#self-publishing
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So, there's a dirty little secret in indie publishing a lot of people won't tell you, and if you aren't aware of it, self-publishing feels even scarier than it actually is.
There's a subset of self-published indie authors who write a ludicrous number of books a year, we're talking double digit releases of full novels, and these folks make a lot of money telling you how you can do the same thing. A lot of them feature in breathless puff pieces about how "competitive" self-publishing is as an industry now.
A lot of these authors aren't being completely honest with you, though. They'll give you secrets for time management and plotting and outlining and marketing and what have you. But the way they're able to write, edit, and publish 10+ books a year, by and large, is that they're hiring ghostwriters.
They're using upwork or fiverr to find people to outline, draft, edit, and market their books. Most of them, presumably, do write some of their own stuff! But many "prolific" indie writers are absolutely using ghostwriters to speed up their process, get higher Amazon best-seller ratings, and, bluntly, make more money faster.
When you see some godawful puff piece floating around about how some indie writer is thinking about having to start using AI to "stay competitive in self-publishing", the part the journalist isn't telling you is that the 'indie writer' in question is planning to use AI instead of paying some guy on Upwork to do the drafting.
If you are writing your books the old fashioned way and are trying to build a readerbase who cares about your work, you don't need to use AI to 'stay competitive', because you're not competing with these people. You're playing an entirely different game.
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So what the hell is a hopeful apocalypse story?
I've been pushing this book as a hopeful apocalypse story, so I wanted to talk a little bit more about what that means!
We're all familiar with the usual doom and gloom we see in apocalypse stories. The world ends and everything devolves into an anarchy full of punky outfits, armored vehicles, and everyone for themselves. There's usually (but not always) a fair amount of death, gore, abuse, and fear.
These stories can be great! And exiting, and fun to read, and important in a cathartic way. Except, in real life disasters, a lot of that just doesn't happen. Studies have shown over and over that, when real disaster strikes, people tend to behave much better than the typical Hollywood disaster story would like you to believe.
That was the story I wanted to tell with Camp Daze. It is a disaster story. It is an apocalypse story. But it tires to approach those things in a more realistic way. The characters do go through hard and dangerous things. They do suffer losses. But they keep their heads and reach out to one another and just figure it out. And, in doing so, they just might realize that the apocalypse wasn't quite as apocalyptic as they first thought.
As important as the catharsis of just going wild is, I think the catharsis of seeing things go right is equally important.
Here's a quote from one of my favorite (non-fiction) books on the subject of how people behave in disasters:
“These remarkable [post-disaster] societies suggest that, just as many machines reset themselves to their original settings after a power outage, so human beings reset themselves to something altruistic, communitarian, resourceful, and imaginative after a disaster, that we revert to something we already know how to do. The possibility of a paradise is already within us as a default setting.” -A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit
So yes! That's what I mean when I call Camp Daze a "hopeful apocalypse story." It's a story where things do go very, very wrong, but they also go very, very right.
You can learn more about the book on the Kickstarter page!
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The Shivadh Romances: Volume II is now available for sale!
This book collects the fourth, fifth, and sixth books in the series, and is available in epub, paperback, and special-edition hardback.
Askazer-Shivadlakia is “the little country by the sea” — a coastal micronation perched between France and Italy, with Europe’s only Jewish royal family and a distinctly queer-friendly culture. The irreverent but earnest Shivadh people have recently elected a new king, and there are a lot of changes afoot for the country and its rulers.
The Twelve Points of Caleb Canto introduces Caleb, a young trans music teacher who accidentally enters Eurovision on behalf of The Ask, and his rival and new friend -- or maybe more -- Buck Haverd, the ambitious bad-boy competitor from the UK. Dinner At The Palace is the first collection of Shivadh short stories, spanning everything from Michaelis meeting his destiny in 1978 to Gregory and Eddie going cryptid-hunting in 2022. The Royals and the Ramblers tells the story of Gregory and Eddie's three royal weddings, and introduces Eddie's sister Monday, who is helping the kings have a royal heir and may or may not have a thing going on with Georgie, the palace head of security. And then there's Joan, the headstrong orphan who could use a couple of dads....
Read all three in a single volume!
Buy in ePub | Buy in Paperback | Buy in Hardback
Or if you’re interested in reading each novel individually, you can learn more about them and find purchase links here.
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Hi dduane!
I have a question about publishing. I'm a writer who'd like to be published at some point, but in the meantime wants to publish projects online so I have something to do with experiments and shorter projects etc.
When I was in school, my professors said that most publishers will reject writers who have self-published in the past, is this true in your experience?
Loved So You Want to Be a Wizard btw!
Glad you liked SYW! :)
As for your professors: at the very least, their opinions are outdated. At worst, they're just plain wrong.
