Lots of people ask me how did I publish my book? Where did I go? Who did I use? How to publish a book is a topic that needs exploring. It’s a bit of a minefield and we all know it. The best way I can describe it is it’s like a building project. Have you ever had a conservatory built or a bathroom refitted? You can go to a company and pay a lot of money for the whole job to be done solely by that company. They source everyone you need, they manage the project, they take responsibility (well they certainly should!) and you pay a price that reflects this and allows you, with a good company, to have little involvement in the day to day running of it all.
Well publishing a book is like that…..very similar. There are heaps of companies out there that will manage the entire build for you. You pay highly for it and while some are very good, others are awful and I’ve heard some terrible tales (as I have with companies that do the build of your kitchen for example).
Being someone who manages all the builds of everything by myself, the book was no different. I sourced my own designer, copywriter, proof reader, cover artist, publisher, editor, reviewers, ebook formatter (not sure that’s a word)! I am now happy that I have a team of the best people who I can use over and over again which is just as well as I’ve started my next book and my Writers Workshop this coming weekend has 8 budding authors in it….
My advice to you if you are thinking of going down the self-publishing route is:
- Consider how much help you really need. Do you need a plumber and a carpenter from different companies but the builder and the plasterer can be from the same? It might be that someone can manage some of it for you and you can manage some of it by yourself. Think about it and your budget will be a huge decider too.
- Always always go by recommendation when using a company that will manage everything for you. In all trades there are fantastic people and downright charlatans….this is no different. Lots of people who provide the services individually, rely on recommendation and referrals for their business so they tend to be incredibly efficient, helpful and want to go the extra mile to make sure you’re happy.
- Ask people which routes they’ve taken and what they recommend from their experience – the pros and the cons. Everything is a compromise somewhere. Using another analogy, when you go house hunting, you normally have to compromise on something, whether it’s having a garage or a big garden or an extra room. You know what you can and can’t live without. This process is no different.
- Check out some useful publishing tools like Wordclay.com, iuniverse.com, bookmidwife.com, lulu.com and protagonize.com and have a good mooch around.
- In the meantime, if I can help with anything, let me know :0)
About Lisa
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Lisa is the founder and owner of Lisa Cherry Ltd, an organisation that’s the culmination of all she’s passionate about.
Good blog – and I think that the same can be said if you go down the published route. There is a large difference in perception on what you think the publisher will do, and what they think that you will do.
Yes, you may get an advance and they take all (or part of the risk) of publishing your book, but doesn’t mean to say that they will do much or anything with the marketing of your book.
Hi Heather….I would have said that about being published too, but I haven’t gone down that route so have only heard others say what you have said. I think that’s why I didn’t even try getting published and I was worried about what might be changed in my work/my cover etc. I’ve known self published authors be approached by publishing companies only to turn them down! Its not necessarily the amber nectar for authors at all…as you say.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting Heather
Lisa x