Why I'm self-publishing

[Droflet]

Onya Brian. Hope it sells big. I thought my fifteen year journey was long. What do I know.

 

[chopper]

Happy to see it's finished! And the very best of luck with it!

 

[Susan Boulton]

Good luck Brian.

 

[crystal haven]

Best of luck with it, Brian.

 

[thaddeus6th]

Good luck, Brian

At the moment, my approach is roughly going for traditional publishing for short stories, and self-publishing novels (definitely doing that for Kingdom Asunder etc, haven't decided yet what I'm doing with some other novels I'm working on).

 

[AnyaKimlin]

The one thing I'm finding is that six years of rejections by agents has given me is time to get the hang of what I'm doing. In terms of study I could have finished a Phd by now I've certainly written more than the average thesis. But I've also watch self-publishing evolve in that time. As you're it might be worth keeping an eye on the Emergents website. There's a course by Joanna Penn on it at the moment. There's also the Indie Network.

I'm going to have to find the email for the course.

Mentoring | Emergents

I am wiser as a result of XPO North (have you ever attended?) and think I want to use them but keep my writing at a distance from them.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Best of luck with it Brian.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Here's Joanna Penn's course (it took me ages to find)
Entrepreneurship | Emergents

This is a resource for Scottish Authors and a useful source of income.
Home
I think in order to apply to go the booktrust list a self publisher needs to sell 300 paperback or 500 epublished. Then schools and community groups can hire you for talks, workshops and presentations. The rate of pay for 45 minutes is good (I think it works out at about £100 after VAT and tax) plus all travel and overnight accommodation is paid for. My main goal with my books is to get on the list.

 

[JoanDrake]

Good luck, and please put me on the list to be first informed when it's available. Also, please keep us informed as to what you are doing to promote it and how well whatever those things are seem to be working, (If you feel you should)

Can anyone tell me why someone would NOT self-publish? For the life of me I just can't see any downside to it, but there's always lots of things I've not thought of

(Mind, I am not trying to say that SP is easy, anything where you put your work up in front of others is a real challenge and you deserve credit for taking it on. I'm really just asking why people try to get published by others and some seem to think it's the only way.)

 

[Boneman]

Downside? "But writing, publishing, and marketing one book, let alone several, will absolutely consume your life. You will not have a free minute. The life of a published indie author, who is selling, will not be the same as it was before he or she chose to enter the world of publishing. If you think you can write a book, publish and sell without changing your lifestyle, you are believing a big fat lie."

Taken from this blog: The Writing Bomb: Common Lies Self-Published Authors Believe.

And point five here emphasises the entrepreneurship needed: Should You Self-Publish or Traditionally Publish? | Jane Friedman

Brian, the best of luck with it, I hope it goes well for you.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Can anyone tell me why someone would NOT self-publish? For the life of me I just can't see any downside to it, but there's always lots of things I've not thought of

I know it's a bit long and I've shared it before but this interview is a pretty balanced discussion of traditional vs self pub

 

[millymollymo]

Congratulations. I have to say, Brian, the choice doesn't surprise me.
all these but... If... Maybes, you'll never know if you don't try. You certainly have the skills to make it happen. Good luck.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

@JoanDrake - the downside for me is the additional time each book takes up - I'd rather be using that time writing. I also like my books being in retail stores which trad gives me. Also the upfront cost which no one here has mentioned - close to 1000 quid (an edit, proofread, pro cover, isbn) - which may never - and most often Isn't - ever recouped. There are many advantages to trad publishing too - at the mo the self publishing argument seems to sometimes ignore that.

JoZebwrites: Self-publishing: some truths

 

[Brian G Turner]

Many thanks for the well-wishes everyone - I'm looking forward to disappointing even your lowest expectations. ;D

your analysis of the epic fantasy market is sobering.

That's, er, pretty sobering stuff.

Although I found little appetite for epic fantasy (US agents seem to prefer urban fantasy - I have no experience with Canadian agents) I did get a few full manuscript requests, and initial interest from a big US publishing house. If I'd have been patient and stuck it out, it might have developed into something.