Once upon a time—when self-publishing almost always meant the "vanity publishing" model in which the author paid a publisher to bring their books out—the routine assumption was that those books were bad: too bad to make it "over the bar" of the normal rigors of submission to a reputable publisher.
But the whole self-publication model has shifted radically in the last couple of decades. Now there are lots of books self-published that are plainly considered good enough (by readers) for their authors to make significant amounts of money. As a result, the onus of self-publication has long since fallen away... especially if a book's successful.
And if a self-published book's good enough, and sells well enough in its self-published form, nothing will stop traditional publishers from offering to buy it. The Martian is one of the highest-profile examples of this.
So my advice to you would be to do your self-publishing exactly as suits you. If you can build up an online readership who'll follow you closely enough to buy new works when you publish them, that'll be a good start. If one of your books is good enough, and makes it big enough, odds are you won't have to worry about finding a publisher. They'll find you. (And you may even come up against an issue some successful self-publishers have had to wrestle with: "What do I need a publisher for?")
Anyway: good luck to you! (Because luck's a part of this process too... whether we like to admit it or not.) :)
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Don't Shoot the Messenger: Posted vs Published
if you've read the version of 'Don't Shoot the Messenger' i posted last summer here and on AO3 for free, you might be wondering what the differences between that version and the version that was just published 9/30/2023 in ebook and paperback formats on Amazon are.
to clear that up, please see a summary of the differences below:
POV: the posted version was second person POV/reader insert; published version is third person POV
Editing: the posted version was edited by me, pretty soon after drafting; the published version has been professionally edited (and is a better story for it)
Content: the published version has a 5k bonus chapter that will not be released elsewhere (and contains smut ;) )
Print: the paperback version is obviously a version you can physically hold instead of it just existing on the internet lol
Another reason for picking up a copy is that all proceeds are being reinvested in publishing my much longer work "Nothing's Wrong with Dale" and i appreciate every penny i can get so i can publish that book and get it out to y'all sooner (you can also visit my kofi to give a more direct donation if u'd like)
I've tried to keep prices low as well with the ebook being 2.99 and the paperback being 6.99 (and free on kindle unlimited).
please consider getting my novella!
#don't shoot the messenger#publishing#self-publishing#ik some people dont read 2nd person/reader insert#so nows ur chance to read the 3rd person version#and to hold it in ur hands which is wild lol#i'm going to try to get it on other stores but its a challenge for me since its only me who's working on it#and i hav a demanding day job
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What is a queen without a crown? A rebel.
Both exalted and reviled, Rosalyn Morrigan's life has never been simple. She was born both the daughter of an Arch-general of the Empire and a hostage of a conquered nation hated for its ties to a magic that once corrupted the world. Rose joins five other hostages in navigating a dangerous life as an uncrowned sovereign. She acts like the perfect Imperial Court lady by the light of day. In the shadows, she works with an infamous figure called Foxglove and their organization, the Garden, aiming to free the five conquered lands from the Empire of Eladon.
During high-stakes heists, rescue missions, and strange celestial events, Rose and her fellow hostage Antony travel across the Empire. Whispers of magic returning follow at their heels as it is clear that more is happening in the Empire than just political intrigue. Rose must take on the responsibility of her title, Queen Aspirant of Aspara, and the strange power within her that allows her to manipulate time. Juggling the light and the shadows, as well as the past, present, and future, Rose hopes her efforts will be enough to free her mother's ancestral home from the grips of Eladon. What can one hostage do in a world boiling over with political intrigue, murderous cultists, awakening magic, and cryptic gods? Only time will tell.
Available through this link! The current price is 3.99!
AHHHH! I finally published my novel yesterday! I fought back and forth about traditional versus self-publishing for a long time. I resisted self-publishing for vain reasons, but honestly, I am tired of waiting for acknowledgment from gatekeepers when I have a story I want to share. I'm taking a chance, and if nothing comes of it, at least I got the opportunity to share it at all! If you want a little more information about the story, it is an epic fantasy novel with multiple queer folks and a large focus on women within the story. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! Thank you for even reading this bit :) AHHHHHHHHH, here I go!!!
*Edit ugh, as much as you can try to look over everything, it is very possible to accidentally use the wrong cover. Well, it has been updated, and thanks to the person who pointed it out! Jeez so embarrassing
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Look at my book baby!
Got my editor's copies of my book today! Aren't they gorgeous? (Ignore the "not for sale" line through the cover- that goes away during publication- and the shitty quality of my camera!) I'm going through the book to make final edits- it really is looking like this book about a sapphic ex-Chosen One (gotta love an unlikable lady protag) falling for her rival is going to be able to go up for y'all by the end of March.
(Also face reveal? I guess? None of y'all care about that, but I will be one of those annoying parents who poses with my kids, aka my characters.)
