For many writers, the work that goes into self-publishing can be confusing and too time-consuming. Taking the time to learn the process, however, can be beneficial in the long run. Here are some tips to get you started (click the title for the full article):
• Do you need a manuscript editor?
You’ve finished your novel or short story but are beginning to think that maybe someone else should look it over before you send it off. You do an Internet search and find Web sites for manuscript editors – also known as book doctors – who will proofread and critique your manuscript for a fee. So is a manuscript editor necessary?
• Avoid ‘publishing packages’ if self-publishing
A number of companies offer “publishing packages” – often costing several hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars – to format your book, design a cover, and then upload it so it can be sold online as an ebook or paperback. Are such services worth the cost?
• Frontlist, backlist mean little in self-publishing
After you’ve self-published several books, you’ll likely encounter a couple of terms that categorize your writing: frontlist and backlist. Here’s what they mean?
• How to withdraw a book from sale at Amazon
Sometimes as an indie author you need to withdraw their book from sale at Amazon.com. Maybe you’ve come up with a new cover or have rewritten the book and don’t want the older version up for sale. Maybe you’ve run into contractual or other legal issues that prevent you from selling the book at Amazon. Whatever the reason, you can withdraw the book from sale, though Amazon – which would prefer to sell your book – doesn’t make how to do so readily apparent.
• Do you need extra services a P.O.D. house offers?
As you go through the self-publishing process, you might find the array of tasks before you overwhelming – design a book cover, get a photo of yourself, proofread the manuscript, format the text, upload the text, pen a cover blurb, write then send out press releases, etc. etc. etc. – and you’re a writer, not an artist, marketing professional, or book publisher. Given this, you’re probably relieved to see self-publishing houses offer such services. But which of those services do you really need? And are they a good deal?
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My name is Rob Bignell. I’m an affordable, professional editor who runs Inventing Reality Editing Service, which meets the manuscript needs of writers both new and published. I also offer a variety of self-publishing services. During the past 15 years, I’ve helped more than 400 novelists and nonfiction authors obtain their publishing dreams at reasonable prices. I’m also the author of the Storytelling 101 writing guidebooks, four nonfiction hiking guidebook series, and the literary novel Windmill. Several of my short stories in the literary and science fiction genres also have been published.
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