Hi! :-)
There's just so much going on right now, I don't know where to start. My husband and I are very overwhelmed!
I'll sum it all up. There's been a lot of family drama regarding the house we live in, which is owned by my grandma who lives in a rest home. We've just discovered that all of the drama has been due to miscommunications (when is it not?) and that these normally very civil and good people (my aunts and uncles) simply didn't understand all of the circumstances.
To put a long story short, my hubby and I have decided that this is our cue to step out of future problems and buy our own house. The problems with family have mostly been resolved, thank goodness, since my extended family never have issues with each other. It's been really hard to be right in the middle of it all.
Buying a house is a very big step - especially when it's your first and you've only got a couple of weeks to get it done. We feel really good about it, but that doesn't make the decision less scary. Nor does it help the fact that we'll really miss this amazing neighborhood and house. :-(
My grandma's house is absolutely beautiful - nice carpet, dark hardwood, fireplace surrounded with real stone that goes all the way up to the vaulted ceilings. And very spacious. We use maybe 2,000 square feet of it and have tons of leftover room.
Sigh.
But we've found another beautiful house in a nearby city that I'm absolutely in love with. It's so cute, cozy, nice, and quaint and sigh... I hope we get it. We're filling out the paperwork now - just printed it off, actually. It even has a nice loft where I can write while Lizzy plays. When she starts actually playing. :-)
Wish us luck with this huge, scarier-than-it-maybe-should-be decision.
I'm really looking forward to things settling - the last few weeks have been super difficult where family is concerned, and it's not normal. I really hope things haven't been damaged beyond repair.
On that happy note, on to the prompt. :-)
Many of you know that I'm an independent (Indie) author. Technically, I'm self published, but because I'm Indie, I focus mainly on eBooks. Self-published authors previously only focused on print.
When I joined Gather nearly two years ago, I'd just barely started my publishing journey. I'll be referencing a lot of the blog posts I wrote over the past year in this prompt. To start, feel free to read my publishing story and a few myths regarding self-publishing here. To sum up, I left my publisher and turned down contracts because I felt I could do a better job. Sounds arrogant, huh? :-)
Well, I was right. :-) Here's a blog post that tells when my income from book royalties took over what I'd been making at a previous job. And my royalties are much, much better now. It's very rewarding, this whole getting-paid-to-write thing. :-)
Self-publishing is really difficult, but if done right, can be lucrative. Most authors don't need to be a NYT bestselling author to live comfortably. I break down the figures in this post here, showing how much a self-published author makes compared to a traditionally published author where eBooks are concerned. Be forewarned: the post mentions that traditional publishers might be hurting their authors' careers. It's not meant to be offensive, merely informative. But I've never been one to mince words. :-)
As far as this prompt is concerned, what I really want is:
A. for people who are interested in self-publishing (or traditional) to know where to go and what to do, and what others have done.
B. for people to be able to share their publishing journeys and advice they have for other authors just starting down the path to publication.
The focus will mainly be on self-publishing, but if you've been traditionally published, feel free to chime in. What I will not accept, however, is any form of bashing of either path. If you have negative feelings toward self or traditional publishing, please keep them to yourselves. The only exception to this would be if you are sharing a particular, personal experience that may have been negative, but helped you move forward.
If you have any questions for me about any aspect of publishing, feel free to ask them in the comments section below. Since I've been very involved in both traditional and self publishing, I should be able to answer anything or point you in the right direction.
To respond to this prompt, you can:
- Tell your story
- Tell what your publishing goals are
- Offer advice or suggestions
- Tell your fears, accomplishments, desires, strengths, and weaknesses in publishing
- Make publishing goals public - commit yourself with deadlines, projects, and goals!
- Ask any questions!
If you'd like to read more about what I have to say on self publishing (along with all the suggestions and advice you've ever wanted :-)), read the above blog posts and the following:
For information on marketing, social networking, and info on my LLC, editor, cover designer (who is an actual artist, not just a stock-photo manipulator), etc., click here.
For info on how self-publishing is moving up in the world (and are self-publishers stealing from traditionally published authors?), click here.
And last, but not least, for a reminder to avoid being negative online, click here. This applies to everyone with an online presence, not just authors.
Remember:
You have until Thursday, March 28, 2013 at midnight to write and post, and it can be in any format.
I will comment on and feature your responses a week from today.
* Have your title say FWE or Friday Writing Essential, and have the initials "STP" (Self and Traditional Publishing) in it.
* Make sure to post to the Writing Essential Group.
* Put FWE or Friday Writing Essentials and the initials "STP" in your tags.
Can't wait to see what you all come up with! :-)
Responses to last week's prompt:
And now, pictures of Lizzy. :-) :-) I had a hard time narrowing things down this time... and decided to upload all of them. :-)
At a writer's conference. Grandma is holding her while Mommy presents. Dad took the picture. :-)
All spiffed up and ready to go to church on St. Patrick's Day. :-)
Not complaining, just patiently waiting for mom to fix things. :-)
She's learned how to hold onto toys!