Which means there's only one real question: do y'all want me to post the playlists for the characters/ships here as a lead-up to the book coming out?
To everyone who has liked my posts about the book so far or liked my last book: @henrythepug @mywily @artemisiaarm @lilyoflolana @randomhobbitgoblin @khruschevshoe @thanatosdetesreves @kayechanted @neshatriumphs @evelynhug0 @sillylittlecheeto @harrietmjones @jaceum @jacksope-lives @marchionessdebrannas @screechingdonutengineer @beeesworld @meet-me-behindthemall12 @neutral-wizard @elposting @little-bloodied-angel @thearcaneuniversity @artemisbones @mikereads @augment-techs @snazzy-hats-and-adhd @safesoundxswift @sapphicsigh @anaddictiontofanfiction @aboutblankpages-blog-blog @weedpoop @aboutblankpages-blog-blog @danieldeluca01 @suz-blog @morganmara @shehungthemoon @man-me--a-sand @geekerne @madhare0512
#this rotten work#rachel barsky#daiyu nightbane#nightbarsky#kenna jenkins#my writing#my books#self-publishing#rachel x daiyu#my baby arrived!#dark academia#shakespeare#enemies to lovers#macbeth#romeo and juliet#sapphic#women's wrongs#hozier
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I'm working on a writeup about the process of finishing & self-publishing minicomics for patreon that will eventually unlock to everybody-- does anyone have questions about self-publishing minicomics (more about logistics and organization than about actually drawing them) for me? You can drop them in comments here or over on Patreon (public post!)!
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5 Steps to Get Your Novel Ready to Self-Publish
Every year, we’re lucky to have great sponsors for our nonprofit events. Kindle Direct Publishing, a 2022 NaNo sponsor, helps you self-publish eBooks and paperbacks for free. Today, author Denise Grover Swank shares some tips to help you get your novel ready to publish:
Congrats on completing NaNoWriMo! I completed my first book with NaNoWriMo in 2009, and was thrilled when I’d finished, but I wasn’t ready to hit publish just yet!
1. Have someone else read your novel.
Every book needs revising and editing. Trust me, I’ve written over seventy books at this point and still need to revise books.
You’ll either need to find a developmental editor or alpha readers. Alpha readers—well-read readers and/or other authors—are great for writers on a budget and are usually free. You can find them in writers’ groups or your friends who are readers. Just be careful if you’re using friends and family: they’re going to be biased. (Unless they’re my aunt who read my paranormal thriller and told me I should write children’s books.)
2. Invest in copy editing.
You’ve revised and edited your book, now what? Copy editing is where you may want to invest if you can. Copy editors look at your book line by line and correct grammatical mistakes. Please, please, please don’t try to do this yourself. You’ve read you book countless times and will miss things. Trust me. I know. (If you need a proofreader, here’s where your friends who can spot a typo a mile away come in handy.)
3. Get a good cover.
Let’s talk covers! Study the market and find out what’s selling in your genre, then find a cover designer who fits the trends. You can spend anywhere from $100 to $1000 or more, but you can get by on the lower end. Just don’t try to make one yourself unless you’re really good at graphic design.
4. Get the formatting right.
You’re almost ready to publish, but first you need to format your eBook and print book—You can do this by using the free templates available on Kindle Direct Publishing, you can pay someone to do it, or there are several programs less than $200 that will do this for you.
5. Now you’re ready!
There are multiple places to publish, but KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is super easy to use! Be sure to claim your books on Amazon Author Central, create an author page, then ask readers to follow you. Amazon will let your readers know about preorders and releases. Kindle Unlimited is great for newer authors who are still finding an audience, and readers in KU are more willing to take a chance on new-to-them authors. And finally, use the gifting option on your product page for giveaways on social media. Readers who love your book will tell their friends—never underestimate word of mouth marketing!
New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank lives in Kansas City, Missouri. You can find out more about Denise at www.denisegroverswank.com.
Top photo by Nong V on Unsplash.
#nanowrimo#writing#publishing#self-publishing#now what#by nano sponsor#kdp#kindle direct publishing#denise grover swank
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So, I want to talk about trying to build an audience when you're chronically ill.
THE BEST WAY to build an audience, in my experience, is to regularly produce good, consistent content, so that your audience knows what to expect and when to expect it.
The last three months up to Christmas, I was able to do this fairly consistently, and I managed to significantly increase my follower count on Twitter, Mastodon, and Medium. Not so much on Tumblr, but big hearts to those of you who do follow. (A significant drawback to Tumblr is that you can't follow back from side blogs, so even if I follow back from my main, people might not know it's me, and it's harder to build a community.) Then my health tanked again, an old stalker found me and the day job became very stressful.
I was no longer able to maintain a consistent output.
