5 Reasons You Need a Book Publicist

Just like the name implies a publicist’s sole responsibility is to publicize your work or build your brand. They are the reason celebrities become famous. They are the behind the scenes workers getting interviews, spreading buzz worthy tales and making sure the people who moves and shakes have you in their direct line of vision. How does this relate to an author? Very simple without a great product, a marketing plan and enough buzz created around your book it will become a pretty little wall flower on a wall filled with wall flowers. An added benefit is that most book publicist will read your book and if they are sold on it they are adamant about pushing your success. What can a publicist do for you that you can’t do for yourself? Well unless you have a long list of contacts and industry insiders you can call in favors on than they can do a great deal. I hope to give you five reasons why you need a book publicist and in true Urban Fiction News style I will provide you with a list of publicist that are specific to the urban fiction genre.

Reason #1 You Need a Book Publicist to take you From Unknown to Known

Self published authors have the disadvantage of not having a large big named publisher to fall back on. It’s easier to gain the attention of industry insiders when you have a large traditional publisher backing you. However, a disadvantage can also be an advantage because once you show the big boys you know how to sell your book the potential to be picked up by the big boys is much greater. That could mean higher advance checks and companies fighting for Your attention. The publicist will put you or your work in front of the world giving you more exposure. The great news is their job is to make you known/famous.

Reason #2 A Book Publicist has Connections

We have all heard that it’s not what you know but who you know. Well if that’s true many of us wouldn’t go far on our own. The most valuable aspect of a publicist’ job is networking and building relationships with media outlets. The author doesn’t have to know anyone personally as their representative puts them in front of their long list of contacts. That alone is valuable. How many authors are interested in hunting down folks to talk about their book? I know I am not (but I will) With a publicist you won’t have to. They get you interviews threw newspaper, magazine and radio or TV. They also create campaigns that will generate a buzz around you the author and the book.

Reason #3 A Book Publicist Help with Reviews

As I’ve said before book reviews are the literary gold of the book world. Having quality book reviews on retail sites can make or break your book. Word of mouth marketing can make your book a top seller. A publicist is able to get your book in the hands of reviewers by sending out review copies.They locate popular bloggers in your genre, from media resources and get your book in their hands. One great review can take you from an unknown to a known.

Reason # 4 Book Publicist Create Detailed Ad Campaigns

Many self-published authors may find it overwhelming to market their own work. When you employ the services of a book publicist they not only locate the best ad campaigns but do the ad placements for you. Many will tell you that not only is important to increase your books’ visibility through interviews etc… but also to have your book displayed prominently throughout the places readers of your genre are located. Your book cover should be placed on multiple sites for maximum exposure.

Reason #5 Social Media Should Be a Book Publicist’s Specialty

The world of marketing has changed so greatly that having an online presence is vital to your book’s success. You must know how to work the social media platform to get ahead. Many publicist are well versed on social media marketing and will use it to their advantage. They create enough buzz that gets Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin etc… discussing your book which ultimately means more book sales.

Below is a list of book publicist that cater to African-American Authors and also to the Self-Published author enjoy!!!

Dawn Michelle Hardy http://www.dreamrelations.com

Gwen Richardson http://www.gwenrichardson.com

Heather M. Palmore ESq. http://www.ceciliacapers.com/publicistfortwmig.htm

V. Michelle Stephenson http://www.vmscommunications.net/main/bio.php

Makeda Smith http://www.jazzmynepr.com/pages/makeda.htm or http://jazzmynepr.com/

Publicist for the Indie Author

Smith Publicity http://www.smithpublicity.com/self-published-books/

Kelley & Hall http://www.kelleyandhall.com/sample-page-2/

Novel Publicity http://www.novelpublicity.com/publicity/

This is a small amount of publicist resources but if you enjoyed the post don’t forget to like and share with the links provided below.

