A 10 step detailed outline of the process of writing, editing, and publishing a book to sell and share with the world! I give details of my personal author journey, and give you a timeline, direct links, and a checklist to help you publish too! Each step includes a quick recap.
WRITE.
This seems obvious, but it HAS To be said. Step one - is to ACTUALLY WRITE. You would be surprised how many people hold stories in their hearts and in their heads for YEARS without ever actually putting pen to paper, or opening the computer to make a first draft. It seems SO SIMPLE. BUT, it is not. You must WRITE!!! And I do not say that lightly, because I know it is intimidating to have a blank screen or blank paper staring back at you. This is coming from someone who had the idea of "Always, Always, Always" planted in my head for 10 years before it became a tangible POEM. I knew there was a message, a story there, but I couldn't get to the bottom of it... until I started writing, brainstorming, and experimenting with different writing styles and finally landed on a poem for a picture book. Whether you are writing a poem, an autobiography, or a work of fiction, you need to set aside time to actually WRITE. For me, this looked like planting myself at coffee shops and writing different versions of my poem, until one felt right. Some people find more success with setting time aside each day to write - whether that is 10 minutes or an hour a day, it can help you to keep moving forward in your journey to become a published author.
Recap: You have to start somewhere! Start writing.
Set Goals.
The first goal to consider is a timeline for publication. In my case, I was determined to publish before I had my baby - so I had a hard deadline to meet. One major benefit of choosing to self-publish is that you are in control of your publishing timeline. As long as I kept myself and project on pace, I knew I could publish before my due date. Fun Fact: I opened a blank Google Doc to begin drafting my first poem in early May - and I published in late September - so a little over 4 months total. Another goal to determine is your purpose for writing. Are you writing with the intention to educate others? Are you simply trying to write something that will sell and make you money? Are you writing to leave a legacy? Nail down your purpose to help drive your decision making and initial goals. For me, I set out to leave a legacy. My father, who passed when I was in college, would never meet his grandson, and I wanted to create something to carry on his legacy - as a dedication to him and a gift to my baby. The poem, Always, Always, Always was my tribute to him and the message of unconditional love to pass on to my children and to share with anyone and everyone who would get their hands on my book. I really did not care about how many books I would sell, or how much money I would make. I wanted to be in control of the timeline, (and every other aspect for that matter)... so I set the publication date and I had a clear purpose and path.
Recap: Do some self-reflection to determine your purpose, and set goals for your publication timeline and future sales.
EDIT.
You will edit your own writing first and use any built-in AI editing tools you can to get to a solid first draft... this is obvious, right? As a former English teacher, I unfortunately know many who would not consider this step important :) Further, as the author, you are blinded by your passion and can miss mistakes in your writing. I HIGHLY suggest hiring a stranger to edit your book. You will not get honest feedback from your aunt, your sister or your husband. I used REEDSY to search for the right match for my book. There are many other platforms that feature freelance editors who have experience and portfolios you can peruse. I found someone who had a fair price, good samples in her portfolio, good customer reviews, and many published books herself. Did you know there are many TYPES of editing? Decide which you will need - ie: copyediting, line-editing, and/or proofreading. Figure out what you need and hire accordingly. I needed a copyedit and proofread. Once I hired my editor, and paid her, we communicated about my timeline and needs. We ended up meeting on Zoom to look at my first draft together and discuss some wording, punctuation, and formatting issues. She really helped me get to a final manuscript I was PROUD of. She also ended up doing my final proofread before I hit "publish" - I URGE you to find one more set of eyes before you upload your final copy. Again, you will have editing fatigue on your own work.
Recap: Spend the extra time and money to have a professional edit your writing.
Research.
You must become an expert in your genre. Go to local bookstores and look at the covers, design, formatting, chapter breakdown, length, spine, back cover, blurbs, prices, interior, page numbers, etc. for the types of books you want to emulate. You will notice differences in page quality, cover material, illustration styles, and much more. As a future children's author, I went straight to the kids' section of each bookstore/library and took pictures and took notes on all aspects I could. My goal was to create something that looked like it belonged on the shelves with current popular books and top-sellers.
Further, there are SO many resources out there for writing and publishing... you can spend hours listening to conversations and interviews of current authors. As a teacher on summer break, I had extra time on my hands, so I did a lot of listening to podcasts. One podcast I devoured was Self Publishing School. I loved listening to authors talk about their decision making, marketing, and writing journeys. However, anything I could find from the writing and publishing world was useful, because it helped me develop the right vocabulary to talk about writing and publishing and guided my future research. This was a great way to continue learning while between steps on my writing and publishing journey. I continue to listen to Self Publishing School, as it is updated weekly with new episodes.
