Self-Publishing - Advice Appreciated

[Jake_Raazor]

Firstly, I created a Smashwords account and inclined to use them as my entry into the market.

Material wise I have written four 100,000 word novels based on one character and within which there is one over arching theme.

'Michelle' is published on here and 'Raven' four chapters in.

There is also a novella of 30,000 words that runs alongside before merging into the second book, Raven.

I would appreciate thoughts and feedback on Smashwords, do's and don'ts (currently reading their Style Guide!), alternatives like Amazon or reasons why I shouldn't bother going down the self-publishing route.

I also know the first novel needs more proof reading/editing - as will the others and advice on that would be appreciated. So far it's just me, spellcheck and basic Grammarly.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MillieDynamite]

First, I'd say spend a few dollars on a professional proofreader or line editor.

Second, do not invest a lot of money in advertising. If you advertise, and make income above the advertising, you can add more money to the budget.

Third, do not expect to make money. If you do that is a bonus.

For the first publication of the first book in the Fifty Shades series E. L. James purchased thousands of copies of her book on the open market to help its sales standings. It's a less than professional approach and these days will get you banned from Amazon.

 

[Jake_Raazor]

First, I'd say spend a few dollars on a professional proofreader or line editor.

Second, do not invest a lot of money in advertising. If you advertise, and make income above the advertising, you can add more money to the budget.

Third, do not expect to make money. If you do that is a bonus.

For the first publication of the first book in the Fifty Shades series E. L. James purchased thousands of copies of her book on the open market to help its sales standings. It's a less than professional approach and these days will get you banned from Amazon.

Agree on the first point. Next and most obvious follow up is...do you mean software ie a premium Grammarly account (which I do intend to buy) or submitting the work for someone to review - which to be honest is like someone checking your homework and giving it 2 out of 10

Can't say I will be investing in advertising, this is more vanity on my part as in 'yeah. I published a novel'. My expectations in people actually buying it are set firmly at zero.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Agree on the first point. Next and most obvious follow up is...do you mean software ie a premium Grammarly account (which I do intend to buy) or submitting the work for someone to review - which to be honest is like someone checking your homework and giving it 2 out of 10

Can't say I will be investing in advertising, this is more vanity on my part as in 'yeah. I published a novel'. My expectations in people actually buying it are set firmly at zero.

Thanks for the feedback.

Human beings with a good grasp of English, Grammar, and the Chicago Style Guide. The one I use for my published worked cost $2.00 per page, a 50 page minimum, 12 point type, and double spaced. You can get buy with the Professional level of Grammarly, but it doesn't make the best decisions in every instance.

Readers tend to be more forgiving than I do on my mistakes. However, I rarely go back and change old work, self published, professionally edited or not. After time has passed, I can read my own work and am always struck with the fact I wrote the story, and the fact there are still errors in them.

In the Stand, the character Stu is talking to Tom Cullen and another character. Stu turns walks away down Broadway (in Denver on Capitol Hill) and Tom and his companion walk off in another direction. When Tom looks back, he see's Stu stand motionless in his front yard. That's a continuity gaff that made it though the whole process and a major rework my King years down the road. And yet is still in the new printed and digital copies of the book today.

So some mistakes are no big deal, I guess. But that scene has bugged me all three times and all three different printings and revisions, when I read it.

 

[gordo12]

Agree on the first point. Next and most obvious follow up is...do you mean software ie a premium Grammarly account (which I do intend to buy) or submitting the work for someone to review - which to be honest is like someone checking your homework and giving it 2 out of 10

Can't say I will be investing in advertising, this is more vanity on my part as in 'yeah. I published a novel'. My expectations in people actually buying it are set firmly at zero.

Thanks for the feedback.

Fair warning. Grammarly premium is limited to 18,000 words in the app. That means taking a story and breaking it into multiple pieces to edit. Then rejoining it all. It's a PITA.

My subscription will be renewing shortly and I will be looking at other options. I've talked to support but so far no joy.

 

[KeithD]

Advise that you distribute on as many services as you can--not just Smashwords.

Also, do concentrate on having a good product. People will only come back to buy subsequent books if the one they already read satisfied them.

 

[lovecraft68]

Publish on as many platforms as you can find for starters. DO NOT fall into one of amazon's exclusive scams like unlimited.

A decent cover can be found for around $25-$50 if you have four novels ready to go maybe the designer would give you a break. Try to keep a recurring theme to your covers seeing they're the same character, continuity helps.

As for editing. Editors can be expensive, especially for 100k projects. The sad truth is dumping a few hundred into editing is money you may never make back. Same for advertising, most 'advertisers" are going to tweet your book a few times and post it on a blog or FB...they are not going to do much more than you can yourself.

If your grammar is decent, or you know someone who can clean it up a bit for a reasonable sum, go for it. Otherwise do the best you can. Your e-book is not making back a $1000 editing investment-and yes it can be that or higher with a pro editor-

Formatting isn't that hard, but if you needed someone to do it for you a 100k book will set you back maybe a $150 per book.

The other option is...find someone to publish for you who will help with cover and formatting, uploading your book to platforms and do most of the work for a cut(on top of platform cut) you make a little less, but they do the bulk of the tedious work because every platform has different requirements when it comes to uploading a book and it can take a long time doing it yourself

 

[MillieDynamite]

Fair warning. Grammarly premium is limited to 18,000 words in the app. That means taking a story and breaking it into multiple pieces to edit. Then rejoining it all. It's a PITA.

My subscription will be renewing shortly and I will be looking at other options. I've talked to support but so far no joy.