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5 Tips on How to Get Your Self-Published Book in Bookstores

Having your book sold in actual bookstores is not only a dream by many if not all fiction writers. It is also a far-fetched dream as many bookstores do not stock their shelves with self-published titles. There are a few ways around this, as I will show you five ways you can get your titles sold in bookstores. Before I begin let me first state that diligence is one of the keys to success. If you want to succeed you must first believe in your work and then follow through until you see every mountain as a small hill. My tips are not intended to be done in any specific order. Applying any of these tips could help you land your book in independently owned bookstores.

Tip# 1 Your Book Needs to be Bookstore Ready

This may seem obvious but many self-published authors are not following the basic rule of book sales, which is having an ISBN number. In order for your book to be sold it must have both a bar code and an ISBN. Bookstores will not consider your book if it doesn’t have them both. Book sales are tracked using the bar code and the ISBN number is your book’s social security number of sorts. If you are not intending on selling your book to family and friends. This also means it can be ordered through the distribution channels many bookstores use to purchase books.

Tip# 2 Do Book Signings 

Contact local bookstores to set up book signings. Bookstores are usually ok with book signings because it brings attention to their store but also because it brings patrons as well. Ask the bookstore owner if you can display your book on the counter or in the area surrounding your signing table. This will help bring attention to your cover and shoppers who were not aware of your signing will also be more interested when they see you signing.

Tip# 3 Ask Local Bookstores For a Trial Run

It’s no secret that many African-American bookstores are having troubles keeping the doors open. Urban Fiction titles have helped many independently owned bookstores pay the bills. If your book cover has mass appeal approach the bookstore owner with a sure plan. Ask if they would be willing to purchase a few of your books on a test run. A test run could be between five to ten copies. If your book was published with a POD publisher you may want to find out if they offer a buy back policy. Meaning the bookstore can return unsold books. This won’t affect your royalties. It may be wise to ask many family or friends to help support your effort by buying your book from the bookstore. This will impress the bookstore and compel them to purchase more copies. Having people request the copies from bookstores will also generate buzz around your title and also compel them to stock it in their store.

Tip# 4 Ask Bookstore Owners or Employees to Read Your Book

Many bookstore owners and its employees are avid readers. Use this to your advantage, this is especially true of specialty bookstores and shops. If you can compel them to read your story they may become fans of your work and help you in your mission to land in bookstores. Remember bookstore owners are usually friends with other bookstores. This could help you through word of mouth marketing.

Tip# 5 Create Buzz around Your Book

The more buzz created around your book the more likely bookstores are willing to put it in bookstores. You may have to create your own buzz. This can be done by having flyers strategically put around your local city. Place them in areas that has heavy traffic. Local grocery stores usually have boards by the front entrance posting events and things going on in the community. Hang flyers in obvious places such as bookstores, libraries. Use sites like meetups.com to find book clubs that cater to your genre of fiction and ask to become a sponsor of their next book club meeting. Whether its you providing them with copies of your book, or having them hang posters during their meetings (which are usually held in local cafe’s or restaurants in your local area) or provide them with bookmarks or small postcards featuring your book cover.

You can even connect with local cafe’s asking them if you can host a book club meeting at their shop. A great way to network with cafe’s and create a buzz for you both is to ask them if they would be willing to offer a discount on their signature drink or sandwich or specialty items during the time of your book club meeting. This helps them get involved with promoting your book also.

Hope you found my tips useful and if you enjoyed it please press like and share on your social media outlets using the links below. Thanks!!!!!

Remember to follow for more Urban Fiction News, Reviews and Resources!!!!!

Cool Banners for Book Promotion

I recently discovered a cool banner site called mybannermaker.com that helps you create cool banners. The site allows you to customize your banner by choosing from muliple sizes, colors, texts and even where you want them posted.

I thought I would share with you my unprofessional attempt at banner making. mybannermaker.com also allows you to upload an image if you have one in mind. it is good for marketing your fiction titles and can also help when trying to advertise on other websites as well.

