I wrote a book!

[roland stockham]

Hi and well done for getting this out. If you have the time can you add some more about how you got this onto Amazon, how to set the price etc. I have a book outline lurking that I hope to finish one day and I am sure I am not the only one. While I do sort of understand that publishing has got easier in the digital format would not have a clue how to go about it. Strikes me that while you no longer have to get a scrip accepted by a publisher you also have nobody helping with publicity, so how do you get people to read it? Did you have a guide?

[tlaloc75]

Originally Posted by roland stockham

Hi and well done for getting this out. If you have the time can you add some more about how you got this onto Amazon, how to set the price etc. I have a book outline lurking that I hope to finish one day and I am sure I am not the only one. While I do sort of understand that publishing has got easier in the digital format would not have a clue how to go about it. Strikes me that while you no longer have to get a scrip accepted by a publisher you also have nobody helping with publicity, so how do you get people to read it? Did you have a guide?

All good questions! I'm figuring this out as I go, but I've had the opportunity to talk with a few people in the know and I've done a lot of research along the way that has taught me a few things.

Here are the key steps as I see them:
1) Write a good book. Content is the more important thing, so spend the time you need to polish that gem and make sure you have something that people will really enjoy.
2) Get a real editor. The goodness of your story ideas will be harder to get to if you don't have an objective editor who can point out your mistakes and help you go from good to great. Not just grammar but also storyline and everything else.
3) Put the time and money into a great cover. The cover is the first impression people will get of your work, so make sure it represents you well.
4) Write a good synopsis that describes the story in a way that will catch people's interest
5) Get Kindle Create and turn your word doc into a KPF: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200735480
6) Upload your KPF to Amazon along with all your other book details: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US
7) Publish the book!

If you want a paperback there is more work involved. The cover will require more design and formatting and the manuscript will require a lot more formatting as well, to layout well in the book. Once you have that done you can use KDP to setup a paperback version as well.

In terms of marketing, my understanding from talking to folks in the publishing business is that unless you are a BIG author they are going to do very little marketing for you at all. Whether you self-publish or go through a publisher you are going to have to self-promote. What the publisher gets you is access to sales channels, distributing your paper book into book stores.

I decided the best course of action would be to self-publish, get it out there, let people know it exists and see what people think. If readers are enjoying it, I'll work on my next book . For me, the joy is in getting my creation out into the world and seeing people get something from the story - enjoyment, insight, knowledge of a new area - people, places and history.

It's not a money-making proposition - you only do it as a labor of love.

That's my take, and I hope it helps!

[kclancy]

Congrats! I downloaded it and looking forward to reading it this weekend.

[rogern]

Downloaded it. Thanks, and congratulations!

[tlaloc75]

Originally Posted by roland stockham

Hi and well done for getting this out. If you have the time can you add some more about how you got this onto Amazon, how to set the price etc. I have a book outline lurking that I hope to finish one day and I am sure I am not the only one. While I do sort of understand that publishing has got easier in the digital format would not have a clue how to go about it. Strikes me that while you no longer have to get a scrip accepted by a publisher you also have nobody helping with publicity, so how do you get people to read it? Did you have a guide?

I have an answer I wrote up for you - twice actually - but I think it's in moderation. Maybe because I included some outside links? Hopefully, one of the posts will show up soon.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by roland stockham

Hi and well done for getting this out. If you have the time can you add some more about how you got this onto Amazon, how to set the price etc. I have a book outline lurking that I hope to finish one day and I am sure I am not the only one. While I do sort of understand that publishing has got easier in the digital format would not have a clue how to go about it. Strikes me that while you no longer have to get a scrip accepted by a publisher you also have nobody helping with publicity, so how do you get people to read it? Did you have a guide?

There are tutorials/guides directly on Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) as well as books on the subject (available on Amazon of course). There are some useful web sites to (dont recall the URLs, but will post).

The process on KDP is pretty straight forward. You can run thru it and save a draft if not ready to publish yet.

[tlaloc75]

Roland, I just noticed that you are in alert bay. This book is set so close to you!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by tlaloc75

I have an answer I wrote up for you - twice actually - but I think it's in moderation. Maybe because I included some outside links? Hopefully, one of the posts will show up soon.

You could PM it.

[tlaloc75]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

You could PM it.

One more try - without the links.

---

Those are good questions. I spent a lot of time researching how to do this and talking with people 'in the know'. I don't think I'm an expert by any means but I can share what I've learned.

This is how I would describe it:
1) Spend the time you need to write a really good book. Content is key. All the rest will be for nothing if people don't enjoy your book and get something out of it.
2) Work with a professional editor. The best story idea in the world can be obscured by bad grammar, formatting or narrative missteps. It's important to have an objective set of eyes to set you straight. That goes for early readers too. Get as many as you can and get their feedback as you write. I would have people read each chapter as soon as I finished it so that I could use their feedback not only to improve what I just wrote but also to inform how I would write the next chapters.
3) Spend the time and money necessary to create a really great cover. That's going to be people's first impression, so make it count!
4) Write a compelling synopsis. Explain the story and make it interesting, so people want to read more.
5) Get the Kindle Create tool and turn your word doc into a KPF file.
6) Upload the KPF, the cover, and your book details to Amazon with their KDP program.
7) Publish!

That will get you an eBook. You can also publish a print-on-demand paperback through KDP. You'll need to spend more time on formatting and layout to ensure it looks good in print and your cover will need to be built specifically for this purpose. Once that's done, people can get a real book and it's very satisfying to hold a physical copy of your work!

In terms of publicity, it is my understanding that unless you are a BIG author, the publisher will not help much with marketing the book. They expect you to self-promote. What you get from a publisher is access to traditional sales channels and more of a chance to be in a bookstore. I decided that self-publishing would be my best choice for these reasons and also to ensure I retained creative control.

For me, this is a labor of love, not a money-making proposition. My reward is the joy I get from seeing people read the book - their enjoyment and the insights they get for the people, places, and history of an area that they might not otherwise have been exposed to.

[BandB]

Wifey B: My writing is too risque for Amazon.....

[Soton]

Thank you. I look forward to reading it. I admire your perseverance and I hope you do well with your future writing.

[tlaloc75]

Originally Posted by BandB

Wifey B: My writing is too risque for Amazon.....

Lol. Honestly, that's what sells best. If you look at the top 100 lists it is 99% risque! You could be a hit!

[tlaloc75]

Originally Posted by Soton

Thank you. I look forward to reading it. I admire your perseverance and I hope you do well with your future writing.

Thank you! When you are done reading, please let me know what you thought of it.

[dwedeking2]

Originally Posted by BandB

Wifey B: My writing is too risque for Amazon.....

Nope. I have an ex-girlfriend that writes what would almost be softcore porn and makes money with it on Amazon (and other publishers).

[cyan]

Congrats on finishing your book!
This sounds like a great story, and I just ordered my own hard copy. I enjoy the feel of a paper book, and it won't really weigh down our boat because I plan to leave it behind at one of those unmanned cruiser "library" huts on some remote South Pacific island after I am done reading.

On a side note, I got into sailing a few years back BECAUSE the story I was writing had an ocean crossing part and I wanted it to be more authentic. Fast forward, and now boat stuff is taking up writing time, haa.