On Our Own September 06 Newsletter

Hello!

"And if we self-publish and no one buys our books?"

I stole this line I found in a blog comment here on the site to use as the focus for this month's newsletter. I suppose I won't get sued for copyright infringement.

It is a valid fear and I thought it should be addressed, especially after I felt it so vividly the other day during my first signing at my local Borders. For more than two hours of the three hour time slot I was given, not one person decided to give my novel a chance. I can only begin to relay some of the thoughts rushing through my head during this time:

It's too big ... no one wants a book that long.

My cover doesn't look professional enough.

I don't look professional enough.

Am I truly insane for thinking I should be doing this?

Maybe I should apply as a bookstore salesperson instead of wasting so much time writing.

My description is not interesting enough, or the story sounds cliche.

I look too "common" to be accepted as a "real" writer.

Should I approach people and look desparate or keep sitting here attempting to look relaxed and confident?

Am I wasting my time and looking like an idiot?

**sigh**

Then that voice inside my head said, "Well, you're going to write, anyway, so you might as well go ahead and try to sell it after the months/years of writing/editing."

Shortly after this silent conversation, I had three sales, and others picked up information. I ended up staying a half hour after my scheduled time.

I'm sharing this story to point out two things:

1) Fear is natural and completely okay, but it can't stop us. If we are writers ... if we are willing to put the months/years of work into creating and then editing our words into something worth sharing, then why not share them?

2) I am indie-published, but my books are now at two Borders bookstores because I have signings scheduled there. This is proof that at least some national chains are willing to take a chance on indies. (I was asked to return to my city's Borders and now have a second date scheduled there, as well as a date at the next closest city. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful.)

I also wanted to share a tip (apologies to those who read my blog and have heard it already). The day before my signing, I was pondering the question of why anyone would want to take the chance and spend money on a book by an unknown author simply because I was sitting there signing? I'm not sure I would. So how could I prove myself? What I decided was to let them sample my work, for free. Printing the prologue and first page of chapter one on my home printer (ending the excerpt with a bit of a cliffhanger), I took them in to a copy center and for a grand total of $9.00 (5 b/w pages @ $0.06 per page), printed 30 copies to hand out to anyone who dared to come close enough to show even a bit of interest.

This proved to be a good move, as one lady who took the excerpt into the store went through the checkout with her other purchases, then returned to buy my book, as well. Others went out the front door beginning to read it and talking to their companions about what they were reading. I will be doing the same for all future signings.

** If any of you have book signing/marketing stories to share in the newsletter, please email.

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Self-Publishing Issues

There is now a plethora of internet sites full of information about self-publishing and tips concerning particular companies. The problem I've found is that not all of the information is accurate.

During a research class I took a few years ago, I had it drummed into my brain that one of the main rules in deciding what sources to use was determining where the information is coming from. How qualified is the writer of the article?

One student suggested that sites ending in .org can always be trusted. This, of course, is not true. In many cases it is, but often it isn't.

I found this site as an example:
http://www.self-publishing.org

After spotting a few errors and misleading statements, I checked to find who was running the site. In this case, that information was under the heading, "Contact an expert." The "expert" happens to be someone who has worked in the POD field for a number of years. While she says she doesn't have "an axe to grind," she does use words such as "exploit" and "encroaching" that negates this claim.

One error I found is on the distribution and marketing page:

"Does it matter if you have Ingram distribution? I think it does. Without it, making your book available is going to be ever more difficult. It won't be listed on Amazon or with other booksellers unless you make those arrangements yourself."

This is not necessarily true. My novels are listed in the Baker and Taylor database instead of Ingram. That was part of my package deal, not an extra charge. However, they are listed on Amazon and Barnes and Noble (bn.com) and I did not have to arrange it. My publisher did that, as well.

Another issue is that, in her reviews of certain POD companies, she often uses the phrase "no editorial standards" to say that the company accepts "anyone." It's true that most PODs will accept any author. The trouble with the statement is that it sounds condescending. POD companies are not editing services. They are not traditional publishers and do not pretend to be. They offer a service only. It is up to the authors to provide their own "editorial standards" and all responsibility for errors and all credit for the work remains with the authors. Saying they have "no editorial standards" is suggesting that their authors have no validity as "real" authors, and this is far from the truth. In all indie-publishing, standards are up to the authors; it is the whole gist behind being indie and in control of our own work. Indie-publishers do not need the kind of negative publicity this statement suggests.

I will say that the myths page on the site is worth reading, and there is overall information on other pages that can be helpful if you're aware of the terms that seem meant to sway opinion.

Be careful while researching self-publishing and particular companies. Those who have not used the companies themselves are not the best sources to use for information. Find blogs/message boards/groups where authors using the companies discuss their merits/downfalls in places the companies themselves do not run or monitor (such as this group )

I encourage anyone with any experience with a POD company to share it in the Market Listings forum: "Invalid Item" . So far, we have information about Lulu, PublishAmerica, and Infinity.

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On-site Links

This section will feature articles about publishing as well as items that have been self-published or are in process of self-publication by writing.com members. Send me a note if you have an item to include in next month's newsletter.

Poetry Publishing: The Nitty Gritty  (E) So you want your poetry in magazines? Here are some valuable tips to get you started. #1132386 by Pollockian Kamikaze

Confessions of a Rogue Writer  (E) Originally a Blog entry #1115292 by Bren Yarbrough Bruhn

A note: November is Nanowrimo month! Registration begins the first week of October: http://www.nanowrimo.org
Best of luck to all who attempt the 50K!


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Wishing you all the best of luck in your publishing ventures!
Voxxylady

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(available for all group members to use anywhere on the site)