What’s Wrong with Self Promotion?

Occasionally I go off the familiar path and write on a topic that lights my fire and the topic of self promotion has done just that. Now I would like to start by saying self-promotion and spam are two different things (at least to me anyway) I will try to make sense of the two and hopefully we all are clear by the end of the post.

I was recently talking with a friend who mentioned how much they hate people sending them emails about their products and or services. However, she is a new business owner and was asking my help on possible marketing and advertising ideas to help promote “HER” project. This piqued my interest and upset me all at the same time. Simply because she doesn’t like others to promote their work but want the world to care about her and her project.

Spam

Spam as it relates to writing is an undesirable attempt at attracting attention to ones self with the sole intent to benefit and not provide anything to its recipients. Spam can come in the form of posting your advertisements with little regard to how others feel about it or if they are even interested in what you are offering.

Self-Promotion

Self-promotion as it relates to writing means sharing your accomplishments with other like minds by inviting them or asking if they would be interested in viewing your content.

My Opinion on Self-Promotion

To me its a shame to have a world filled with talented people and for them to not have an opportunity to share it with the world. I think letting others know about your work is good as long as it is in a sharing platform or if you are asking permission to share. I also think people are a bit shallow as we really don’t want to hear about what others are doing but want others to hear about our projects. We have to find clever, creative and inventive marketing methods to cater to this shallowness.

Spending years, months or weeks working on projects just to not have anyone care seems harsh or cruel to me. I know that everyone is not going to all care about the same things so self-promotion should be targeted hence the reason marketing campaigns are so expensive. I have always been the type of person who loves to receive information and love to share it. I also like providing people with the most how-to information while at the same time-sharing what I am doing.

Now I am not oblivious to the fact that people have the ability to bombard one another with their works but I am not annoyed by it simply because I “get” being excited about something you’ve slaved over or are passionate about. What do you think? What is wrong with self promotion? Please share your thoughts please by commenting below.

If anyone is interested in a self promotion forum where writers can come to share their recent projects, events and what’s going on with them please tell me so

If you like what you’ve read please like my posts and remember to Follow my blog for more Urban Fiction News, Reviews and Real Resources!!!

Urban Fiction Marketing Strategies!

If you are done writing your urban fiction title and followed the steps found in “The No Bull Method to Publishing” then this post is for you. I can’t stress enough how many new writers I run across who are absolutely clueless when it comes to marketing their new books. Simply having it published and placing it on major retailer’s websites will not yield sales. You must become an active participant in the success of your book’s sales. There are many services that can help you. The Urban Fiction Genre is producing many millionaires but you must know how to get the word out or you will be just another unknown published author in the sea of words. A previous post went over some of these marketing strategies but I will go over them again. I have found new information as always I am eager to share.

 

Urban Fiction Book Flyers

Unlike traditional paper flyers urban fiction book flyers are high-resolution postcards with a gloss finish. They have a picture of your book cover a brief synopsis and purchasing information. This powerful method of marketing gives authors a direct line of advertising to their target audience. It puts something tangible in the hands of your potential readers without you verbally providing a sales pitch. One of the best services out there providing authors and (every type of business owner) flyer designs with local distribution is Blazon Posts. http://www.blazonposts.com. They also offer advertising solutions which include TV marketing. I also had my other website http://www.thenobullmethod.net designed by them also. Great customer service and attention to detail. The owner makes sure he brings your vision to life.

