Book Packaging & Creativity Workshops

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Four Steps to Self Publication

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Four Steps to Self PublicationPublishing a book can be a daunting process. It requires careful follow through and these four steps to self publication. Before you back off, know that even making a cake from scratch can be a big process, and yet, tons of people do it. You simply follow a recipe and take note of each step. Publishing requires the same sort of careful follow-through. Here’s the rundown on the four steps to self publication.

Edit with Eagle Eyes

There’s a trick to catching every typo. Read your work slowly and aloud. But what happens if you have 50,000 words or more? You either get used to the sound of your voice, or decide to ask friends or “beta” readers to edit with eagle eyes. Beta readers are kind souls who don’t mind if the book needs a bit more work. They are happy to have the chance to read a book for free in exchange for offering their input and hopefully, their eagle eyes when they catch typos or grammatical mistakes.  A good place to recruit beta readers is via Facebook or your other social media platforms.

The trouble is that friends and beta readers, just like yourself, may not look at your work critically. Or, they might not be educated in every grammar nuance. This is a risk you take if you don’t hire a professional editor. A professional editor won’t simply look for typos and grammatical mistakes. They’ll also advise you about the pacing and plot structure, the flow of the work, characterization, setting, and other literary devices that make your book stand out.

Create Captivating Cover Art

Is a cover worth a thousand words? When I used to work with screenwriters and film producers, I knew a film distributor that spent more money on the artwork used to advertise a  film then the original price she paid for the script. Her reasoning was that it was the first impression and the tool that would attract consumers. The same can be said for book covers. When perusing Amazon, the cover will stand out first. Then, readers will look at the synopsis or description, and then the reviews. Their decision will be swayed first and foremost by the look of the book cover.

This doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune. Pre-made covers can be found for just $50. Custom covers are usually a few hundred. Working with a book packager, such as myself, gives you access to various cover artists specializing in different styles and genres. You’re more likely to find a cover that suits your genre than if you simply go with the bargain priced cover.

Format for Reader Ease and Visual Beauty

Book formatting takes your book from looking like printed pages off a computer to the way a paperback book should look. Digital formatting allows the same beautiful styles to be transferred to a Kindle or Nook for ease of reading.

Again, it is possible to do this yourself. There are a variety of formatting softwares on the market. The question is do you want to spend your time formatting rather than writing or marketing your book? This question is particularly valid when one learns that quality formatting from a professional does not have to break the bank. Most books that I format are under 100K words and therefore cost less than $200. Shop around and make informed decisions.

Upload to eBook Retailers

Getting your book onto Amazon and other ebook retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, iBooks, Smashwords, and more is your final publishing step. You’ll need to have a few tools ready. This includes your author biography, a synopsis of your book, keywords and categories that help consumers find your book, and knowing what to charge for your book. Each of these components requires research in order to ensure your book is discoverable, fits into the marketplace, and attracts readers.

Fortunately, there are mountains of blogs that will share their opinions on each of these uploading necessities. On the flip side, there are mountains of blogs out there and sifting through the information can be overwhelming.

With all of these steps, my suggestion is to take each one individually. Take time to learn the basics. When it gets overwhelming, take a break and come back to it. Remember that you did just that when writing your book.

I’m Your Writing Muse

Finally, if you need help along the way, I’m just an email, phone call, or Skype/Zoom call away. As a book packager, I take your book from conception to publication. I keep my prices at a minimum, source from affordable vendors, and whenever possible, teach my clients how to do tasks on their own. I’m happy to answer questions and point you in the right direction. If you want someone to take any of these steps off your shoulders so you can focus on your next book, I’m here for you.

Should Authors Do It All?

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What’s better? To be a jack of all trades or to specialize in a particular skill? Naturally, there are arguments for either choice depending upon the circumstance. Let’s say you’re an athlete and have suffered torn cartilage in your knee; you’ll want to consult with an orthopedic surgeon. After all, they’re experts at what they do. So why is it as authors, we don’t seek out experts? Should authors do it all?

Assuming that your writing is finalized, let’s examine all of the jobs or tasks that are required to bring a book to market.

