Want To Publish Your Own Book? Here Are A Few Tips To Make It Happen
Get It Proofread And Edited
Let’s assume you’ve already created the manuscript for your book. Be sure to let your friends, family, and colleagues read it and provide you with their honest feedback. Once this has been done, getting it proofread and edited is the next important stage in the process. If you want to publish a high-quality, professional-looking book these elements will be key. Even if you think it looks good enough and you have a great grasp of English, it’s invaluable to hire someone who can check for those mistakes (e.g. misprints or bad punctuation) that you’ve missed.
Approaching Publishers
Publishers are companies that need books that sell in order to make money. They won’t do this for free – before any book comes out you will be pushed towards marketing it yourself (or with some additional help from them). You may have noticed that publishers are using social media more over recent years. This is partly because authors tend to use these channels themselves, and publishers want readers engaged with both author and publisher simultaneously.
eBooks and print on demand mean publishers don’t always need to print a certain number of books upfront, so they are more likely to take on titles that may have lower appeal (but which the author is passionate about). Publishers aren’t always interested in new authors because most want an already-established audience.
Doing It Yourself
If you choose to self-publish you’ll be taking the entire process into your own hands from start to finish. This means you are going to be in charge of the cover design, editing, and formatting among other tasks. You’ll also have a lot more control over things like pricing and distribution, which can make all the difference. Check out Amazon KDP and Apple iBooks, to begin with.
The main pro for many authors will be that they will retain full creative rights over their work. They will be able to get it printed on-demand with no upfront costs, or by using Print On Demand (POD) services such as Lightning Source and IngramSpark. The downside is that self-published authors are responsible for all the marketing and promotion efforts themselves – with no support from publishing houses. This can be a daunting task for first-time authors who may not have the necessary skills or resources to make it happen.
Format, Layout, And Covers
The layout is also important because you’ll want to make sure the text and images are easy on the eye. Have a font choice and layout that reflects your brand/book. Covers are also important – you’ll want something that stands out and looks professional. Again, it’s worth investing in a good designer to help with this if you’re not confident yourself. Alternatively, check out sites like Fiverr that can provide some inexpensive options.
Book Promotion
No matter what genre your book falls into, there are certain marketing techniques that you can use to sell more copies. Here are a few tips:
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Create A Website
This will be the home base for all of your marketing efforts and it’s a great way to build credibility as an author. When people visit your website, they should be able to learn everything about you and your book, from the plot summary to where they can buy it. Make sure the website is easy to navigate and looks professional, as well as being compatible with smartphones, tablets, laptops, and computers. When you post on social media or blogs, do Facebook Ads or otherwise – provide links that take people to your website’s sales pages.
Hopefully, the task ahead doesn’t feel too daunting, and instead, perhaps you feel inspired to give it a go. If your book and cover are worthy and you market it well, you may end up on the bestseller’s list. Remember: famous authors all began from the same starting point as you.