 

Urban Fiction Book Stubs

Book stubs are the size of a business card showing a picture of your book’s cover with a download code for your book. It allows authors to provide one free download of your ebook. Everyone loves free so this service is a great marketing strategy that will allow debut authors a chance to give potential readers or even reviewers a free copy of their book which ultimately leads to word of mouth marketing. Authors can also use book stubs as free giveaways or contest winnings. It helps create a buzz around new titles and can help with getting more attention to your titles. Booktango authors can purchase book stubs as low as $99. http://www.booktango.com

 

Urban Fiction Press Releases

Many writers underestimate the power of press releases in spreading the word of your new title. Not only is a press release a valuable source of putting the word out there but it can also provide new authors with interview requests, book features and radio interview spots. Many press release services do not cater to the urban fiction genre so many of the genre’s authors are limited in their attempts at marketing. For a well written press release and distribution to major Urban fiction venues check out my service page.

Hope you found these strategies useful and find success implementing them in your urban fiction marketing strategy. Follow my blog Urban Fiction News for more insightful information so you can stay up on the latest happenings on the streets of the urban fiction genre. Don’t forget to like my posts and remember NOW is the time to see your DREAMS come to past!!!!!!

 

Book Trailers: An Effective Marketing Tool

Book Marketing is one of the biggest challenges for self-published authors. Most of us are usually unsure on what steps they need to take, what is necessary and what is vital to their success. I have decided to dig a little deeper into one of the most under used book marketing strategies which is book trailers. I will discuss what it is and why it is a key component to your book marketing strategy and who I recommend.

What is a Book Trailer?

A book trailer is simply put a 1 to 3 minute book commercial. It provides book buyers and readers with a visual picture of your title and what they can expect from reading your work. It is also a great way to leave an impression in the minds of your potential reader also. Think back to how many commercials you have seen that have left you wanting to buy what was advertised. It’s no different for your target audience.

Why are Book Trailers Important Marketing Tools?

New authors are often lost when it comes to advertising and spreading the word about their books. They often rely on friends and family to purchase copies and don’t go any further. If your plan is to become a well-known author or even to make a part-time or full-time living from your work then you must step up your marketing game. Book trailers gives the author a platform to speak on their behalf. You don’t have to worry about how to tell the world about your book simply refer them to your trailer. Videos are quickly becoming the most popular form of information sharing. Think about how much YouTube has grown over the last few years. People love to see videos on all types of subjects. It also gives you an edge over your competition.

Are Book Trailers Expensive?

The honest truth is that they can be. However, you must know where to go for superior service without a high price tag. Many book trailer designers will charge upwards of $500 for one 3 min book trailer. But like many new authors that may be unrealistic or out of your budget. No worries though I have an affordable, high quality solution which I personally recommend.

Book Trailer Recommendations

As you all know I recently published by book “The No Bull Method to Publishing” and I decided to use a book trailer to help market and promote my ebook. I went with Book Video Creations www.bookvideocreations.com and only paid $199 for a high quality video I am excited to share. Their customer service was incredible and they even made multiple changes per my request. I was having problems getting the domain name I wanted for my website www.thenobullmethod.net so I needed them to update and re update my url info which they did pleasantly and without making me feel bad. To check out their work visit my website www.thenobullmethod.net and click play.

 

 

Ebooks: Creating Best Sellers

I have been debating whether or not I would like to self-publish my book and then I ran across another option that is making me giddy with excitement. I have known about ebooks for quite some time but being old-fashioned I have always enjoyed the feeling of cozying up with a good book. The smell of the paper, flipping each page with anticipation and having a tangible copy of a good read feels familiar. However, I realized the power of the Internet and modern technology that is allowing self-published authors to reach a larger audience. According to my research Ebooks are taking the publishing world by storm and in the process creating best sellers. Hope you guys enjoy the information listed below. Happy Learning!!!

All about Ebooks

I thought it fitting that this first paragraph be dedicated to explaining the ebook. Don’t worry I won’t be to technical just enough info to give us all a clue. Ebooks are digital books. There you have it and it wasn’t that hard to swallow. It is no different from paperback or hardcovers except that it can be read through the use of an iPad, Nook, Kindle and other digital technology methods. Ebooks still require copyright information, ISBN’s and a book cover, which means it is still a book.