I'm now, much more gently, trying to get going again, but it's hard. When you stop engaging with people, people stop engaging with you.
Realistically, I will never be able to reliably put out content to a consistent schedule for anything except a job that pays my bills. Because unless they find a cure for CFS, I will either continue to crash semi-regularly, or I will attempt proper energy management and just have no spare time for, well, anything except doing a day job and failing to keep my house nice.
I would love to have a Pateron, but it would be impossible for me to guarantee the kind if regular content you need to have patrons.
I'm genuinely not seeing a way around this right now.
All I can do is thank those of you who stick with me for you patience, and ask that you try not to discount content creators who just nope out of existence every now and then.
A kinder, more creative world requires a little resistance to the natural (and not unreasonable) inclination for having your desires met consistently. If you can remember to try to do that from time to time, you'll help a few more disabled creatives flourish, and enrich our world.
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I'm looking for non-Amazon options for book sales, by popular demand. Any sites people use/recommend? Gumroad currently seems promising.
#my requirements are 'only takes a small cut of profits'#and 'deals with sale taxes for me'#the infinity of local sales tax laws are ridiculous and apparently designed to make me go#yeah I would like someone else to be legally responsible for that#Fox's Tongue will be out soon!#just in the infinite cycle of small changes and proof copies#self-publishing#writers
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Proud to announce CREATING COPRA: the Definitive DIY Guide to Making & Self-Publishing Comics. This book covers everything from inspiration to final production. Practical, idealistic, and everything in between. Pre-Orders are up, so reserve your copy now!
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ahh my ISBN account got approved 🫣 I can officially request an ISBN when I'm ready to take that leap!!
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Oh god, February 29th is less than ten days away...
I've been hustling to get the print, epub, and Free PDF versions done, and get the sales post written up, so much so that I forgot to warn everyone that the drop is coming :D The Royals And The Ramblers, the latest volume in the Shivadh Romances, will go up for sale at 10am Central time on February 29th!
What are the Shivadh Romances? Well:
Askazer-Shivadlakia is “the little country by the sea” — a coastal micronation perched between France and Italy, with Europe’s only Jewish royal family and a distinctly queer-friendly culture. The irreverent but earnest Shivadh people have recently elected a new king, Gregory III, and the Shivadh romances follow him, his extended family, and their friends and partners as they manage love, politics, and an ever-expanding social circle.
And what is The Royals And The Ramblers about?
It's an exciting time for the Shivadh royal family! Gregory III, king of Askazer-Shivadlakia, is marrying kitschy TV chef Eddie Rambler…three times. There's the beach party in California, a private wedding for family in Europe, and a big formal blowout for everyone in Askazer-Shivadlakia to celebrate. But that's not all -- Gregory and Eddie have asked Eddie's sister, Monday, to serve as a surrogate for a royal baby, and that means Monday has to figure out life in Askazer-Shivadlakia, along with determining where she stands with her one-time fling and now full-time friend Georgie, the royal head of security.
Gregory's friends Alanna and Jerry are trying to sort out their whirlwind romance, his father Michaelis is navigating a second love and return to fatherhood with partner Jes and Jes's son Noah -- and then there's Ioanna, the bright young girl Gregory catches ditching school to watch him lead Parliament, who might need a couple of dads as much as Gregory and Eddie want a couple of kids.
It's a year for everyone to learn new roles, find surprising ways to keep growing up, and, as always, keep that irreverent Shivadh sense of humor, whether they're a Royal or a Rambler....
I'll be making a sales post with all the links here, and you can always find the latest news also at my author website. And as always I'll be offering signed bookplates for print versions as a fundraiser, this time supporting Planned Parenthood. Keep your eyes peeled!
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How do you get 70% of the sale price when you sell books through Amazon? (I saw that figure in one of your recent asks.) Are you self-publishing now? I would have thought that more would be going to the publisher or simply into the cost of production. Asking as a hopeful aspiring author.
Re the 70% figure: it's explained over here. (One can, if preferred, opt for lower royalty rates if those, for whatever strategic or other reasons, suit them better.)
I've been self-publishing in one venue or another for more than a decade now... simply because there are works I want to get out there that mainstream/traditional publishers aren't interested in bringing out, but that people in my readership(s) want to see.
Most of my self-pub initially happens at our own ebook store at Ebooks Direct. After an exclusive period there, most of those works also turn up at Amazon (though we're just beginning the process of starting to parallel-publish some works via Google Books).
HTH!
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my proof copies have arrived! i'm looking over those tonight, making any tweaks i need to those files and then i can get this version finalized and, more importantly, a pre-order link for print copies out to you all!
#don't shoot the messenger#dsm#publishing#self-publishing#doing a final edit#in addition to lik#margin checks etc#will keep everyone posted#!!!#beyond excited#i cant believe i'm holding it lol
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