Publishing Requires Juggling —

  • Editing/Proofreading
  • Cover Art
  • Digital and Paperback Formatting
  • ISBN Registration
  • Synopsis Writing
  • Keyword and Category Research
  • Distribution / File Uploading
  • Marketing and Public Relations
  • Social Media and SEO Content Writing

Phew…what a list! Considering that today’s reader has an abundance of choices available to them, it makes sense to give your audience what they crave….more books! Many authors have learned that one of the secrets to building a loyal fanbase is to release their books in rapid succession. Some debate the pros and cons of doing this with a series versus a standalone novel.

Regardless of which choice, series or standalone, how do you keep up with your writing if you’re busy with so many tasks? And if you are taking on all of these responsibilities, are you doing each one justice? 

Let’s examine three of these tasks in greater details  — cover art, formatting, and social media — and analyze what makes for a superior job versus one that is somewhat mediocre as a result of not focusing on only that task.

Can you judge a book by its cover?

We’ve all seen them…the book covers that stand out from the rest and not in a good way. Considering that now there are numerous contests for book cover art that can benefit the writer as well as the artist by bringing attention to your book, you don’t want to attempt cover art on your own for the sake of saving money.

Especially considering that many cover artists create what’s known as “pre-made covers” that can provide immense cost savings. These are covers that aren’t created to your specifications but rather, fit a typical genre such as romance or thriller. Writers will see one of these covers (often times as low as $30 and typically not higher than $75) and use their great imagination to actually pen a scene into their novel that suits the cover image, thereby making it appropriate to their book.

Functional Formatting is Key for Reader Enjoyment —

Many new authors do not realize that proper book formatting requires knowledge of specific softwares that can generate a file format that is accepted by the ebook retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iTunes and more. Furthermore, Amazon won’t accept the same format as the rest. They want what is known in the industry as a “mobi” file whereas the other ebook retailers will accept an “epub” file. As you can see, simply uploading a Word document from your computer won’t cut it, even if you think it’s beautiful with fancy fonts littered throughout your text.

Professional formatting will save the author time because you won’t receive error messages from the ebook store sites. Imagine if you did receive an error message. Would you know where in your entire book to find the problem? And, if you did find it, would you know how to correct it? For this reason, as well as the aesthetic quality that a professionally formatted book can bring to the reader, it’s important to choose a professional book formatter.

In my opinion, professional book formatting should serve three functions: saving the author time, bringing aesthetics and beauty to your words, and providing a level of technical functionality. Clever book formatting will include numerous benefits to the reader experience. Here’s just a few things that can be added to your ebook with formatting:

  • Hyperlinks within the text to outbound URLs
  • Author social media links
  • Link to Amazon’s listing of the book whereby a reader can leave a review

Social Media…Fun and Games or Serious Business?

Let’s face it, social media can be fun. Why wouldn’t you want to spend time on Facebook chatting to readers, tweeting messages on Twitter to other authors, or posting pictures of your adorable pets on Instagram? Because quite simply, social media is a time sucker and if you’re serious about your writing, you need to limit your time online. However, there’s no denying that if you want to sell your books, you need to be visible and have a proven author platform.

How do you do both? As authors, how do we find the time to write our books and use social media? In a word: balance! I write extensively about how to live a creative and balanced life. It’s a subject I feel strongly about because we all wear many hats.

In no particular order, I’m an author, a wife, a mother, a book packager, and a ghostwriter. Trust me, I understand busy. But I also have learned when to back off and ask for help.

In terms of social media, I think it’s a great idea to learn a few key lessons from social media strategists and then experiment with how much of this task you can do yourself and still maintain a regular writing schedule and your sanity.

As to answer my initial question, should authors do it all? I think it’s wise to educate yourself. Know how much a cover will cost. Research the different formatting fees. Spend time on social media and see if your tactics are converting to sales. Once you educate yourself, it’s easier to hire an expert because you understand what their job is and you’ve developed realistic expectations.

If you have questions about anything publishing related, I’d love to chat.

