Self-Publishing The Hard Way The Art Of Giving Birth
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Writing Speaking -> subcategory Writing.
Self-Publishing the Hard Way: The Art of Delivering Your Book
Publishing a book feels like giving birth. The world scrutinizes your creation?"is it beautiful, well-formed, or does it resemble something alien? As writers, we lay our souls bare, our thoughts and feelings exposed. Once the book is out, it's open to dissection until only a whisper of our effort remains.
Despite this vulnerability, we persevere?"it’s in our nature. Initially, I planned to secure an agent or traditional publisher, fantasizing about the rewards with little effort from me. However, my journey took a different turn.
In the ‘90s, while living in Thailand, I documented my experiences in a diary. Back in the U.S., I shared my tales with friends and family, prompting one friend to urge me to publish, likening it to "A Year in Provence." Inspired, I saw potential but life intervened.
Years later, I joined creative writing classes. Encouragement from peers reignited my passion, leading me to reshape my diary into a manuscript. By 2003, ready to showcase my work, I entered the Southern California Writers Conference. The positive feedback was thrilling?"I even won the Best Nonfiction award, and an agent expressed interest in my manuscript.
Yet doubt crept in. A "book doctor" advised me to inject conflict into my story. Reluctantly, I confronted those challenging memories to add depth, knowing it was necessary. Over the next three years, I immersed myself in editing, attending workshops, and engaging in critique groups, continuously refining my work.
After several professional edits, I explored the publishing world?"traditional routes and print-on-demand (POD) options included. Despite the daunting landscape, where agents and publishers demanded existing success or platforms, I remained undeterred.
Faced with the reality that traditional publishing required connections or significant prior achievements, I considered POD alternatives. With assistance from a small press publisher friend, I prepared my manuscript. However, POD came with its own hurdles, often leaving authors with minimal profit after expenses.
Determined, I studied "The Fine Print of Self Publishing" by Mark Levine. After evaluating options, I chose a POD service, "Dewey Cheatem & Howe." Yet, the initial print was disastrous?"a garbled font left me despondent. After failed attempts to resolve the issue, I took matters into my own hands, seeking a reliable stateside printer.
After extensive research and negotiation, I found a fitting printer who offered a great deal, including free copies and fulfillment services. The cost was significant, but my belief in the potential of my book justified the investment.
To promote, I crafted my own bookmarks, distributing them widely. This grassroots effort, alongside my determination, helped in selling my book even in unexpected places. Friends dubbed me a "self-promoting dynamo."
Now, I've reached the marketing phase?"perhaps the most challenging part of this journey. But as an optimist, I forge ahead, driven by faith in my work. If I don’t believe in it, who will?
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