One major decision to make, is the method of publishing you would like to pursue. Once you have your manuscript you can choose between publishing options. The two general choices are self-publishing or traditional publishing, however, there are many small branches under each type. I opted for self-publishing because it gave me the possibility to expedite the process, gave me more control over decisions, AND eventually allows me to keep more from sales. With a baby's due date as my book deadline, I wanted to work quickly, with flexibility. Further, the message was so near and dear to my heart, I wanted to be the final decision maker on illustrations, cover, design, etc.
Now, as I pursue traditional publishing, I can tell you a step I did not have to do in self-publishing is creating a formal proposal to submit to publishing companies. Once I complete a successful traditional publishing deal, I will share all the details, but for now - this is the only step I am familiar with so far. One of the other branch of publishing to note is a "hybrid" version of the two types. There are MANY companies offering services to help you reach the publishing finish line, but they are taking some decision making, money, and/or control of timeline along the way - however, it may be the best choice if you want the expedited process, and don't mind losing a little control. Spend time researching and choose the best option for your timeline, budget, and ultimate publishing goals.
Recap: Visit bookstores and libraries to become an expert on your genre - take notes on what you like - and choose a publishing route.
Illustrate.
If you go down the self-publishing route, you must find your own illustrator. Similar to freelance editors, there are several platforms for freelance illustrators. I used REEDSY, because I had such good luck on that platform previously.. Now, with a picture book, this was a HUGE and important decision that would greatly impact my book. If you are writing a non-picture book... your illustrator/designer may just be responsible for the front cover and back cover and/or minimal interior photos. However, if you are writing a children's book... you may need to take some additional time here to research and explore the different children's book illustration styles out there. I hit the jackpot with my illustrator. Once I found her portfolio on Reedsy, I Googled her name and found her personal websites and other platforms she uses, including her social media and Etsy shop. I liked her style, and just went with my gut. Cost, of course, will play a role here again. This was by far my biggest expenditure throughout my publishing process - and will most likely be yours, if you are creating a picture book. This was also the most time-consuming step of the publishing process, so factor that into your timeline!
Recap: Determine your budget and style to find a freelance illustrator to bring your story to life.
Design and Format.
There are so many details to consider in the final stages of your book creation. And if you are like me, it can get overwhelming and you may experience decision fatigue or analysis paralysis. I struggled with the minute details, because I am simply not a details kind of person. When it comes to the style of cover print - you need to decide on a matte or glossy cover - yes, just like instant prints at Walgreens! ha - I went with matte on my hardcover and glossy on my paperback - obviously I couldn't decide. Another detail with the aesthetic of your book (which also does impact your printing costs) is the dimensions of your book. This is also just another personal preference decision. I suggest that you go to bookstores and see what you like. I was drawn to square books - so I went with an 8 by 8 - which is a very standard size.
Additional detail needs to be paid to your page layout and page numbers. Most children's books have a total of 32 printed pages, so I wanted to make sure I could include all additional pages I found necessary: the copyright information (verso), title page, dedication page, an "About the Author and Illustrator Page" and an additional illustration. While my illustrator (and book designer) was in charge of creating the digital file with all aforementioned pages, I was responsible for creating all of the "blurbs," to be on each of the non-illustrated pages I included. It was tedious! Not all of these pages are "necessary" for everyone, but I wanted them in my book.
Thankfully, my illustrator also doubled as my book designer and formatter. However, you may have to hire a separate professional to create your book's digital file. Unless you are super tech savvy and figure it out yourself! When using a platform like IngramSpark - you are required to upload a digital file to print - and you must use their specific guidelines and parameters. My illustrator was familiar with how to use Ingram's book upload, so this was an easy add-on for her.
A major component of the book design that I overlooked was the back cover. When you do your research in bookstores, you will see a lot of options and variations of back covers. You can include art, quotes, summaries, about the authors, etc. - but one thing you will find on the back of all the books - is a barcode. If you are publishing on KDP, or using a hybrid publisher, you may just add a free barcode. However, if you go the route I did, you will want to purchase a personal ISBN barcode to add to your back cover. You need to head to the official Bowker site to do this step. It will help make your book more discoverable and copyright and register your book properly, so bookstores can purchase your book and price appropriately. Fun Fact: this is also becomes the step you will set a price to your book... because it will be added as the final 4 digits of your ISBN barcode. Including the price here lets bookstore owners how to price your book. Go ahead and look at the last 4 digits on the ISBNs on the back cover of your books! In most cases, it matches the price you paid for the book.
Recap: Your research will pay off as you decide book dimensions, page numbers, and other components of your interior file. Don't overlook the back over, and be sure to buy an official barcode from Bowker.
Proofread.
As I mentioned in the previous step - I did end up writing/creating additional pages after my poem was illustrated. Therefore, this final proofread step also included an edit and suggestion round with my editor. Again, I used the same editor from my first round of edits. It was important for her too look over my copyright page, "About the Author" page, dedication, and book summary for the back cover. She helped me find typos, change wording, and gave suggestions before resubmitting changes to my illustrator. A final proofread gives you the official stamp to publish! You would be surprised what mistakes another set of eyes will discover in a final proofread. This can be anything from a misplaced comma, to a random double spacing, or a more glaring error - like a misspelled word, repeated word, or missing capital letter.