Ebook Benefits

I have some great news for you soon to be self-published authors working with a tight budget. Ebooks are cheaper to publish! Sites like Lulu allows you to publish an ebook for free. (This should not be attempted if you are not familiar with proper formatting) You want to avoid your book looking like something your first grader cooked up. Remember to edit your work or have a professional do it for you. I can’t stress how important editing is for new authors. Now on to the benefits!

Ebooks are cheaper and more cost efficient than going the traditional trade paperback route. The cost of a book cover can range from $99 to $300, the cost of your copyright is $35 (if done electronically) the cost of your ISBN # is $125 and a bar code is $25. We are looking at around $284 to $485 to prepare the ebook and the fee for creating the ebook, which can be free.

Other benefits include more money in your pocket. You don’t have to worry about printing or storage cost, which means pure profit. You have the ability to charge what you’d like for your ebooks and only pay a small distributor fee. New authors should price low ranging from $1.99 to $4.99 for new titles. This is because readers feel better about spending that amount for an unknown author. Once you have a readership you can adjust your pricing.

More of your budget can be spent on marketing, which means you can find more avenues to get the word out and increase your sales. Do a little research on authors in your genre to see who is reviewing their ebooks. Reach out to them to see if they would be willing to review yours. It will be easy as pie to email a link to your ebook for reviews. (Look how much we saved on postage!!!)

Getting Started

My research on Ebooks have led me to a website that is very exciting called BookRix. It allows any author whether you are new or seasoned to submit your ebook to their community for free or for sale. Their reach is 450,000 people which is a big deal. If you want it for sale they walk you through the ebook format and will also help distribute it with large retailers like Amazon, Barnes and Noble and more so worth checking it out. They charge 39.00 for each book though.

Another really cool website to visit is Bookbaby.com they offer affordable websites for authors with the option of setting up your ebook conversion for a fee starting around $99. They distribute to all major book retailers as well which is a bonus.

Happy Publishing!!!

 

Urban Fiction Publishing Requirements

So you’ve finally finished writing your urban fiction novel. You even took it a step further and had it edited (because you are serious about your craft) and now you’re thinking “Now What?” Do you give it a swing with a traditional urban publishing house or do you pay for self publishing? Decisions, decisions well before you even think about submitting to the big boys in urban publishing you first need to know what they expect from you. Every publishing house is different, which means they all have different requirements. Though they vary there is a few requirements that are standard practice with most of them. Below is a list along with explanation of each requirement and how not following one of them will surely get your manuscript thrown into the trash.

Query Letter

Most urban publishers and traditional publishing houses generally want a query letter. Query letters are formal introductions of you and your work, without this type of letter you are considered a solicitor. unsolicited work is equal to receiving a telemarketing call during dinner time, unwelcome. A great query letter will have your contact information (generally at the top left hand corner) include name, address, email address and best contact number. It should also include a brief intro stating who you are, if you have been previously published and a brief summary of your title. Your final paragraph should be brief explaining why you think their publishing house is a good fit for you. You’re a writer but please keep it brief it should never go beyond one page or you may lose your audience.

Sample Chapters

Sending sample chapters can be tricky and you should only send the recommended amount. Never and I do mean NEVER send your entire manuscript without being asked. I know, I know its great, awesome a pure masterpiece but it will never be read if you send it unsolicited. Generally speaking the first three chapters is acceptable, some companies may request five. Sample chapters can be included with a query letter. Sample chapters are the bait that will catch a big publishing opportunity. Your best work is done in those first three chapters because they have the power to determine if the reader will want more. If after reading the first three chapters the publisher isn’t interested you will either get a rejection letter or no letter at all. Try to eliminate any grammatical, spelling or tone errors in these three chapters. First impressions are usually lasting ones and its hard to do a comeback when someone has already made up their mind about you.

