So you want to publish a book? Where do you begin?
The landscape of publishing has changed over the past few years. Traditional publishing is no longer unachievable and many authors have altered their perspective on how traditional publishing is perceived. Self-publishing is no longer frowned upon as it once was. There are now many self-published authors consciously choosing to be in control themselves and by connecting with their inner entrepreneur they are doing really well. This is great news for aspiring authors. You no longer need to sit around hoping that a traditional publisher will send you an offer letter rather than a rejection one. You can now get the ball rolling by taking positive action towards publishing your book. This is an ideal scenario for us innovative action-based Ausmumpreneurs.
A little about my journey :
In a nutshell I aspired to be a successful author. I self-published my first novel and it was a negative experience, however, through that negative experience I learned the process of publishing a book. Time and circumstance aligned and I was ready to take action when opportunity arose and so my journey has continued to where I find myself today. My inner entrepreneur didn’t feel happy clinging onto a small hope that my book might be ‘picked up’. I chose to take positive action to work towards my dream. I knew that it may take time to perfect but I was open and excited to learn new things. In doing so I could also help others by helping them publish their books in a positive way whilst also collecting stories for inspiring anthologies. If I can do it, so can you.
I am going to chat about two options for you as an author :
- Self-publishing.
- Traditional Publishing.
Self-Publishing
So you have written a book. You have chosen to self-publish it. What do you do?
As a self-publishing author it is up to you to make sure that your book is as good as it can be. It is all well and good to write a book and publish it, but ensuring that the quality of your book is as good as a traditionally published book is key to making your book saleable. I highly recommend editing, both self-editing and if you can afford it professional editing, or at least a proofread.
There are many platforms that you can utilise to publish your book. Createspace (owned by amazon) and Ingramspark (owned by Ingram distribution) are two of the most popular. Through these platforms your book will be available worldwide in print and eBook, you will need to have your files prepared and ready for uploading pdf format for print and epub for ebook. Both have heaps of guidance on how to publish with them so it is worthwhile taking some time to learn. It is a cost effective way to publish your book and reach your readership. There is also a new one in town called bookbub, they are growing rapidly so are definitely worth checking out to see if they fit with your demands.
You will discover that setup fees are quite similar no matter whether you have a 400-page novel or a 22-page children’s book. Createspace is very popular with authors, they don’t charge for revisions and everything is quite automatic. They have a template that you can load into and lots of advice on how to make your book visually appealing.
Living in Australia I suggest that you consider Ingram Spark as they have an office and printing house in Melbourne. They print black and white books through there and you can have them pretty fast if need be and even pick them up yourself if you are Melbourne based. There is also an option to rush both production and shipping. This option is priceless when you have a deadline but it is important to remember that it does cost extra. If you need a colour it is commissioned through their US printing house but do not charge you the extra shipping costs but it will take at least 3 weeks to receive it so plan well ahead.
We use the Lightning Source division of Ingram for our POD titles. I suggest that you create an account with them if you aspire to having your own publishing press. They are recognised by bookstores which is important when you are in the business.
All in all, you can publish your book quite inexpensively yourself and have it available globally through online retailers. If you would just like to have your book on kindle eBook, you can do this by creating an account through kdp select. My advice is to upload your manuscript in word format as it will transfer better. For children’s books I suggest that you download the kindle kids book creator. You can upload your pdf file and it will be transformed into a .mobi file, perfect for kindle.
There are numerous self-publishing businesses ready to publish your book straight away. There are costs involved, all differing depending on the level of service you require. You really can do it yourself but if it is overwhelming or you don’t have the time or computer skills required it is advantageous to source assistance.
- Do your homework to find the right assistance for you.
- Costs can vary considerably, be mindful who you choose.
Traditional publishing
Having a big name publisher take on your book is a dream scenario for many authors. You will not have the control or commission from each sale that self-publishing offers but you will have an established market ready to buy your book.
If you approach a publisher and they reject your manuscript, it is important to remember it is not a reflection of your work. It will most likely be due to it not fitting in with their publishing schedule at that time. One way to draw attention to yourself is to demonstrate how well you will sell books, this means getting yourself ‘out there’. If you are an Ausmumpreneur with a big following, you should have no problem securing a deal with a publisher.
It is worth noting that you will receive a smaller percentage of sales, however your work load will be greatly reduced if your book is traditionally published opposed to self-published.
There are many advantages to publishing a book. Especially if it compliments your business or fits in with a popular genre. You will also gain instant credibility as many people aspire to become an author, often perceiving it to be an unachievable goal. Attracting the attention of the media is more successful when you are an author.
Now you will have your best book both written and published, what now?
In part four, I will share tips on how to effectively sell your book.
I do hope that you have found this blog informative. I am happy to answer questions from Ausmumpreneur members anytime so feel free to contact me directly.
About our Ausmumpreneur Expert :
Karen is founder of Serenity Press, a boutique publishing press based in Perth, WA that services clients with their established global distribution link. She is passionate that a publishing experience should be a positive one and likes to manage things at a personal level with her amazing team. 2015 was a big year for Serenity Press and 2016 is going to be amazing. Karen would love for you to join Serenity Press on their journey as they grow from strength to strength bringing amazing books to the world. Everyone has a story within themselves that deserves to be told.
