The Nightmares of trying to get Your Book published

with Michael Wade.

Michael highlights the crazy nature of the publishing industry currently. I have published both ways: with ‘named’ publishers and self-published. I 100% prefer the latter. Why? Control over your copy, your cover, your marketing. Greater royalties. Greater speed to market.

But…

Isn’t it less prestigious to self-publish? Perhaps. But presumably your goal is to make a success of your book. A ‘big name’ publisher does not guarantee that. If your work is not selling well in the first few weeks after release, notice how quickly your calls are not returned.

Surely I’ll get lots of marketing money thrown at my book? Not necessarily. You’ll be asked about your social media lists, your blog. Few publishers have much marketing money to throw around: they keep that for their winners such as J K Rowling.

What about manuscript preparation? It’s not what it was. It’s likely to be software driven.

IMHO.

  1. Self-publish.
  2. Learn how to use social media to publicise your book.
  3. Never release until it has been thoroughly proofed.

Go write. Go proof. Go publish. Good luck.