Synopsis 

For many of you new or first time authors a synopsis is a condensed version of your story. It tells the publisher beginning, middle and end of your story in two pages or less. It can be difficult to share the ending of your story when shopping around for a publisher but you must do it. One of the many complaints publishing companies have is that authors don’t want to give the ending of their story in fear of it being stolen. That or authors think they will be able to entice the publisher by giving them the beginning and middle but not the end. (A quick word from the wise, well ME don’t do it) Publishers are turned off or more politely annoyed with a synopsis that doesn’t give it away so to speak. Many urban fiction publishers don’t require a synopsis but be prepared if you find one that does.

Formatting

One of the most important urban fiction publishing requirements is formatting. Not following this step will provide your manuscript with a one way ticket to the garbage can. Standard formatting means Times New Roman, 12′ font size, double spaced one side of the paper. Margins should be 8.5 x 11 Microsoft word already sets that up for you but double-check before submitting your manuscript.

Word Count

I get a lot of questions about word count for urban fiction novels. 75,000 words generally adds up to about 256 pages which is standard for a fiction novel. First time authors should steer clear of writing anything over 80,000 words. To many words can work against you and not just because your audience may lose interest. Books longer than 80,000 words cost more money to put into print, which equals less money for you in the long run. Unless you are writing a novella you may also want your story to be more than 40,000 words. Having too few words can cause you to be overlooked also.

I hope this list was helpful and that it gets you on the right track for literary success.

How to Market Urban Fiction

Marketing and promoting urban fiction can be fun and exciting as it allows you to experiment with different strategies and marketing avenues. Urban fiction authors got their start simply by selling their work from the back of their vehicles. It’s this hustlers spirit that has changed the game and put a lot of unknown authors at the top of the book selling list. Urban fiction authors can’t think inside of the box as the urban story is not your traditional fiction. Characters are bigger than life, filled with attitude and follow their own unconventional paths to success. Below is a list of

Street Vendors

Many unconventional avenues for marketing urban fiction includes connecting with local street vendors in your area to have them sell your works of fiction at their booths. Don’t be afraid to offer deep discounts or even half off. Consider it an investment. Though you want to make money with your new urban fiction title you first need to get your name out. Having your book sold to street vendors at half price will allow them to push the sales of your book, which gets you a little recognition and they can make a little money charging full price. If the book does well the vendor will contact you for more copies.

Word of Mouth

Many traditional publishers know that word of mouth marketing is the best marketing there is. This is especially true in the urban fiction genre. Readers of street lit pass good reads around like a cigarette. Don’t be afraid to give a few friends at work a copy of your book for free. Tell them its ok to pass it along if they find they like it. Pretty soon your book will be circulating around the unofficial book club better known as your job. If you have friends and family who love the genre give them a copy or two for free and have them pass it along to their circle of friends. When readers start talking about books others rush to get in on the action. Word of mouth marketing has made many a millionaire. Look at Justin Bieber (A YouTube success turned multi-millionaire)

African-American Bookstores

The urban fiction genre has come up so quickly that it is now the bread and butter for a lot of bookstores including large retailers. Connect with a few local bookstores in your area to see if they would be willing to stock your book on their shelves. Inform them of your marketing strategy and that you will be willing to include their store name and address on some of your marketing materials. This will make them more confident about saying yes. Store owners want better yet need to make sales to keep their doors open to the public. The best sales strategy is to show the buyer what they stand to gain from your product or service. In this case they stand to gain free advertising, a great new product with a hungry audience.

Posters

Poster ads are great visual methods to getting the word out about your book. Book posters should have a cover shot of your book with information on where it is sold. Placement of your poster ad is key to your success. High foot traffic is good but high foot traffic in urban areas is better. You want to place your poster ads in locations were your reader frequents. Subliminally people remember reading things they see on a daily basis. Bus terminals, corner stores, night clubs are all great locations and generally get high foot traffic in urban areas. In todays tech-savvy world people are able to google your title or go direct to Amazon to order and read the ebook version of your book instantly.