I use the Grammarly Word Addon and it works inside Word.

 

[gordo12]

I use the Grammarly Word Addon and it works inside Word.

Should have qualified that. I use Libre Office and Grammarly does not have a plugin for that. I have to import and export. Another issue I talked to them about with no luck.

Will it take any size story, Millie?

 

[MillieDynamite]

Should have qualified that. I use Libre Office and Grammarly does not have a plugin for that. I have to import and export. Another issue I talked to them about with no luck.

Will it take any size story, Millie?

Yes, I write the first two or three pages, turn it on, clean up my messes, and switch it off. I continue on with the story turning it back on every couple of pages as I go. For shorter works, I mess with story as I go rewriting and editing until I'm satisfied. Then go through on a rewrite and expand always trying to pretty it up as I go along.

Not so much on longer works. But the longer stuff is ghostwriting and while I clean it up, I'm not nearly as particular as it will go through several other hands along the road to publication.

But I love my Grammarly. My father, Mum, and I share word and Grammarly with a family 360 plan. No, I'm not English or Australian, my Mum is both as in dual citizenship and legal permanent resident here, USA. She is thinking about becoming a citizen here, she can't have tri-citizenship though.

WOW, that's way to much personal info.

 

[gordo12]

WOW, that's way to much personal info.

Yes, it is. But don't worry I copied and pasted it to Twitter for several thousand people.

LOL, just kidding.

You deserve a commission. I went and bought Office, something I swore I'd never do. But I'm getting tired of the back and forth with Grammarly without it.

Thanks!

 

[MillieDynamite]

Yes, it is. But don't worry I copied and pasted it to Twitter for several thousand people.

LOL, just kidding.

You deserve a commission. I went and bought Office, something I swore I'd never do. But I'm getting tired of the back and forth with Grammarly without it.

Thanks!

Download the app and install and your in business. Though, I don't put my faith in Grammarly it sometimes is know to F*up big time. LOL

 

[gordo12]

Download the app and install and your in business. Though, I don't put my faith in Grammarly it sometimes is know to F*up big time. LOL

Up and running smoothly. Now I just have to teach it to speak Western lingo.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Up and running smoothly. Now I just have to teach it to speak Western lingo.

Oh you and my Pops would get along great.

He Absquatulate himself from the war, and made his way to Colorado Gold country to find, or steal, his fortune. In a few weeks, standing in Clear Creek with freezing water up to his waist, he pondered if being shed of someone trying to kill him while he tired to kill them, was as bad as he'd thought.

Or something to that effect. It was an opening to gold rush story he wrote. But in end that didn't make the final cut. I liked it though.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I just ran my 231,000 word novel through it without a problem. Now Word, had a problem with that length, displaying its grammar and spell checking things, you the little red squiggly lines and such.

 

[GinnyPPC]

If you're going into the self publishing biz, your really in sales and marketing. Getting awareness out there of your product. Don't expect to throw it up on some site and expect magic to happen. You have to work to get people to part with their money and buy your books.

 

[Jake_Raazor]

Thanks for all the feedback, much appreciated. Bought Grammarly Premium 3 month option. Should have done that a lot earlier.

 

[Phoneme52]

Self publishing

I have self published six books and learnt as I went along. First of all by all means use Amazon but never use Amazon Select. It brings nothing and causes lots of heartaches. You want to have your books exposed to as many markets as possible. I use Smashwords and have had some success because they publish on all electronic formats. They also do frequent give aways and book offers into which you can enrol.

You need a professional book cover. I use the same designer each time and she produces memorable designs for around $80 with many revisions until we get it right.

Unless you have a large bank account, you won't be able to hire a professional editor. I'm lucky to cover my costs despite loads of five star reviews.

I write in chapters and constantly go over each until I am satisfied. When the book is finished I assemble it and send it out via the Kindle format to my friends who give me excellent feedback. Remember, your brain will not let you edit your own work. I have a master's degree in English and I can't do it but my wife finds any little error.

Always listen to feedback whether it be about the story or the language. What helps me is to leave the book for a few months or weeks and then come back to it with a fresh pair of eyes. It's surprising what you missed.

Lastly, write for pleasure; you will rarely make any decent money. I enjoy the process of writing; let that be your aim.

 

[Jake_Raazor]

I have self published six books and learnt as I went along. First of all by all means use Amazon but never use Amazon Select. It brings nothing and causes lots of heartaches. You want to have your books exposed to as many markets as possible. I use Smashwords and have had some success because they publish on all electronic formats. They also do frequent give aways and book offers into which you can enrol.

You need a professional book cover. I use the same designer each time and she produces memorable designs for around $80 with many revisions until we get it right.

Unless you have a large bank account, you won't be able to hire a professional editor. I'm lucky to cover my costs despite loads of five star reviews.

I write in chapters and constantly go over each until I am satisfied. When the book is finished I assemble it and send it out via the Kindle format to my friends who give me excellent feedback. Remember, your brain will not let you edit your own work. I have a master's degree in English and I can't do it but my wife finds any little error.

Always listen to feedback whether it be about the story or the language. What helps me is to leave the book for a few months or weeks and then come back to it with a fresh pair of eyes. It's surprising what you missed.

Lastly, write for pleasure; you will rarely make any decent money. I enjoy the process of writing; let that be your aim.

Good advice. I have a budget for doing this and paying for a professional book cover is something that is included. Is your designer happy to take new commissions?

I am doing this more for the vanity of it than making money. I have zero expectation in making money. I started writing last year for the fun of it and it ended up being addictive. I like the idea of publishing a book and happy to spend money in making it look as professional as possible.