Self-publishing Resources

SELF-PUBLISHING RESOURCES:

http://self-publishingresources.com/

http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2011/indesign-to-ebook-resources/

EBOOK SERVICES DIRECTORY:  

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?pli=1&key=0At-RSfaoYUZbdE0xNkZza053VEFBei1pZUZncXdmYmc&hl=en_US#gid=0

EBOOK FORMATS AND READERS: A primer on the ePub format standard and how to transfer an epub book into your ereader.

http://blog.laptopmag.com/epub-primer-everything-you-need-to-know-and-more

TOMORROW: Links of Interest

Finding the Right Epublisher

Picking an epublisher is a bit trickier than picking a traditional New York publisher because there are so many and their methods are so different. 

To start your search, first check out review sites and look for reviews of novels similar to yours and see which ones get the praise. If you can't tell an ebook publisher from one of the traditional publishers, use Google to check out the publisher. Soon, you'll recognize publisher names.

You can also ask about at various online writing groups and sites where writers hang out. Some clueless types hype their very poor publishers so don't take everything you hear as correct. 

When you find likely publishers, check out their site. Look at the kinds of books they sell. 

If your book is straight fantasy, you may regret a publisher which emphasizes romance on its home page or has a very small amount of fantasy because you'll have difficulty selling to the fantasy crowd even if your book is a perfect example of a great fantasy. The SF/fantasy crowd tends to be snobs and run in the opposite direction if they associate your publisher with romance.

Another way to check out epublishers is to see if the publisher's books are available in a wide range of formats and at other sites besides their website. Without exception, my ebooks sell worst at the publisher's site than anywhere else because readers prefer the one-stop shopping of places like Amazon Kindle. 

Go to the main venues like Amazon Kindle and see who is selling the most books in your genre. (The lists can be arranged in best-selling order.)

Go to publisher sites and read their guidelines and their posted contract. Compare the contract to EPIC's model contract. (http://www.epicauthors.com/) Also, look at EPIC's "Red Flags" article. Links to both can be found under "Helpful Items" on the left side of the site. 

Read a number of the publisher's books, or at least, the posted promotional chapters. Are there grammatical and spelling errors? Are the books bad? If so, find another publisher. 

Also, look at their covers. Would you want a cover like that? Do the covers fit the genre of the book? 

Once you get a few possibilities, ask about them on listservs where authors congregate. Most of us will warn you away from the crooked and inept publishers. Also, check them out at Preditors and Editors. http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors

You'll soon discover that the biggest epublishers with the best reputations are closed to submissions most all the time. Their stable of writers can produce more than enough books for them without dealing with the slush pile. 

But there are new publishers who are more than eager for good material. Unfortunately, they usually don't have a track record so you really don't know what you're getting in to.

All this research won't guarantee a safe passage through the stormy waters of publishing, I've had a few disastrous publishers who have lost distribution after I've signed with them or who have proven to be inept, but publishing is like life. Sh*t just happens despite whatever we do.

TOMORROW: I finish this series by talking about self-publishing resources.  Thursday, I will post my weekly "Links of Interest."

Finding a Traditional or Small Press Publisher

Following up last week's look at the different markets for your novel, I'm going to look at specific types of markets and how to find the right publisher for you.  Today, it is traditional and small press paper publishers. Tuesday, epublishers.  Wednesday, self-publishing resources.  Thursday, I’ll do my “Links of Interest” post.

Months before you finish your novel, you should be thinking about the right market for it.  This is important even if you intend to get an agent because you will have to tell that agent where your book fits in the market.

If you read a recently published book that has similar elements to the book you are creating, look at who published it and make note. Look at the publisher's line it is printed under. Is it their fantasy line or their romance line? How many pages long is it? When was it published? 

Does the writer thank his agent or editor by name in the acknowledgment or dedication page? Has the writer published other books or is this the first? 

Make a note of all this information as well as a brief plot summary and your impressions of the book and put it in a file for later when you begin to plan the marketing of your book. 

Also mention where the book is physically. This will save you from ripping your keeper shelves apart when the book came from the library or was loaned to you by your best friend.

Now is a good time to get that subscription to "RT Bookreview," or "Locus," or some other review magazine in your genre.