No matter how you get the word out about your new book think creatively. This always pays off in the end. One of my many mantra’s says that if I can sell another man’s product I can damn sure sell my own.

Self-Publishing: Pros and Cons

Self publishing has changed the game taking ‘unknown’ writers straight to the top of the New York Times best sellers list. Most of the stigma that was associated with self-publishing no longer exists and many traditional publishers are finding their world threatened with this growing industry. Writers have decided to take their fate into their own hands and are yielding much success. With all good things comes both the pros and the cons and I came up with a bit of information on them both. Neither traditional or self publishing is a cake walk and one requires more work but yields more financially. Taking the “I have good news and bad news” approach I’ve decided to start with the Cons.

• More Work: Real self publishing means you must do all of your own leg work. Before you are able to start the actual printing process you have to first copyright your work. Next you must apply for your ISBN number and bar codes. This is a bit tricky simply because each book may require more than one ISBN depending on your options. Hardcover, softcover and ebooks all require their own ISBN #. You will also need to apply for a Library of Congress number if you want your book to be cataloged by libraries. All of these steps must be done before your book is actually ready to go to a printer. Next you are required to create your own book covers. I primary work on urban fiction so any of the book cover designers I provided in my previous blog would be great. However, if you are writing in a different genre you may have to do a little research because your book cover sells books. Many writers aren’t aware of typesetting for their work. Typesetting is needed if you want your book to be perfectly aligned and to flow naturally. It makes sure you use the correct fonts throughout your story and that chapters are all done perfectly it may also provide your chapters and headings with a little personality.
• Upfront Cost: If you are self-publishing you will be responsible for all of the upfront cost of publishing. This is generally handled by a traditional publisher. Though you may be excited about publishing please take into account the actual cost of publishing and marketing of your work. Being unprepared will cause your project to stall and may cause lots of wasted expenses. With today’s economy no one has money to just throw into the trash(If you do please let me know where you keep your trash)
• Extended Timeframes: Authors who are published traditionally don’t see how much work actually goes into creating their work. Self publishing may take a bit more time to complete because of the learning curve. My personal opinion is to begin working on your self publishing project as you are writing your story. This is the best method because you will have most of your project complete when you are done. The only thing you will need to wait on will be the copyright because you have to submit your finished work to the U.S Copyright Office.
• Editing: Many writers are not the best English students. Editing is the most important part of your story. It can prevent people from reading your work or getting to the good part of your plot. When I finished my first book the first thing I did was hire a professional editing services. It cost a few hundred dollars but was priceless. Self publishing has already gotten a bad rep primarily because it’s authors do not take this necessary step. traditional publishers generally edit their writers work for them but self publishing means you are your own publisher love your craft enough not to disrespect it with a poorly done finished product.

The Good News: Self Publishing Pros

• More Control: Where there is control there is power. When you self publish you own the rights to your content. This means if you want to sell your story to Hollywood to create a movie you can. No asking your publisher for permission because you are your own publisher. You also have the ability to brand your story by adding character related products to sell. Your book can turn into a profitable business. You can control the price of your book, which means it won’t be overpriced, which generally turns away buyers who can buy well-known titles for much less. You can also control what your cover looks like. This step will determine if your book will actually sell so its important and only you know how you want your book to look.
• Higher Earnings: Self publishers make more money in the long run. They don’t have to share their profits with a publisher and an agent. After the cost of printing is subtracted per book traditional publishers take their cut. Then the cut of the agent is subtracted leaving the writer with change per book sold. Self publishers are able to keep more of their profits. More profits means more time for the things you want to do,

like vacationing on a sunny beach. Or sipping margaritas with friends and family all from your creativity. what could be better than that? Self publishing is definitely not for the faint of heart but it can yield substantial income if done correctly. I don’t know about you but I’m ready to make it big!!