share it with the world.
Your coach or anyone of the other experts can be helpful in selecting the company that will print your book. Print on demand companies often have an option for getting your book into the hands of buyers. While you may enjoy selling your book at book signings and book release parties, chances are you don’t want to tackle the task of shipping every copy purchased online from popular retailers.
8. Marketing department
Most self-published authors have little experience with marketing.
A word of caution:
Beware of companies selling packages that include all of these services in one. They are too often motivated more by profits than by helping you get a professional book.
For newcomers to publishing, gathering your village will seem like a daunting task. You can count on your coach and groups of self-publishers and independent publishers to steer you toward the ethical and affordable experts. Local, national, and online groups are dedicated to helping you succeed with your book writing, publishing and marketing goals. A few of them are
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If you’re ready to gather your village or learn more about starting your book, I’ll be happy to be your traveling companion. Here are your coaching options.
You’ve already heard many times that 4 out of 5 people want to write a book, but that sadly many of them won’t.
It has very little to do with talent, skills or even time. You’ve already discovered that you make time in your life for the things about which you are passionate.
So, what is the problem. Why are people still not getting their books written and published?
Fear, lack of confidence and uncertainty are the culprits.
One of the best ways to get around these problems in addition to developing a positive mindset, is to listen to and hang out with folks who have already published a book and are willing to share techniques and tips with you.
In addition to what I share on this site, I like to bring in other authors who will share with you.
Danny Iny of Firepole Marketing created over 41 videos to respond to questions from his readers. Here is one about publishing your book. Watch. Learn. Enjoy.
