Five Things Self-Publishers Should Do
There's More to Producing a Good Book Than Writing a Good Story
Jul 24, 2009
A self-published author can write an outstanding story or book of nonfiction, but to have a book that really shines and garners attention, crucial elements cannot be overlooked or scrimped on.
Writing a Marketing Plan
Before one even begins writing a book, the writer really should have a pretty clear idea who the book’s intended market is and how he/she plans on getting the book into that market. This marketing plan should be well-thought out and written out. There’s nothing more disheartening than flat or nonexistent sales when an author finally sees his book in print.
Marketing plans should be specific and not only identify the target audience, but also specific activities that the author intends to do to promote and sell the book.
Professional Help for the Book
The biggest error writers make is believing that they are able to critique and edit their own work. It is a rare individual who can do this. Hiring a professional can be expensive, but the results will be well worth the expenditure. Shop carefully for an editor. Submit one page for editing and ask them to demonstrate their ability. Ask other authors who they might recommend. Sadly, one will quickly discover that most self-published authors have a friend or relative who proofreads for them. Proofreading is not the same as editing.
Cover designers are another area where writers often skimp, believing that a great photo will suffice for a cover. A designer need not be outrageously expensive. For as little as $200 one can engage a highly talented person to design a cover, and it will be well worth the expense. Remember that covers sell books. A photo will almost never give the impression one wants to render.
Finally, hire someone to professionally lay out and format the book. This is one area where an author can actually do his/her own work if they are skilled enough and have an adequate program. Study how books are arranged. With the exception of poetry, ideally all books should have a header and be numbered systematically. The first page of every chapter should not have a header or page number, however. In addition, not all printers have the same margin requirements, so be aware of what the printer’s requirements are.
Book Reviews
Finally, remember to leave sufficient time between the printing of the book and its debut, for reviewers to have an opportunity to see an ARC (advanced reader copy). Many reviewers nowadays are requesting a PDF instead of an ARC. This is good in that it saves money not having to send books to individuals; on the other hand, PDFs are easily deleted.
Most reviewers request at least a four month lead time, some require six months. For most self-publishers, this is an unbearable amount of time to wait, especially when one isn’t even guaranteed a review. And of course, some magazines won’t review PODs or self-published works at all. Never “buy” reviews, no matter how desperate one may become. Not only is this dishonest, but it dishonors the work as well. As people read and comment on the book, ask them if they’d write a paragraph or so about it. Post these on the website and have them available at book events for people to read. Obtaining reviews is not as difficult as many imagine.
It’s not enough just to write a great book. Self-publishing a book is an investment, and one that has a greater chance of paying off if done professionally.
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