Love her puffed out stomach. :-)
Hanging with mom on the front porch in the nice, warm sun. (Wind was chilly, hence the blanket. :-))
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Comments: 32
Thanks for posting to the Wall of Publishing on The Triple Name Club where it's now featured.
Oh, that third picture is perfect. I wish I had done that to my daughter early on and continued for many years.
When you buy your first home, you are binding your soul to a place.... it is a wonderful thing.
The first house my parents bought during my lifetime will always hold cherished memories, and I believe you're right - a part of my soul will forever be attached to that place.
With this new house, I'm sure that'll happen as well.
Your first house will be such a joy, Andrea.
Take lots of pics, please.
Your post is very timely for me...
in the fall I'd like to do an ebook of poems.
How do you rate Kindle? One look at their formatting
and my brain shut down. But my techie son will help.
Going now to read your links. Thanks!
Follow the Smashwords style guide COMPLETELY (it's easy once you get started), then download Calibre - a free eBook conversion program. Calibre will format for Kindle after you've cleaned up your manuscript using the Smashwords style guide. I can help you with Calibre, since it's much easier than it looks.
Oh, and to find the Smashwords style guide, go to smashwords.com and search for "Smashwords Style Guide." It's free. You have to have an account on Smaswords to download it. Mark Coker, the author, teaches how to make it so the eBook won't have any major flaws.
And I'll be sure to post pictures of the house!
Oh, and I love working with Kindle. :-) I don't do formatting the way they suggest because it's SOOO tedious and isn't necessary. Calibre makes things nice and easy. :-)
InDesign 6 has all the capabillities for ebook publishing, where as the earlier versiomns of InDeisgn do not.
For any body with $700 and the gumption and willingness to learn InDesign, it will solve all your ebook pubishing programs.
Lynda.com offers fantastic programs. A person can sign up for $25 a month and drop when you don't need her any more.
A person can make a good living formatting Kindle with InDesign. InDesign also works for Adobe ePub, as well,
Just saying.
There are a lot of companies and programs aimed to help self-publishers that aren't necessary. Many new authors think they have to do certain things and spend a lot of unnecessary money when they can do something for themselves for free, and have an equal product.
InDesign, however, is the program that my typesetter uses. He used to work for my former publisher, and when I left, I stole him. I'm evil that way. :-) But my print books are beautiful, and I have him and InDesign to thank.
2nd....I would LOVE to know how to get started. As I have mentioned to you before, I have been writing a couple of series that I have never published, nor have I submitted to anyone to be read. I would LOVE to know how to get started...whether w/ another publisher, or on my own. I usually have a pretty busy schedule and put most of my writing on the back burner, so to speak, but if I KNEW what to DO, I would definately be making more of an effort to DO it. Plus, I have a bunch of poems that that I have written over the years. Some have been published in non-profit magazines, but I wonder if it would be worth putting them into an Anthology, and if I did, is that something that people read nowadays....
As you can guess, I have quite a few questions regarding the writer/publisher aspect. So I plan on copy/pasteing your info to read and examine this evening after my "kiddos" settle down for the night.
The first step is to find beta readers or a writers group. Have them read your work and give you feedback. It's scary sometimes, and painful, but better that they find errors than someone who might buy and review the books! That's even worse.
After you have beta readers or a writers group go over things, I'd recommend hiring an editor. It's really hard to know who is good and who isn't. Of course, I recommend my own editor, and if she can't fit you, she can give you suggestions. That's the best way: going with a trusted opinion instead of hiring someone you find randomly.
Also, if you have the book go through beta readers or a writers group before an editor, it can be cheaper. Some editors charge a lot more if the book needs a lot of work. My editor charges $3.00 a page if the book needs a lot of work. She only charges $1.50 if the book is pretty good already.
During all of this, hire someone to start putting together covers for you. If you go with someone who does art, like my cover designer, it can take time - a couple of months even. If you go with someone who only works with stock photos, depending on what sort of photo manipulations they use, it can be faster.
But if you go with someone who does stock art, make sure you do a search for the picture that'll be on the cover. A lot of the cheaper stock photos out there get reused and reused. You want your cover to stand out.
Yes, it's overwhelming, but Vicki, it's SOOO worth it!
I can help you with the next steps when you're ready.
Love this prompt. You're doing a lot of writer a great favor and I'll be looking forward to all the responses. Thanks, Andrea.
And Lizzy cracks me up! I had no idea having a baby would be so much fun. Okay, so everyone said it, but I think experiencing it is even better.
We've signed the paperwork - just have to find out what all comes with the house and then submit the offer. :-)
adorable
more please~
My thinking at this point is to continue self-publishing my sci-fi series (I'm working on the sixth novel right now) until I have a finalized version. That way if I decide to do a traditional deal down the road I could show past sales numbers, etc. There seems to be a trend now with "hybrid authors" doing both--going with what method works out best of them according to the project.
Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to my friend's daughter. She told me at church today that you were very helpful. I would never give out your information without asking your first though. So don't worry. :)
I am glad you are back. John did an amazing job as WE editor though.