Do's and Don'ts of Self-Publishing by Noel Brinkerhoff
It used to be where people who
self-published were considered neophytes who weren't good enough to be
published by more traditional publishers. They clung like barnacles to
the edges of the book world, trying but not gaining access to the inner
sanctum -- a place on the shelves of Barnes & Noble and a trip
to Oprah's couch.
These days, however, self-published authors can make themselves lots of
money, build platforms for the launch of further projects, and even
sell their books at Barnes & Noble. Some have landed deals with
larger publishers after selling a few thousand books with their own
blood, sweat & tears, and even found themselves face to face
with the Queen of the book clubs herself.
The first Do of self-publishing is to grant yourself the power to see
your words in print. No one is going to come down from on high and give
you permission to be published, so you might as well start with a
hearty pat on the back for finishing a book. After all, its almost a
national joke about how many people are writing or planing to write the
great American novel at some nebulous time in the future. You are the
only one who can truly decide to empower or dis-empower yourself at
this juncture.
The second major Do of self-publishing is to do your research. Most
people are in such a hurry to see their words in print that they
neglect what will happen after the printer delivers 40 or 50 heavy
boxes of books to their doorstep. Enterpreneur publishes a great
step-by-step start-up guide for Self-Publishing Businesses that teaches
you how to market your book, get repeat business, manage your business
finances, and more.
The third major Do of self-publishing is to hone your writing until it
shines. New Novelist, from Write Express, is software that can help,
whether you're writing fiction or narrative non-fiction. The software
takes your idea and builds it intuitively into a full-fledged story,
and comes with testimonials from no less than Will Self, a novelist
published many times over. Your writing will sparkle, and you'll be a
lot less frustrated if you use this important tool.
The first major Don't of self-publishing is don't expect someone to
sell your book for you. If you're self-publishing, you're taking on the
roles of author, publisher, publicist and distributor, so you will need
to think up clever ways to connect with your potential readers. One way
I find extremely helpful is to hook up with Verizon Super Pages. They
can help you get a web site up and running, if you plan to sell your
book this way, or even help you bring some money in, through Pay-Per
Click Advertising, while you're waiting for people to purchase your
wares. It's a great place to place ads and start getting your name out
there.
And the last major Do of self-publishing is be as loud and proud about
your book as you want to be. Yahoo Search Marketing has one of the best
and fastest ways to get noticed in the crowded world of books.
Sponsored Search puts your book in front of millions of eyes, alongside
relevant articles and product reviews. Fast-tracking your listing will
widen your reach, including your listing on CNN.com, AltaVista.com, and
some of the other largest sites currently in business. Doing it this
way not only ensures you traffic to your site, it cements your
reputation as an expert and an author.
That leads us to the last really important Do of self-publishing, which
is to celebrate your achievement. Writing a book is not easy -- that's
why we lionize (some of) our writers. Take pleasure in the fact that
you have successfully put your thoughts into print, and are well on
your way to publishing success!
For more stories like this, visit http://www.GrammarGods.com.
Copyright 2006 GrammarGods.com
About the Author
Noel Brinkerhoff has been a professional writer for over ten years, specializing in journalism and screenwriting. For seven years, he worked as a reporter for the California Journal and State Net Capitol Journal in Sacramento. He is equally well-versed in book adaptations, and can provide excellent script coverage and story notes, as a former reader for the Chesterfield Screenwriting Fellowship.