But even before querying, my financial position meant I could never consider anything but a major publishing deal. And the more I read about standard contract terms, the more I realised I would never be able to agree to them.

The big question really to ask agents and publishers is "What can you do for me?". Personally, I thought the costs outweighed the benefits.

Also, please keep us informed as to what you are doing to promote it

Almost nothing. I'm aiming for a slow burn with long-term goals.

That means a focus on writing to establish my position, rather than twist myself in knots trying to create a bestseller on a first book.

In effect, I'm following the traditional model, even if I'm not signed up to it.

 

[Vaz]

Best of luck with it, Brian. Look forward to reading this.

 

[Dennis E. Taylor]

I self-pubbed my first book, and I'm getting the second one trad-pubbed. It'll be interesting to see how my experience differs. Book one made about $500 total in a year, so I guess it's a pretty low bar to beat.
The main problem is that to be successful in self-pub, you have to be willing to market your book. And I'm not. I hate, hate, hate, HATE anything to do with sales and marketing. So Outland got nothing, and Legion will only get what the publisher is willing to do.

We'll see. Release date is this Tuesday.

 

[Denise Tanaka]

Congratulations on this very well considered decision. Best of luck!! Can't wait to see it!

I'm so glad to see your attitude about sales and marketing.

I'm aiming for a slow burn with long-term goals.

That means a focus on writing to establish my position, rather than twist myself in knots trying to create a bestseller on a first book.

In effect, I'm following the traditional model, even if I'm not signed up to it.

This mirrors what has (so far) discouraged me from self-publishing. I am like a majority of writers like Bizmuth who cringe at the idea of undertaking that daunting chore. Of course some folks can do it well (shout out to Jo!!) but that's not everybody's skill set, and for a long time I've feared that well written books are not seeing the light of day because it's very hard to be both the introspective author and the outgoing salesman.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I self-pubbed my first book, and I'm getting the second one trad-pubbed. It'll be interesting to see how my experience differs. Book one made about $500 total in a year, so I guess it's a pretty low bar to beat.
The main problem is that to be successful in self-pub, you have to be willing to market your book. And I'm not. I hate, hate, hate, HATE anything to do with sales and marketing. So Outland got nothing, and Legion will only get what the publisher is willing to do.

We'll see. Release date is this Tuesday.

Sadly, you will be marketing your published book, too - most publishers expect that.

 

[Boneman]

Almost nothing. I'm aiming for a slow burn with long-term goals.

That means a focus on writing to establish my position, rather than twist myself in knots trying to create a bestseller on a first book.

In effect, I'm following the traditional model, even if I'm not signed up to it.

Brian, are you not worried about the dangers of not promoting? No promotion means next to no sales, surely? Not sure you can expect the world to find you if you don't wave a flag or two. And writing to establish your position won't be difficult if you haven't actually established one. I'm hoping it's going to be a success for you, but you seem sanguine (passive even) about what you feel you need to do, to help it to be a success.

Anyway, it's no longer a choice - in 18 months time my business savings run out, and I'll be financially screwed. Better if I self-publish to earn even a nominal income.

I worry that you won't earn that nominal income if you don't engage in promotional work of your own novel. 18 months sounds like a long time, but it isn't.

Whatever happens, I do hope you do enough to make the book give you a decent return. I know there's been loads of discussion about good writing not completely needing it, but best of luck, and serendipitous happenstance along the way!

Wandering around in twitter and this caught my eye: 6 Tips for Book Marketing with Little to No Budget | Book Marketing Tools Blog One of the reasons I am resisting self-publishing, is how much hard work it is, to generate from oneself. It's just down to you, if you self-publish. Nobody else.

 

[Gary Compton]

Good luck with it Brian.

If anyone deserves success it is you. If there is anything I can help with (for FREE) please give me a shout.

If there is one thing I have learnt after 25 books is if it's meant to be - it'll happen with or without promo.

Onwards!