Why I Love Working with Indie Authors

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Indie Authors Pursue their Passions
Indie Authors Pursue their Passions

Years ago, I was a publishing snob. I had worked as an editor for authors who were published by St. Martin’s Press, Scholastic, and Simon & Schuster. The idea of self-publishing was still a no-no, but then I took the leap to not only work with indie authors, but via my alter ego, Mia Fox, I became one, too. It was my best decision for creativity, passion, and career control. This post is a testament to why I love working with indie authors.

Dream the Impossible Dream

There’s something exciting and inspirational about surrounding yourself with people who dare to dream. Indie authors pursue their passion and have a can-do attitude that is infectious. I write about this creativity and the habits of successful indies in my upcoming book, “Full Color Life: How to Live a Creative, Balanced Life.” Indies share an entrepreneurial spirit that is decidedly unique — they aren’t just right-brained creatives; they’re also astute business people.

But I’m not going to lie. Finding widespread success as an indie author can be a daunting process considering one doesn’t have the same resources and advertising dollars of big publishers, but it’s no longer “an impossible dream.”

In this linked article, “What Makes a Self-Published Author Stand Out,” literary agent Paul Lucas discusses some of his clients who started out as indies. He touts their ability to have closer access to fans and maneuver the publishing to-do lists such as contracting cover art. However here’s where I have a different perspective, or should I say, a more attuned appreciation for the innovative nature of indie authors.

Indies are Innovative

Paul states that indies who want to capture the attention of publishers should invest in professional cover art. I totally agree. Then, he mentions that spending between $500-$1,000 for a cover is worth it. Hmmm? In my opinion, if you’re an indie author and you have priced your ebook between 0.99 and $4.99 it doesn’t make good business sense to invest close to $1,000 on a cover.

Be Cover Art Smart

My recommendation is to keep your cover art budget between $50 – $300. Sound impossible? It’s not. I curate beautiful covers for clients that don’t break the bank. Otherwise, imagine how long it would take you to recoup your investment. Not to mention that as an indie, you also have to consider the cost (or time, which equals cost) of formatting and marketing.

The innovative indie has learned how to network not just with readers, but also with cover artists who are in the same indie boat. Some New York publishing houses will employ cover artists for upwards of $3,500. This doesn’t have to be the industry standard. One can contract a beautiful cover for much less, such as this one that I had the honor of curating for a client.

Adjust to an Ever-Changing Market

One trait I see in indie authors is their ability to be flexible. Indies know it’s important not to rest on one’s laurels. Rather, they adjust to an ever-changing market. It’s easy to fall in love with indie authors for this reason. They have tricks up their sleeve such as polling readers for likes and dislikes.

Do they prefer stories told in first person or third? Do they want steamy love scenes or do they prefer just a hint of romance? These polling tactics can be applied to marketing as well. Do your readers like to take part in online events or would they prefer to hear about your latest news via direct newsletters?

In addition to having direct access to their readership, indie authors also have the freedom to test out a variety of keywords and categories, advertising methods, conferences, and awards contests. This all adds up to increased knowledge, which can later be applied to the author’s platform and business plan.

A Cooperative Learning Environment

Perhaps the main reason why I love working with indie authors is their supportive nature. I’ve been in the business of books — either as an editor, publicist, or literary manager for twenty years — and while I have a lot of knowledge to share, I find that I’m constantly learning new tricks. I don’t feel the need to pretend that I know it all. The industry changes so rapidly, I don’t think any of us can know it all. One minute Facebook is the best advertiser on the planet, the next we find that our posts’ audience are limited to our best friend and their dog. One has to rely on each other to learn new trade secrets.

Sharing is Caring

What indies have discovered is that by cooperating with each other, we all grow and prosper, which is the basis for a happy career. There’s only so much shameless self-promotion one can do. Indies know that it’s ideal to have contact with their readers on a regular basis, but to only talk about one’s own books comes off a little self-serving. It’s best to share other people’s news along the way and then that phrase, “sharing is caring” comes full circle and we find that by helping others we help ourselves.

If you’re an indie author and want to talk books, reach out to me. I’m on Facebook (@Evatopia and Twitter), or feel free to check out my fiction @MiaFoxBooks. Tell me your news and I’ll share it as well.