If you read a review of a similar book, clip the review, date it, and toss it into the file, too.

You may be eclectic in your reading, but the NY publishers aren't eclectic in their buying. Every line, whether romance or otherwise, has neat little pigeon holes for each kind of book, and if you choose the wrong pigeon hole to put your book in, they'll toss it back to you. 

Being published for the first time is hard enough when you have an incredible book that's perfectly crafted. Don't shoot yourself in the foot and waste your time and some editor's by sending a book written for one market to another.

Also, notice what the first-time writers have sold to publishers. Nora Roberts can do incredibly innovative things because she has the name and audience to do it so editors let her do it. The first-time writer shows you what you probably can get away with and sell. Of course, if that new writer's book failed badly, I wouldn't use it as your poster child to a successful career.

Now is also the time you should start searching out the market news. If you are a member of RWA or another organization, start studying the market news offered. 

The Internet offers an incredible number of other market resources, and some offer listserv newsletters. I subscribe to Cindi Myers romance market news/blog. To join, send a blank email to cynthiasterling-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .

You can also find publisher guidelines at most publisher websites, and some publishers like Harlequin have editor blogs where they talk about what they are looking for.

A FEW MARKET NEWS AND MARKET LISTS:

Romance markets:

http://www.theivrytower.com/romance.htm

http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/493.asp

The Market List for sf, fantasy, and horror:

 http://www.marketlist.com/

Mystery Readers International another list of links to publishers, etc.: 

http://www.mysteryreaders.org/period.html

Links of Interest

WHAT A LINE EDIT LOOKS LIKE:

http://www.rachellegardner.com/2012/10/what-does-a-book-edit-look-like/

TYPES OF CLIFFHANGERS:

http://moodywriting.blogspot.com/2012/09/cliffhangers-for-unscrupulous-writers.html

PROMO NO NO’S:

http://mjroseblog.typepad.com/buzz_balls_hype/2012/10/11-things-not-to-do-before-your-book-launch.html

WRITING THAT QUERY LETTER:

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2012/10/guest-post-dear-agent-write-letter-that.html

CREATING CONFLICTING CHOICES FOR THE READER:

http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2012/10/conflicting-your-reader.html

PLANNING YOUR NOVEL’S END:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2011/10/nano-prep-planning-your-novels-ending.html

HARLEQUIN IS STARTING A NEW ROMANCE LINE:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/54413-harlequin-plans-contemporary-romance-imprint.html

CHARACTER TRAITS A THRILLER HERO OR HEROINE NEEDS:

http://writersforensicsblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/guest-blogger-jodie-renner-essential-characteristics-of-a-thriller-hero

COPYRIGHT AND PUBLISHING LAW SITES:

Copyright Law:  

http://www.copylaw.com

Publishing Law Center: 

http://www.publaw.com

Scrivener's Error:  

http://scrivenerserror.blogspot.com/

IVAN HOFFMAN, B.A., J.D. Attorney At Law:  

http://www.ivanhoffman.com/

Harvard Digital Media: 

http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/media/

Frequently Asked Questions About Copyright, US Government: 

http://www.cendi.gov/publications/04-8copyright.html

Columbia Science and Technology Law Review:  

http://www.stlr.org/

Keep Your Copyrights: 

http://www.keepyourcopyrights.org/

Legal Corner for Authors:  

http://www.legalcornerforauthors.com/

Lawgirl.com: 

http://www.lawgirl.com/

Criminal Resource Manual 1854 Copyright Infringement -- First Sale Doctrine:  

http://www.usdoj.gov:80/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/title9/crm01854.htm

AN INTERESTING ARTICLE ON FINDING WAY TOO MUCH INFO ABOUT A PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ONLINE, A GOOD IDEA GENERATOR FOR A NOVEL:

http://www.techhive.com/article/2012778/tweets-from-the-spies-tool-checks-for-data-use-and-leaks.html

ONLINE SECURITY, HOW TO CREATE STRONGER PASSWORDS:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2011773/learn-to-use-strong-passwords.html

