... as someone said to my sister when she asked directions.
The purpose of this blog is completely altruistic. I'll tell you how I got it wrong (the many and varied ways) and you can avoid tearing your hair out and do it right in the new(ish) and exciting world of Elf Publishing. I staggered on and still sold some books (for which they give you actual money)so reading this might just help you to too.
I'm a crime writer, one series of my own set in Glasgow with hyper-natural goings on, and another comic series written with my niece Germaine as a homage to Scotland (she's a food writer and novelist who lives in Italy and misses home. While basking in the sunshine with a nice Chianti.)
We've had a lot of indication that the books are not exactly rubbish, being long-listed for a novel award and being recommended by a novelist, a large publishing house editor and others to agents and publishers desks. I've been up-to-the wire and nearly there. Heart-flutteringly close. And the massive depression afterwards.
So I've thought, like all the world, about self publishing. And over this long space of near misses I read a lot and watched some You tube videos. And as everybody says, read JA Konrath's blog, A Newbie's Guide to Self Publishing - the bible of all us elf publishers . (http://jakonrathblogspot.co.uk )
You'd do better to read him than this, but if you are a basher ahead, I'll show you where the idiot traps are - I fell into every one.
What not to do Number 1:
Do not suddenly decide between Christmas and New Year that you are going to do it today. But you won't put up one of the five crime novels you've spent years on, oh no. You'll treat this as an experiment, and use a novel you wrote years and years ago, strictly as a family joke. Any mistakes won't matter. You'll learn. And it's been edited, kinda.
Of course there is something in this, but not much. Soon those mistakes are big glaring humiliating errors on complete strangers Kindles. And one of the reviewers mentions it ... Germaine took it the worst. 'You must feel awful.' she says. (Sound of head hitting desk.)
People paid money for that book, (well, some of them) - they deserve the respect.
Before you start let others read and edit .
Are you listening : Edit, edit, edit.
To read about the latest Amazon rules and the horror story that could result in not doing above read : http://enovelauthorsatwork.com/amazons-new-rules-for-kindle-authors-in-february/
The purpose of this blog is completely altruistic. I'll tell you how I got it wrong (the many and varied ways) and you can avoid tearing your hair out and do it right in the new(ish) and exciting world of Elf Publishing. I staggered on and still sold some books (for which they give you actual money)so reading this might just help you to too.
I'm a crime writer, one series of my own set in Glasgow with hyper-natural goings on, and another comic series written with my niece Germaine as a homage to Scotland (she's a food writer and novelist who lives in Italy and misses home. While basking in the sunshine with a nice Chianti.)
We've had a lot of indication that the books are not exactly rubbish, being long-listed for a novel award and being recommended by a novelist, a large publishing house editor and others to agents and publishers desks. I've been up-to-the wire and nearly there. Heart-flutteringly close. And the massive depression afterwards.
So I've thought, like all the world, about self publishing. And over this long space of near misses I read a lot and watched some You tube videos. And as everybody says, read JA Konrath's blog, A Newbie's Guide to Self Publishing - the bible of all us elf publishers . (http://jakonrathblogspot.co.uk )
You'd do better to read him than this, but if you are a basher ahead, I'll show you where the idiot traps are - I fell into every one.
What not to do Number 1:
Do not suddenly decide between Christmas and New Year that you are going to do it today. But you won't put up one of the five crime novels you've spent years on, oh no. You'll treat this as an experiment, and use a novel you wrote years and years ago, strictly as a family joke. Any mistakes won't matter. You'll learn. And it's been edited, kinda.
Of course there is something in this, but not much. Soon those mistakes are big glaring humiliating errors on complete strangers Kindles. And one of the reviewers mentions it ... Germaine took it the worst. 'You must feel awful.' she says. (Sound of head hitting desk.)
People paid money for that book, (well, some of them) - they deserve the respect.
Before you start let others read and edit .
Are you listening : Edit, edit, edit.
To read about the latest Amazon rules and the horror story that could result in not doing above read : http://enovelauthorsatwork.com/amazons-new-rules-for-kindle-authors-in-february/
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