Taking the plunge/ Self publishing/ Tips Please.

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sponsored links Ok, I have decided to be brave. I have a manuscript I have had sitting around for a couple of years. It's a novel. Putting aside my fears, I have decided to self publish it. It's not War and Peace and is shortish- 60,000 words. Anyone able and willing to be useful to a novice! Reader_brallen, Apr 27, 2012, 8:06 am
Have you sent it out to any real world publishers! Reader_oh_hunnihunni, Apr 27, 2012, 8:08 am
Yes, Random House were quite interested for awhile but wanted some changes.However, I went through the same process a few years back with them over another manuscript spending months trying to keep them happy. In the end they rejected it anyway. Having plugged away for years it's got to the point where I just want something to show for all the work. Does that make sense! And this way I have control over the project. I don't want to become an over night sensation. I have been writing for nearly twenty years. I just want to hold a finished project in my hands, flog off enough copies to pay for the printing for starters. Reader_brallen, Apr 27, 2012, 8:16 am
Have you thought about publishing it as an ebook, eg thru Amazon! There are some threads on self publishing already - use the search function to the left. Reader_sumstyle, Apr 27, 2012, 8:29 am
Thanks sumstyle. I am looking into that. That would be an interesting thing to do. I will do as you suggest. Reader_brallen, Apr 27, 2012, 8:40 am
My husband self published his first novel a few months ago. I'm sure he would help with any particular questions you have. There are lots of threads about it all. Sometimes it's nice to be able to ask a specific question. He loves to write - money is just a nice extra - so sounds a bit like you. He has sold more than 700 copies in the few months that it's been available and had more than 22000 downloads in the three days he went free. He paid for a cover as a professional looking cover means you should get a lot more interest. He has a paper book available too - gone are the days when you have to pay to get a run of a thousand! They just print on demand - the result is beautiful. Just have a look on YouTube at print on demand books. They are going to do to the print industry what has just happened to the music industry. And traditional publishers are worried. Even Jackie Collins is going self pub! Reader_gaspodetwd, Apr 27, 2012, 9:15 am
Thanks gaspodetwd. I will check that out. Did he publish through amazon! Reader_brallen, Apr 28, 2012, 7:26 am
The paperbacks he got printed. Did he do those through amazon too! And if so was he happy with the result and if not where did he get them done! Reader_brallen, Apr 28, 2012, 11:16 am
Good luck with the project. Reader_oh_hunnihunni, Apr 28, 2012, 11:35 am
This is not completely on topic but I am interested in the discussion;I want to create a 'book' from my diaries during a trip recently and embellish it with photos etc.It's not for public consumption, (can't think that anyone but family would want to read it) but just want a permanent record of a quite detailed account of the trip.First I went to some of the sites that print up collections of photos into books, i.e. for weddings, trips etc, but I want my text as the primary focus with pics about 30% and they don't seem to cater for this.Does anyone have a suggestion as to where I should turn!Thought I could do it online!Thanks for any comments. Reader_patsprat, Apr 28, 2012, 11:37 am
I have been through the self publishing area and have printed two books now, which I am still listing on here. I used The Copy Press in Nelson, there is also another site Publish Me in New Plymouth.Each company will do an online quote based on the information you supply them.I have found Copy Press to be excellent, (they were recommened to me by lyonrouge - another trader on here who has self published through them).Get your manuscript edited by a professional editor is my only tip.My first book had mistakes not picked up by the editor I paid to do the job!However, the beauty of self publishing means mistakes can be corrected in subsequent runs. Reader_twonk, Apr 28, 2012, 12:07 pm
Try . 'www.publishme.co.nz'I've been writing a book about a situation I've been through. found it (that website) helpfulCheers Reader_joseph105, Apr 28, 2012, 3:53 pm
Novels are done through create space - which is affiliated with amazon. The result is wonderful - and indistinguishable from a 'regular' book. Advantages - no upfront costs for the author. If you wanted one printed book and it was around 360 pages it would cost around $5.60 plus shipping ( depended on amount of books shipped) The books are created individually - they don't sit around in boxes in your garage! If you find mistakes ( and you will, even though it has been proof read hundreds of times) you can upload the new version and print copies will have these changes. You can control the colour of the paper ( white or cream), a number of standard sizes. If you want to see your book as a book, it is ideal. Cheap. Fast. Easy. He sells through amazon only. They handle all the ordering, payment, shipping and all the stuff that amazon usually does! Reader_gaspodetwd, Apr 28, 2012, 7:44 pm
I'd recommend this blog: http://blog.johnpotter.info/ Reader_rappy, Apr 28, 2012, 10:01 pm
Go to a site like Blurb. It's free to put your book together and get it available online - either as a hardcopy sale or online resource. Reader_2bit, Apr 28, 2012, 10:33 pm
Did your husband do a book launch!If he did, did he get a bulk number to start with! How did it work out in terms of freight. Reader_brallen, Apr 29, 2012, 8:55 am
No book launch. His first (traditionally published book) never had a 'book launch'. It just was put onto the market by the publishers years ago - and is still selling.The novel is designed primarily as an ebook - but can be bought in paperback. He bought a box of 12 initially. Including shipping, it worked out as $10 NZ per book. His paper book is available through amazon.com. NZ isn't his main market. The best place for asking questions from lots of authors is the writer's cafe on kindle boards. You will get lots of different perspectives from lots of authors - he says. He has had lots of useful advice there. Reader_gaspodetwd, Apr 29, 2012, 9:14 am
Advice from Dave - if you already have a manuscript that is ready and proof read and want to hold a copy in your hands, you could do create space and order one within a day. You could use one of their covers - free - but they look awful. He would never put it on sale with one of their covers. You can order a proof copy for about $5- so cheap!And then once you've done it,read it, you could decide whether to spend any money on it, get a proper cover, and so on. Reader_gaspodetwd, Apr 29, 2012, 9:21 am
What a great idea. Just having it edited now so when it's done, that's what I will do. Fantastic Reader_brallen, May 1, 2012, 9:03 am
All the best brallen. I also love to write, and while I've been fortunate enough to have a couple of short stories and a poem published years ago it'd be awesome to be able to see one of my novels or more recent collections of short stories in print.I've resisted the idea of self publishing for ages, because I've always thought that it was for wannabes whose work isn't good enough for "real" publishers.However from what I've read in this thread I'm beginning to change my mind, so may jump on that particular bandwagon some time soon.And even if I don't I love encouraging other writers. You go girl! Reader_moviebuff1, May 2, 2012, 5:10 pm

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