ADDING VARIETY TO YOUR DIALOGUE:

http://www.marcykennedy.com/7-tricks-to-add-variety-to-your-dialogue

CREATING REAL DIALOGUE:

http://thewritepractice.com/16-observations-about-real-dialogue

BUILDING DEEP CONFLICT IN YOUR PLOT:

http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2012/09/building-deep-conflict-into-novel.html

SAGGING MIDDLE SYNDROME AND HOW TO CURE IT:

http://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/sagging-middle.html

FREE SOFTWARE FOR WRITERS:

http://pbackwriter.blogspot.com/2012/10/nanowrimo-ten.html

TOO MUCH DETAIL OR TOO LITTLE?

http://talktoyouniverse.blogspot.com/2012/10/caught-between-too-much-pointless.html

SCARING YOUR READER:

http://www.omnivoracious.com/2012/10/making-monsters-scary.html

WRITING THE SYNOPSIS:

http://labelleseditorialservices.com/blog/how-to-write-the-dreaded-synopsis-part-1/

YOUR ONLINE CONTENT AFTER YOU DIE, DO YOU HAVE A PLAN?

http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=da85a184-df3a-4c4b-af2a-e78ae1861acd&goback=.gde_36621_member_178201474

IF YOU SHOPPED AT A BARNES AND NOBLE IN SEPTEMBER, CHECK THIS INFORMATION:

http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/press_releases/10_23_12_Important_Customer_Notice.html

BEWARE PUBLISHER CONTRACT BOILERPLATES:

http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2012/10/if-you-remember-one-thing-it-should-be.html

REVERSION OF RIGHTS CLAUSE:

http://kriswrites.com/2012/10/24/the-business-rusch-rights-reversion/

WHAT A SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHOR NEEDS TO DO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF TRADITIONAL PUBLISHERS OR AGENTS:

http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.ca/2012/10/some-hard-numbers.html

Choosing Your Publishing Route, Part 3 of 3

EPUBLISHERS

Epublishers release their books in digital format although some also offer print options mainly in the form of print-on-demand publishing. 

The advantage to epublishing is a wider range and number of publishers as well as less pigeonholing of book types. Since the costs of producing an ebook are much smaller than with paper-published books, the publisher can afford to publish books that don't fit tight market requirements. 

Most epublishers handle the cost of editing and cover design, but only a few offer a very small advance of royalties. 

You will usually have a great deal of impute into the cover art, editing, and the book blurb.

Distribution is nonexistent in bookstores, of course, but the books are available at the publisher's website and ebook distribution sites like Amazon Kindle where they will be sold with the ebook versions of books from traditional publishers and small press. 

One major disadvantage is less money. Your book will be one of many thousands in a market glutted by front and backlist of well-known authors as well as new books being published.

Even erotica, the growth market for ebooks, isn't offering much profit for most new authors because of the glutted market. 

Those most successful in ebooks are prolific writers who are able to produce three or more high quality books a year that are sold to the same audience. That audience buys all their books, and each new book draws in more readers who buy the backlist.  

Epublishing companies also have the same disadvantage as small press. They are run by individuals so an illness or family tragedy can put your book on hold, or the publisher can fail completely. 

SELF PUBLISHING IN EBOOK FORMATS 

You can format your book into an ebook then sell it from your website or through a few ebook distributor sites like Amazon Kindle and Smashwords.

The advantage is total control and a much cheaper setup cost than a paper book. The disadvantages are much the same as with any form of self-published book. 

A WEB NOVEL

The final market really isn't a market because no profit is made.

If you want to be read and money doesn't matter, putting your book on the web for free via a website, a blog, a free download site like Memoware, or a listserv like Yahoogroups may be the route to take. 

You will have to promote for readers, but you will get them, and a few will actually comment on your work.

Some writers do this as a learning experience. Others simply don't want to bother with the hassle of the publishing process. 

The disadvantages are no money and the possibility your book may end up elsewhere without your permission. 

The simplest way to gain popularity, readers, and comments is to write in a popular fan fiction universe like Harry Potter or the TWILIGHT series. A decent writer can become a big fish in a very small pool with lots of fans and none of the heartache of the professional markets.

FINAL COMMENTS

If you're still confused about which market you should try, think long and hard about what you really want from publishing and go from there.

