Self publishing instructions from Pasatiempo

SO, YOU WANT TO SELF-PUBLISH?

Many, many months/ years have gone by.

Many, many revisions have been made.

Your manuscript is complete.

Have other people, whose opinions you trust, read it and give you specific and honest feedback.

Talk with them about sections that make sense and sections that don’t.

Ask them which parts hold their attention and which parts don’t.

Discuss the characters and whether or not each is disinct and fully fleshed out.

Revise the manuscript once more.

Pull it out, dust it off, and read it again, making any further necessary revisions.

When you honestly feel that you have a very polished draft, put it away.

For 6 months.

for my dear

JENNY the love of my life

Have still more people read it.

micropress owner

Ask those who like it

buona fortunA, bro to write (glowing) cover blurbs.

writer

best-selling author

writer

writer

writer designer proofreader

Introduce yourself to other writers and seek out published authors whose work you respect.

Now your book is ready to be

PUBLISHED! (But you’re not.)

editor

writer

Immerse yourself in the writing community by attending readings and forming relationships.

RESEARCH PHASE

Self-publish? Micropublish? Create your own micropress?

Choosing the right path: There is a wealth of information on self-publishing — some valuable, some not so much.

Research self-publishing platforms to determine which one is right for you.

You may find that more than one is appropriate, especially if you hope to sell your books online and in brick-and-mortar stores.

You’ll find that books published by some online companies (like Amazon’s CreateSpace) are sold only on their sites.

Other publishers (like Lightning Source/Ingram) are equipped to place your book in brick-and-mortar stores.

Some bookstores even offer consignment options.

Hire a professional proofreader.

(Ask authors for guidance. Search writers’ services and reach out to local colleges for recommendations. Advertise on Craigslist and in your local newspaper’s print and online editions. Post fliers on community and bookstore bulletin boards.)

COVERS SELL BOOKS.

My kids are driving me don’t let this

happen

to you

or

this

CRAZY

Hire an experienced designer to create your book cover.

Consider hiring a designer with experience in publishing to style the interior pages.

TO PAGE 44

If you decide to publish through a micropress:

Introduce yourself via email to establish communication with the editors at the publishing company you’ve chosen.

Research several presses and familiarize yourself with their products. (There are also many websites and journals with their own micropresses.

Research those companies as well.)

Do the style and subject of your book align with the type of material being published?

To get a feel for the quality of the presses you like, look through the books they have published.

Stay in touch with your contact throughout the publishing process — keep the conversation rolling.

If you decide to start your own micropress: Seek out other writers in your community who might be interested in publishing their own work with you.

Wanted WRITERS EXPERIENCE IN

Editing • Designing Marketing • Public Relations Proof-reading

Before you submit your own work, consider creating a simple comp book to test the efficiency and efficacy of the self-publishing interfaces you have chosen.

Select a company name and logo. Register the name as a business with your local state agency and go to www.isbn.org to purchase ISBN numbers.

FOR SELF PUBLISHING VENTURE

Discuss skill sets. Who has experience in editing, designing, marketing, public relations, and proofreading?