TRUE SELF-PUBISHING INCLUDES MARKETING( CON’ TD)
those, too— all as I grew in knowledge about the blooming new world of publishing.
To be clear, true publishing of any kind includes marketing— a lot of it. I mean, do you really think Simon and Schuster would publish a book without an assigned marketing budget? After you’ ve asked that question, ask how much any big publisher will assign to your book and exactly what that will cover before you sign a contract. Most of them are running on tight budgets, too. Very tight budgets unless your name is Jonathan Franzen or Hillary Clinton.
MARKETING AND PUBLISHING IS NOT“ ONE SIZE FITS ALL”
Through it all, I have come to believe there is a right way to publish for every author and every project— not necessarily one right way— and that“ right way” may vary from author to author and from project to project. The trick is to know as much about the publishing industry as possible before moving ahead on the path you choose for any given book and any given author’ s personality. I mean, we wouldn ' t expect to enter any industry without learning a lot about it first, would we? There are few credentials and / or degrees in the discipline( and it should be called a“ discipline!”) of publishing, but there should be. Until you know enough to make a decision, get the advice you need and get it from someone who doesn’ t still have a my-way-or-the-highway prejudice hiding somewhere in her traditional little heart.
And read, read, read. It’ s the most frugal way to learn what you need to know to be smart about whatever kind of publishing you choose to do. It’ s the only way to be able to evaluate the information you’ re being given by whomever you’ re talking to.
RESOURCES FOR YOU
Here are some of my favorite books and resources for learning more about publishing and its essential ingredient, marketing:
� The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote and Sell Your Own Book, by Marilyn Ross is the first book I read( when it was in its first edition) on the topic of publishing. Marilyn is the founder of SPAN( Small Publishers Association of North America). It may be dated, but read it for the wisdom.
� The Well-Fed Self-Publisher, by Peter Bowerman. This book includes marketing because to market is a vital part of publishing. Peter is one of the first people I met at my first marketing and writing conference, and I have avidly read his series of books ever since.
� The ABCs of POD: A Beginner’ s Guide to Fee-Based Print-on-Demand Publishing, by Dehanna Bailee. This book provides basics for those considering self-or subsidy-publishing.
� Talk Radio Wants You: An Intimate Guide to 700 Shows and How to Get Invited, by Francine Silverman. She also has a reasonably priced radio referral service.
� Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent’ s Eye, by Katherine Sands. Straight from the mouth of a literary agent.
� Aiming at Amazon: The NEW Business of Self Publishing, or How to Publish Your Books with Print on Demand and Online Book Marketing on Amazon. com, by Aaron Shephard. Available for Kindle. � How to Publish and Promote Your Book Now, by L. Diane Wolfe. � MyThe Frugal Editor: Do-it-yourself editing secrets for authors: From your query letter to final manuscript to the marketing of your new bestsellerin its second edition( e-book only for the time being). It gives you what you need to know about editing, formatting, and even a step-by-step guide for formatting a professionallooking e-book. You’ ll also find my collection of essential reading in this book, everything from how to find a great editor and suggestions for a few books on grammar and style, the craft of writing, writing book proposals, typesetting and formatting., and directories with resources for selling your work.
WRITERS’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE
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SPRING 2018