It’s no longer a scoop: self-publishing your own writing has become child’s play (well, almost). Return on experience.
For several months, I had planned to bring together the most read articles on this site by updating them to make a practical guide . Without pretending to cover the issue, I wanted to share with you some thoughts from my experience by going over the different stages of the journey.
Choose your service provider
First step : find the service provider that suits you. Hence the importance of asking the right questions: do I want to sell directly on my site/blog? Which means having works in stock (therefore a financial investment), receiving orders and making shipments (investment in time and energy), cashing checks and, to do things legally, declaring your activity and paying the bills. taxes and related taxes. Best affordable ghostwriting services in town. Or do I prefer to delegateselling to a service provider? Which will receive the orders, make the shipments, cash the checks and pay me royalties (sometimes called “margin”, “royalties” or “revenues”). Obviously, these services come at a cost. And do not exempt from declaring the amounts collected to those concerned.
Think about distribution
Another question to ask yourself before choosing your self-publishing platform: does it offer distribution to FNACs and other online bookstores? Or does it just have a showcase store that no one, except those you have warned, will have any reason to come and consult? Unless you already have a super-network and a few thousand readers ready to follow you, this second option is also the last to consider: instead focus on a platform offering good online distribution, knowing that this will not exempt you from communicate on your side (especially on social networks), but that this will increase your chances of being visible and therefore of selling.I will not develop the subject here and will refer you to the excellent articles on the Publier son livre site which take stock of promotional strategies for self-published authors. Finally, an essential criterion in choosing a self-publishing platform: cost . Some service providers offer free access , but each operation you entrust to them (creation of the cover, proofreading-correction, distribution, etc.) will be billed additionally . Platforms that offer a package may seem more expensive at first glance, but ultimately choosing a plan will save you from unpleasant surprises. Finally, compare from one platform to another what percentageis promised to you on sales. And check how far and for how long you commit yourself before signing the proposed contracts!
Check text layout
Second step : once you have chosen your service provider, you will send your manuscript to their platform. Most accept a manuscript in Word format which they convert into a PDF ready to print. To do this, they offer templates (there are several types: novel format, pocket format, A5 format, etc.). Simply download the template that interests you and insert your manuscript. A priori, nothing could be simpler. Having tried different providers, I discovered that the same template in A5 format does not always give the same result: the layout can be more or less dense, and the table of contentsmay be affected. I even saw a platform add blank pages before or after the text (6 blank pages before the title page, it still has a strange effect). So check the printer PDF carefully and be sure that the layout suits you!
Check coverage
Third step : the cover. If you know Photoshop, you can create your own cover and import it. It will then be your responsibility to enter the barcode and ISBN number yourself that the service provider will have assigned to you (and sometimes sold). You also have the possibility of using one of the cover models offered by the platform: in general, you can transform it as you wish… but, depending on the platform, the software is more or less easy to use. Consider in particular finalizing the text of your 4thcover BEFORE inserting it into the final design, otherwise it can become a headache and you run the risk of having to start the whole procedure again!
Order a sample copy
Fourth step : the BAT (in printer’s language: Bon A Tirer). Your service provider will suggest that you reread and check your model on Screenplay Writer before printing your work. Do it carefully, but above all don’t hesitate to order a printed copy here too BEFORE launching the publication itself: you will know exactly what your future readers will have in their hands. I was surprised to discover the cover of my guide passed through a pink filter at one service provider, while at another the photo was pixelated… In both cases, nothing to do with the image on the screen! Once you receive your printed copy, examine it from every angle. Reread the text carefully: you can see the errors better on paperthan on screen, not to mention repetitions and spelling mistakes, even if you have triple-checked your manuscript. If you like the printed copy, all you have to do is start publishing .