Recap: Spend the extra time and money for a final proofread before you publish.
PUBLISH!
Prepare to launch! You may want to choose a special day, if you want to mark this special day - "your book birthday" - with a personal date. For example, I published my latest activity and coloring book on Mother's Day :)
JUST one final thing, as you are uploading your digital file of your book - if you choose to upload to Ingram - you will have a few additional boxes to check and fill in, before you officially submit for publication. Your Ingram upload requires you to fill in metadata for your book. Metadata includes what countries can purchase your book, what percentages you will take from sales, the genres your book should be classified under, the official listing price, your publishing information, and your author, co-authors, illustrators, and any other contributors' information.
Once you have submitted, you simply have to wait while Ingram reviews your submission for acceptance and publication. You will get notified when it happens, and then have to wait for all systems to catch up with your new title. Within weeks, my first publication was accepted and out into the world and available on all of Ingram's distribution channels! (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, any any other online bookseller you can think of).
Recap: Pick a launch date, upload your files, and complete your book's metadata.
Market.
Annnnd this step is my least favorite. Unfortunately, many authors share this sentiment. But, as I will elaborate in the final step, you will not make any sales if you don't market your book! Some may argue this step should come WAY earlier. For example, you may opt to share your writing process and projected publication dates with your audience to build anticipation! Some authors choose to utilize social media, take interviews, and guest-star on podcasts as part of a "book tour" of sorts to promote their soon-to-be-released books. In this case, you can also set up pre-publication sales and allow people to pre-order your book.
Social Media is a great tool for exploring more of your genre, and like-minded authors. It can help you find the right audience for your author journey, and can serve as inspiration for your future writing and creating. My "authorgram" and Pinterest feed is filled with moms of littles, authors, illustrators, creators, and DIYers who give me inspiration daily. I have many authors I "follow" who are master content creators, and also utilize Facebook and TikTok. I simply do not enjoy this method, BUT I cannot deny the traffic it brings in for others. Further, social media can be an avenue for you to collect e-mails. A major marketing tool you will hear discussed on many podcasts from successful authors, is developing an e-mail list. My list is small, but growing... :) An e-mail list can help you narrow down your true audience and give you direct contact with your customer. I am trying to utilize this tool more.
The number ONE way I have found success in sales (beyond the initial circle of friends and family who supported me from the get-go) is through relationships with wholesale buyers. For example, I have a coffee shop in town - Teleo Coffee - that has restocked bulk orders of Always, Always, Always for their store 4 times in the last year. Further, I am gearing up for an author event at a local store - Zee Bee Market - that shelves my book - who will host me in November for a local signing/meet and greet. The people running these stores love supporting local, love seeing you in their store, and encourage and support your business (for the most part) if you are respectful and kind in your approach. I have purposely chosen to inquire business with stores I think would be a good fit for both of us. Another wholesale buyer of mine from children's boutique, Lass and Laddie, led me to another great opportunity, which I shared in a previous blog post - (check it out). Needless to say, the relationship with these buyers is invaluable.
If you are lucky enough to get connected to a news outlet, publication, or podcast to talk about your book - it can really help create momentum and get your book seen and recognized. I was lucky enough to share my story on KMOV (click the link here to watch!) Many municipalities have their own online newsletters and print publications you can reach out to as well for an interview or a local success or author story for an opportunity to show off your hard work and share your story.
Recap: Create social media pages to network with others and share your news, begin to grow an e-mail list, and develop relationships with local businesses to host author events and potentially shelf your book.
Sell.
I assume if you made it this far, you are interested in making some sales. As a self-published author, I can tell you... sales are up to you! I personally never sought out to make money, BUT I did have a goal to sell as many books as possible - for the sake of legacy and sharing the message of my book. If you publish the way I did, your book will automatically be available on all online distribution channels offered by Ingram, so no matter what, if your book is accepted and published by Ingram, your book will be available for purchase. However, I suggest setting up a personal author site to sell directly to your consumer. In complete transparency, I make up to 6 times more when I sell directly from my website than when I sell wholesale or through one of the online distribution channels with Ingram (like Amazon). I am happy and proud to report that at two years of publication, I have sold 649 books as of today - and I am projecting to hit the 700 mark by end of year. There are some who will not be impressed by that number, but as an indie author, I am proud.
Recap: Ingram publication makes your book available for purchase automatically, but to make more profit, you should create a website to sell direct!
Thank you for taking the time to read about my publication journey. I hope you find it helpful!
*If you want a clear, concise CHECKLIST for your publication journey - CLICK HERE or DOWNLOAD from my site to print
*If you have any questions, or simply want to know more about my story - CLICK HERE or reach out on socials
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