DON'T DO IT UNLESS YOU REALLY,
REALLY MEAN IT.
(SELF PUBLISHING, THAT IS).
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IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE! |
'How do I go about self-publishing? I haven't a clue.'
A fellow writer asks. Neither do any of us, dear Fellow Writer. As they say - I wouldn't have started from there.
'Don't.' (self-publish), says another writer. He's struggling to sell his non-fiction book. He doesn't regret the experience but he advises not to self-publish because it's so damn hard and books don't sell (they do, but it all depends). The market is glutted, he says, and there aren't enough readers.
The market is glutted but there are enough readers. They're born and reach adulthood all the time. The market is glutted because anyone can place their book, rubbish or otherwise, onto Amazon, and a discerning - or not - public will decide whether or not it's rubbish in which case it won't sell. If it's not rubbish, or indeed it's brilliant, it will sell, and there are thousands of those - readers just have to find them. Amazon as a book retailer wouldn't exist if books didn't sell. It depends on a whole host of factors.
When I start talking about the self-published first two novels of my trilogy Alias Jeannie Delaney, people invariably say:
'Well done.'
I respond: 'Thank you!'
Then they ask that question: 'How do you go about it?'
Writing, do you mean? Keep writing! Join a wring group for feedback. Oh - self-publishing, you mean, because they're writing a novel or a series, or anecdotal stories, a children's book or a non-fiction book on a subject close to their hearts. It depends on what they've written and how it's going to be marketed.
Self publishing is undoubtedly one of the hardest things anyone can do. I had a couple of 'How exciting/s!' when I shared that I was about to launch Book 1. Bless 'em for saying that and I did thank them, but no - it ain't exciting! Far from it.
However - I won't say don't self publish. It ain't the easiest of journeys, but it all depends on what you're trying to sell, your pricing, who you're targeting, your marketing strategy, a bit of reader psychology and knowing how to place your book in front of the right reader. Then there's writing a blurb for the book, formatting the manuscript, finding the right professional editor and a cover designer.
I've always been an artist (I worked in advertising studios) and writer, and both my crafts have improved tremendously over the years. So I collaborated with my cover designer and I'm pleased I did that.
I'm marketing a trilogy - a western with a twist. It's pretty singular and thankfully my readers have loved it. I create marketing material on Canva, a free graphics package, and I enjoy doing that. I also created what turned out to be a powerful cover reveal for Book 2 (here it is).
Alias Jeannie Delaney -
Book 2 - The Outlaw's Return.
(Turn up the volume!)
I write blog posts about my witing, the story, the trials and tribulations of self publishing, and life in general and share them on the major social media platforms. I've done well doing that, and keep doing it.
There's undoubtedly a major difference between trying to sell factual material and fiction. Factual writing, such as local history, your memoirs, or something close to your heart, can be very dry unless you have a natural gift for storytelling. Writing up your knowledge or anecdotes in such a way that you suck your readers into your world can be incredibly hard. Also, depending upon the content, one may need to break up the text with quality illustrations or photographs. Novels, on the whole, don't contain images, although some do. Images are limited to the book cover and promotional material.
Next - the really hard part.
Get your hypothetical
armour on. In order to market your work, you have to think with a business mindset - hubby helps me business wise - he was a businessman - but we're both very creative and often come up with fresh, creative ideas for marketing.
It's hard graft and it's done my head in.
My trilogy has taken over forty years, spasmodically, in the making. From conception in my teens and early twenties during the sixties and seventies, when I noticed a gap in traditional TV and cinematic westerns for decent roles for women (much less fastest guns) which I felt needed to be filled. Over the years I wrote the story that I wanted to read, and that led to publication last year. So you really, really have to want to do it if you're going to reap any rewards.
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NOVELIST AT WORK |
My final word is about the mental health - depression and anxiety - of creatives and authors in particular. I've suffered most of my life, particularly since having a family. I was always a moody kid, but having my own really hit me psychologically and biologically. Then writing, editing and marketing a trilogy - an offbeat one with a twist at that - really did my head in, and I'm struggling with that, with the help of my soulmate hubby and my lovely councillor. I've described in previous posts how I want my readers to see Jeannie, my protagonist, as I do, both in the telling of the story and visually, so I also post my original illustrations to show them. Maybe they do see her as I do. Who knows? I also hear music and see images that remind me of her. That's painful, not inspiring. Oh, how I wish I could be inspired instead!
But never mind, I'm working through all this, and my mindset is gradually but oh so slowly beginning to accept things the way they are. A bit of meditating mindfulness, distractions, exercise, you name it, etcetera...
PS. Don't read your reviews, good or bad!
THE AUTHOR & HER HUBBY
Facebook Jo Ballantyne
A devastating cowgirl comes of age on the wild frontier
Her gun is snake strike fast & her sexuality is as fluid as a miner's whiskey. Jeannie Morgan, the fastest gun west of the Mississippi, is a devastating and charismatic pants-wearing cowgirl who is also a magnificent lover to both men and women. As she navigates the unforgiving frontier, she must confront her own identity and desires, all while facing down deadly confrontations and personal tragedies. Will she find happiness or will her her tomboy beauty, her powerful persona and her lethal gun finally be the death of her? Read the series and find out.
Available in E-book & paperback on Amazon.
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MY ORIGINAL DRAWINGS OF JEANNIE |
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TWO CHAPTER SAMPLES BOOK 1 |
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BOOK 2 |
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