The first couple of times, I didn’t pick up on what people wanted from me, but the last few times, it left me reluctant. But I made the decision to help anyone from my island who wants to put their written work out there in the form of a book. The sad thing is, in more cases than not, they were not ready, so, I’ve decided to create this post.
It would start with someone seeing me on TV or hearing me on the radio. They would reach out and ask for assistance which I am happy to give. That is until they ask me to tell them everything about self-publishing. Everything they say? Over ten years of information, almost half of which is obsolete and a little over half doesn’t apply to what they would like to do.
So, taking a calming breath, I pull on my robe of professionalism and ask the following questions:
What are You Writing?
Simple enough question, right? It’s a trick question and don’t worry, I’ve fallen for it myself. You have this idea for a book, you’ve written it and now you want to share it with the world, but what is it?
Is it fiction or non-fiction?
What genre of fiction? romance, suspense, fantasy, sci-fi?
What category of non-fiction? health, history, sports, music, self-help, business?
What is the book about?
Why would anyone want to read it?
Have you really sat down with your book or the idea of the book and really analyzed it? Because if you don’t, you are going to be frustrated as it won’t be able to live up to your expectations for it. And that is another question you have to think long and hard on.
What are your expectations for this book?
Do you plan to become rich off the book? (You won’t) or do you want to hold an actual book in your hand? or do you want to have your book available in the bookstore and at the library for a stranger or even someone you know to pick up and buy?
The above helps you to set realistic expectations for your written work. It also gives you a clear, concrete way to communicate what your book is about to others. After answering those questions, try to reduce what your book is about to a sentence or two. Ideally, one sentence.
For example, the first book in the Integration series is a BWWM sci-fi romance in which in a galaxy divided by race, a black doctor gives in to her desire for a white diplomat whose mission takes him beyond the stars.
It helps when you to be able to explain what you’ve written. And this brings me to the next question.
Who is it for?
Please, don’t say everybody. Even though I read a lot of genres of books, I don’t read everything, and the same can be said for a lot of readers. Some don’t read fiction and some, that is all they read. It is important to consider:
gender;
location;
preferred genre;
age;
profession;
interests;
marital status;
family status.
As well as other factors to streamline the image of the ideal reader. This can help in the writing of the book as well as marketing the book.
By understanding that your reader is a black woman who works in a corporate setting and likes fashion and travel, you might consider using Instagram to market to her. But if you don’t know who the book is for, how are you going to ensure you get it in front of them?
In What Format Will You Be Publishing It?
Will it be ebook, print book, or both, and what about audiobook? The best way to answer that is by looking back at the answers under the first question because different books work best in different formats.
From what I’ve seen,
romance works best in ebook, but it helps to have it also in print book and, if you can afford it, audiobook;
poetry works best in print book. I believe it is because the words appear as they should as opposed to in an ebook where it shifts in accordance to the ereader being used;
non-fiction works well in print book, but it is best to have an ebook version;
fantasy works well in print book, especially if it has a decorative cover;
children’s book is a must for print book as in ebooks you can only see one page at a time when a two page spread is requred.
With that said, if you are writing a spicy romance, publish in ebook and give the option of print book. But if you are writing a technical non-fiction book with areas for the reader to write notes, go with a print book and you can offer an ebook with links to printable worksheets.
Be it ebook or print book, take a look at books that are similar to yours and see in which formats they are available. It’s better to have as many formats as possible than to miss out on readers reading your book.
How will you be selling it?
Will you be selling it locally only or internationally via self-publishing platforms? Did you plan to sell it to family, friends, and your community? Or did you want it available to anyone with an internet connection?
These questions will help you in deciding how you will publish. If you are looking to publish print books for the local market, you might decide to go with a local publisher or go through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing and import author copies. If you decide on an international market, you have the choice of KDP for both ebook and print book for the Amazon marketplace and Draft2Digital for ebooks for everywhere else.
It is important to know that you will be getting a fraction of the selling price as each platform will be taking their cut, even the American government will be taking a cut.
The reality is you will be putting in a lot of effort, time, and even money into this and you will not be making any great payday. Which brings me to the next point.
What Next?
You’ve published the book, it’s out there in the world, now what? Was it your intention to write and publish that one book? That is all well and good, but keep this in mind, your book is one of many and although it generated interest once it came out, it will soon be forgotten. Especially, if you don’t put in the effort to promote it consistently. That is why a common suggestion for selling your book is to write another book.
And with that in mind, you should consider if you will be writing in multiple genres or in one or a few. In sticking to one genre, you will be growing a readership who knows what to expect from you and your work. And this applies to both fiction and non-fiction. When your reader picks up your book they will know it is a romance or a deep-dive into your preferred topic. An element of trust is built over time and with each new book, there is an opportunity for a new reader to come across your work.
So, you’ve written your book and you need my help in self-publishing. Before reaching out to me, answer the above questions. Drill down on what exactly you want out of publishing your book. And it doesn’t have to be a monetary payoff. It could be just having your work out there in the world, there is a semblance of accomplishment in that alone.
You have a book in you, so give it a fighting chance in succeeding in this distracted world. Sit down and answer the above questions, I promise you, it will make a difference.