You know you want to write a book. I can help.
[image: selling-sold-sold-paid]Fiction authors might want to find something else to read. Today we’re all business.
Selling books is no way to make money. But you’re a business person and you know that some things that don’t directly earn money are still vital to the sales process.
Does a book fit into that picture?
Let’s talk numbers.
… more … “ROI: Is Writing a Book a Good Investment in Your Business?”
In last Friday’s newsletter I stated pretty emphatically that self-publishing was, both artistically and commercially, the right choice. Long-time reader and valued curmudgeon Ed Teja took a different view. He made good points, which he’s allowing me to share here. Please, tell him what you think because we’d both like to know how this resonates with y’all. And Ed, thanks for nudging me to reconsider this topic.)
[image: Ed Teja] Ed TejaWhen Joel presented a case for self-publishing über alle it struck a chord in me, yet simultaneously resonated with my automatic “ain’t necessarily so” response. The problem I have with the idea is that it suggests a fish-or-cut-bait approach, presenting a false dichotomy (as writers we get to use words like that. Enjoy). between self-publishing and everything else. The truth is, it’s worth considering a mix of strategies.
Let me say one thing clearly upfront: You will likely, probably, almost certainly, make more money publishing your own work than by working with any publisher. I’ll even suggest that doing things yourself, you stand a better chance of publishing the book you want, not one someone else thinks it should be.
Now give me a bit of room to swing my arms while I explain why, even if making money is the goal, excluding other options is an over-simplification. … more … “Publishing Yourself is (One Part of) the Correct Choice (Guest Post by Ed Teja)”
[image: The Blue Monk]Many authors dream of including audio, video, interactive maps and more in their digital books. Alas, even color photos aren’t supported by all eReaders.
Twenty years into the internet age, how come books don’t live on the web?
Thanks to PubML, today they do.
And it’s going to change digital publishing forever for those of us who love books. … more … “Your Book’s Best Presentation: PubML”
[image: Porter Anderson] Porter AndersonAnother smart voice trying to keep up with all the changes is Porter Anderson (who is not related to Anderson Cooper no matter how my brain wants to link them. You’ll also note, from the images, that neither of them resembles the Mini Cooper, now made by BMW.)
[image: Anderson Cooper] Anderson CooperAnderson (Porter, not Cooper) points us to stuff like this great read on a traditional publisher overcoming the “stigma” of self-publishing because the extra $5,000 a month made it seem like a good idea. (That’s one thing I love about Anderson’s writing: sometimes, the tongue just might be in the cheek, but it’s not obvious. I could be wrong.)
[image: Mini Cooper] Mini CooperBest Beloved pulled this snippet from one of Tom Bentley‘s recent newsletters:
[image: Jane Friedman]Another person Tom Bentley and I are both fans of: Jane Friedman. She spent a decade guiding Writer’s Digest. She has a wee bit of insight into what’s going on in the maelstrom of modern publishing.
Dig through her writing advice archive and read Tom’s comments:
Jane Friedman’s site and work examines with an analytical but empathetic eye the windings of many writing roads, from individual authorship to self- and traditional publishing to diverse matters of writing craft and business. She is on top of the latest developments—and offers clear interpretations from that peak.
We’ve arranged with our local library to present in person “Taking the Pain & Mystery Out of Becoming a Writer”.
[image: Rice Lake Public Library Event January 2014]
Date: Saturday, January 18, 2014
Time: 2:00 pm CST to 3:30 pm CST
Where: Rice Lake Public Library, Friendship Room, 2 E. Marshall Street
This is no charge to attend!
Details and more information can be found in our Events section.
For more information please contact:
Sue L Canfield 715 296 0347
Fifteen thousand words about self-publishing. That’s the conversation I’ve had with Cheryl Campbell, answering her questions about self-publishing. Being a newbie, her questions were basic. Being a smarty, her questions were insightful and clear.
Fifteen thousand words. I’ve written books shorter than that. While most of this content will make it into Getting Your Book Our of the “Someday” Box, 2nd Edition you can read it all here absolutely free.
Control over launching. Nobody has to wait to be picked.
Control over quality. You choose the editor, cover designer, interior layout, marketing. All of it.
Control over profits. You have a hope of affecting sales by the other things you control.
Expectation. Publishing a non-fiction is rapidly becoming an expectation for an entrepreneur. I frequently ask folks who’ve shared something brilliant “Where can I buy your book?”
Next question: When are you going to do something about it?
(Because this is such a short post, I’m including an incredibly cute photo of my Little One from a long time ago.)
I had a lengthy conversation about publishing. My half seems to make sense even without the questions, so I’m posting it here.
If you’re ready to even talk about getting your book out of the “someday” box, well, let’s talk, eh?
I’ve asked every question I can think of; asked everyone I can find.
The short version is that if your lifelong goal has been to “get published” then a traditional publisher is the only one who’ll fulfill your dream.
But if your goal is
… more … “Is Your Goal “Getting Published” or “Being an Author” ?”
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