Tips on Self-Publishing
Victoria Pilate, Ph.D.
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Self Publishing Reality 101
Do as much as you can yourself including graphic arts design and text
layout. The sole exception is proofreading and editing.
Finding a proofreader or editor is no easy task. Try local colleges for
English professors willing to earn extra money. Remember a
proofreader is different than an editor; don't have too high of
expectations from a proofreader to edit your manuscript. Use more than
one proofreader. They cost about $0.01 to $0.02 per word.
If you're writing fiction, use an editor.
If someone is working by the hour, ask if there is a minimal charge.
Something that takes you 30 minutes to do will suddenly take someone
else two hours to do.
Shop around for a printer including those in a different state. Since you
don't need to meet with the printer, an out of state or even out of the U.S.
printer can suffice.
Be prepared to give away free stuff. Chapbooks of excerpts or a free
chapter are best but can be pricey. Bookmarks and pencils with promo
information are good options also.
Get and use references for printers, publicists, editors and graphic arts
designers.
Be prepared for lies. Ethics is a distant concept for some small
business owners and independent bookstore owners. Insist on a
payment schedule for bookstores.
Networking is essential. Introduce yourself to others as often as
possible. Keep business cards and book info handy.
Get a website up before your book is released.
Learn what the common remittance is for graphic artists and publicists
before looking for one. Publicists receive a percentages, generally 15
percent. Never pay a publicist a flat fee.
After your book and press information are released, new authors can be
easy targets to identity theft; review identity theft information early and
often. FYI: there is no crime against someone impersonating a
reporter.
Never be in a hurry for anything. For one thing, it costs money. It also
costs in quality.
Getting a newspaper or other media review isn't easy. Large papers
tend to shun self-published authors because they fear reviewing work
that may have been plagiarized and there is the stereotype that
self-published work is poor quality. Don't ignore small local papers as
a starting point.
Just because you're a writer, doesn't mean you'll just write. You'll have
to do more public speaking than you ever imagined.
Allocate at least 60 percent of your energy to marketing. The rest goes to
writing and/or researching.
Local TV stations are often willing to interview new authors if there's a
unique twist about the author or the book. Being on TV isn't like what's
depicted on TV dramas, there's no makeup artist to help with your
makeup or hair.
After an interview or similar, send a thank-you note.
Book signing often don't result in high book sales. It's not unusual to
sell only 5 to 10 copies at a book signing.
Book signing events can attract different people. Some people
genuinely enjoy the rarity of a book signing. Invariably, book signings
attract unusual people also. Some of the most rude behavior I've
experienced has been at book signings. At the last book signing, I
encountered an unusual woman who was so unusual that I was
making a mental note of the nearest exit for a quick escape.
layout. The sole exception is proofreading and editing.
Finding a proofreader or editor is no easy task. Try local colleges for
English professors willing to earn extra money. Remember a
proofreader is different than an editor; don't have too high of
expectations from a proofreader to edit your manuscript. Use more than
one proofreader. They cost about $0.01 to $0.02 per word.
If you're writing fiction, use an editor.
If someone is working by the hour, ask if there is a minimal charge.
Something that takes you 30 minutes to do will suddenly take someone
else two hours to do.
Shop around for a printer including those in a different state. Since you
don't need to meet with the printer, an out of state or even out of the U.S.
printer can suffice.
Be prepared to give away free stuff. Chapbooks of excerpts or a free
chapter are best but can be pricey. Bookmarks and pencils with promo
information are good options also.
Get and use references for printers, publicists, editors and graphic arts
designers.
Be prepared for lies. Ethics is a distant concept for some small
business owners and independent bookstore owners. Insist on a
payment schedule for bookstores.
Networking is essential. Introduce yourself to others as often as
possible. Keep business cards and book info handy.
Get a website up before your book is released.
Learn what the common remittance is for graphic artists and publicists
before looking for one. Publicists receive a percentages, generally 15
percent. Never pay a publicist a flat fee.
After your book and press information are released, new authors can be
easy targets to identity theft; review identity theft information early and
often. FYI: there is no crime against someone impersonating a
reporter.
Never be in a hurry for anything. For one thing, it costs money. It also
costs in quality.
Getting a newspaper or other media review isn't easy. Large papers
tend to shun self-published authors because they fear reviewing work
that may have been plagiarized and there is the stereotype that
self-published work is poor quality. Don't ignore small local papers as
a starting point.
Just because you're a writer, doesn't mean you'll just write. You'll have
to do more public speaking than you ever imagined.
Allocate at least 60 percent of your energy to marketing. The rest goes to
writing and/or researching.
Local TV stations are often willing to interview new authors if there's a
unique twist about the author or the book. Being on TV isn't like what's
depicted on TV dramas, there's no makeup artist to help with your
makeup or hair.
After an interview or similar, send a thank-you note.
Book signing often don't result in high book sales. It's not unusual to
sell only 5 to 10 copies at a book signing.
Book signing events can attract different people. Some people
genuinely enjoy the rarity of a book signing. Invariably, book signings
attract unusual people also. Some of the most rude behavior I've
experienced has been at book signings. At the last book signing, I
encountered an unusual woman who was so unusual that I was
making a mental note of the nearest exit for a quick escape.
This page is maintained by Victoria Pilate. Comments and suggestions can be sent to vpilate@victoriapilate.com. This
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