And welcome to the wonderful world of publishing. Tighten your seatbelt because you're starting one heck of a bumpy but fascinating flight.

TOMORROW:  I'll be posting this week's "Links of Interest."

NEXT WEEK:  I’ll be talking about finding a publisher after you’ve decided if you want to go to traditional publishing, epublishing, etc.

Choosing Your Publishing Route, Part 2

SUBSIDY/VANITY IN PAPER

Many of the subsidy and vanity publishers have a system for publishing the book set up so all you have to do is plug in the various components of the book. 

You will design the cover or pay to have someone design the cover, you will write the book blurb, and you will edit or pay someone to edit your book. They will take all this and print the book for you. 

Unfortunately, they will expect you to pay all the expenses in this process and will still take a huge chunk of the profits for doing nothing. Most of the services cost considerably more than if you found someone else to do them.

Some of these presses also have contracts which control your book forever so that you can't sell it elsewhere.

Even those subsidy presses who claim they can get your books on those bookstore shelves rarely do.

Frankly, there is no pro in this kind of publisher, only cons.

SELF PUBLISHING IN PAPER

With self-publishing, you must find a printer to print your book for you, etc., but you will receive all the profits. Some printer services offer help with covers, etc., but it's added cost.

The major advantage to this method is you have most of the control for every element of your book.

A major disadvantage is that you have control over every element of your book. If you don't know what you are doing, you will spent a lot of money to make a fool of yourself.

Distribution is the biggest disadvantage of self-publishing. It is almost impossible to get your book onto the shelves of bookstores and in the catalogs of distributors. 

You will have to literally hand sell each book. To do this, you must have the soul and charm of a successful used car salesman and lots of time.

A self-published book, unless it achieves best-selling status, can also does more harm than good to a writer's reputation and future because most in the publishing world have a great deal of disdain for the self-published, particularly in fiction, so moving into another form of publishing later is much harder to do.

TOMORROW:  Epublishers, self-published ebooks, and web novels.

Choosing Your Publishing Route, Part 1

SCHEDULE NOTE:  I will be posting this article in three parts for the next three days.  On Thursday, I'll post my usual "Links of Interest."

You have your novel finished. Now what?

You have lots of options -- traditional publishers, small presses, ebook publishers, vanity/subsidy and self-publishing.

I'll talk about each form of publishing with some pros and cons to consider so you can decide which fits you better.

TRADITIONAL PUBLISHERS

Traditional publishers are the publishers you find in bookstores. In US publishing, many are based in New York City. Some of these publishers of genre/popular fiction include Tor, Pocket, St. Martin, and Kensington.

The major advantage to these publishers is distribution. Their books are carried by all the major book chains and distributors so anyone can walk into the neighborhood bookstore and buy or order your book.

The better the distribution, the more books sold.

They will also give you an advance on your earnings and cover all the costs of creating the book itself including editing, the cover, and the printing.

Authors published this way are on the top of the author pecking order.

The major disadvantage is competition. You will have an uphill battle to gain a coveted slot in a publishing schedule and your competition will include many published authors.

In some markets, you'll need to get an agent even before you begin the fight for that slot, and this is an equally difficult and slow process.

Another disadvantage is lack of control. You will have almost no say in your book's title and cover. More often than not, you will also be required to change some of the book's content.

Pigeonholing is another problem. You must write to fit the current trends in popularity. It's a rare book that can be totally different.

SMALL PRESS

Small press is really a small version of the traditional publisher, but rather than being owned by a conglomerate, it is owned by individuals. Many are niche publishers specializing in a particular market like regional mystery or paranormal romance.

Some have the advantage of good distribution through book chains and distributors so they can be found in bookstores, but others do not. It will be much harder to find your book in a bookstore, but it should be available for ordering.

All the expenses of editing, cover art, and printing are covered by the small press, and some offer advances on earning which are usually much smaller than the traditional publisher.

The amount of author impute in the publishing process ranges from none to a great deal according to the individual press.

The disadvantages include poorer distribution, the vagaries of the how each runs its business, and the inherent risk of working with a small company where an owner's illness or family problems can stop the presses.

TOMORROW:

Subsidy/vanity presses and self publishing in paper.