Are you trying to break into the world of publishing but finding it hard to get your foot in the door? You’re not alone. But with the book industry beginning to change its attitude towards DIY publishing, there are more reasons than ever to take matters into your own hands. Here are four stars changing the book world through sheer self-determination.
1. The Determined authonomist; how a HarperCollins' author used self-publishing to build a proven readership
1. The Determined authonomist; how a HarperCollins' author used self-publishing to build a proven readership
“Writing your book is the easy part. Selling the book is when the hard work starts,” is a phrase debut author Steven Dunne remembers being told at the start of his writing career. Fortunately, authors now have more services available to them than ever before as technology advances are making it easier to self-publish, and social networking tools bring online book promotion within the grasp of all.
After completing the manuscript for police thriller The Reaper, Steven decided to self-publish the book, believing that proven success could lead to a deal with a traditional publishing house. The book store chain Waterstone’s agreed to stock his novel on the shelves of selected stores and he managed to sell the majority of the 2000 books he originally printed on-demand. He also marketed his work through a personal website. But when Steven put his manuscript onto authonomy.com, it was swiftly picked up by an editor at HarperCollins’ imprint,Avon, who went on to print 40,000 copies of the book.
Taking that first step definitely paid off for Steven. In fact the editors at HarperCollins ordered copies of his self-published book when deciding whether to offer him a book deal. His editor at Avon, Sammia Rafique, says that “Steve’s decision to self-publish is testament to his tenacity and yet another example of the passion he has for his writing.” We couldn’t agree more!
2. The Teen Inspiration; best seller used print-on-demand to reduce early financial risk
More than a few world-famous authors were originally forced to publish themselves – D.H. Lawrence, Beatrix Potter and Ernest Hemingway amongst them. A more recent success story belongs to Christopher Paolini, who started work on his manuscript for a fantasy novel at just fifteen years old and was encouraged to self-publish by his parents. He used a print-on-demand service to keep printing costs low and travelled around the USA promoting his book himself to overcome high marketing costs.
The book was later spotted by a publisher and was re-released in 2003. The teen novel Eragon reached the New York Times best seller list and even made it to the big screen in 2006; a truly fantastic achievement.
3. The Timely Author; speed to market is vital to capture the zeitgeist
One benefit to using a self-publishing service instead of a traditional publisher is how quickly you can get your work into print and ready for sale. Author and entrepreneur Jill Keto started work on her book, Don't Get Caught With Your Skirt Down: A Practical Girl's Recession Guide, back in May 2008, aiming to give practical tips and advice to help women through the recession. As it was such a timely subject, Jill was eager to get her work into print as soon as possible, and the long lead times typical of the traditional publishers made them unsuitable partners for her at the tinme. After finding the DIY publishing company CreateSpace, she decided self-publishing was the next logical step for her. The book was in print and available to buy on Amazon.com in August 2008 – a mere four months later. The attention Jill’s book received once self-published helped her catch the attention of a major publisher, who offered her a mainstream publishing deal shortly thereafter.
4. The Plucky Publisher; new DIY publishing house gives creative control to authors
It’s not just authors who have the motivation to go at it alone. Sarah Jane Heckscher-Marquis successfully set up her own publishing business, DIIARTS back in November 2009. DIIARTS believes in giving the author complete creative control over their own work. “The concept that we should be chopping up a manuscript to a desired length to fit on a shelf doesn’t work for us,” says Sarah Jane, and this belief will appeal to many writers.
DIIARTS currently publishes works by four authors who were originally authonomy members and are selling their books on the DIIARTS site. The company is now branching out into non-fiction and is publishing two more novels by authonomy writers in April, Die A Dry Death by Greta van der Rol and Tulagi Hotel by Heikki Hietala. DIIARTS’s success highlights that it’s not just authors who are taking risks in the new publishing world. Read our full interview with Sarah-Jane here.
So whatever your talent: writer, editor or publisher, maybe it’s time to think about how you can take the reins of your own publishing career. For more tips from the pros, click here.
To take the next step with your book, check out our partner, CreateSpace, who offers tools and services to help you self-publish, build readership, and sell your book. Learn more about CreateSpace.
34 comments:
Nice ad for Createspace!
No young writer should ever be aspiring to be like Christopher Paolini.
If these are the writers you choose to applaud, then I'd rather not be a success: 'Writing your book is the easy part...' says Steven Dunne. Oh really? I suppose it depends on what you call writing.
One thing I have noticed about wannabees is that all they do is find a place to get together in order to brew in their unsuccessfulness. Unfortunately that has become 75% of authonomist.
When it is not in our power to follow what is true, we ought to follow what is most probable.
Rene Descartes
An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?
Rene Descartes
Sounds as if most unpublished writers have been indoctrinated to believe that the only way out is through conventional publishing. They scowl whoever dares to take matters in their own hands and if that person succceeds, they call them a fluke.
Call Christopher Paolini, Steven Dunne, and Jill Keto bad writers all you want but their numbers and achievements will always prove you wrong.
Houray! This means there is hope for my upcoming self published novel, Instant Messenger. Hooray!
For some reason I always knew the publishing industry would come to this and it is coming faster than some can cope.
One thing I have noticed about wannabees is that all they do is find a place to get together in order to brew in their unsuccessfulness. Unfortunately that has become 75% of authonomist.
When it is not in our power to follow what is true, we ought to follow what is most probable.
Rene Descartes
An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?
Rene Descartes
Sounds as if most unpublished writers have been indoctrinated to believe that the only way out is through conventional publishing. They scowl whoever dares to take matters in their own hands and if that person succceeds, they call them a fluke.
Call Christopher Paolini, Steven Dunne, and Jill Keto bad writers all you want but their numbers and achievements will always prove you wrong.
Houray! This means there is hope for my upcoming self published novel, Instant Messenger. Hooray!
For some reason I always knew the publishing industry would come to this and it is coming faster than some can cope.
Sour grapes, the lot of you!
Rejoice in others' success! Death to the ego. Sour grapes is right.
My print on demand book, "The Unicorn of Saint Rodoki" will outsell Stephen King's "Under the Dome." King is a hack, so I guess outselling "Under the Dome" is not a big achievement. "Second Sight Saint Rodoki" will be a prequel that comes after. Finally, the trilogy ends with "Saint Rodoki Rising." What does this say to you? It says tenacity and POD is effective as a major tool in reaching your goals. High five!
WOW! You know someone has folies de grandeures when as a newbie they dare call Stephen King a hack. Just doing so makes you a failure.
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Self publishing is a viable option, whether you want to use it to gain the attention of major publishers or service a niche. I do it and I'm doing okay.
Stephen King a Hack? Hardly! Anyone who has written anything more than a 16 page novella has realized what Stephen King puts into his works. He is the success he is, because he is (self-embarrassingly) honest, and exposes writers' dilemmas right there in his own creative works.
I have MANY things to say.
First, I wholeheartedly agree with second anonymous. NEVER base your practical model on a one in a million success. Dream, yes. Plan - you must be kidding.
Second, the reason Year Zero does not appear in this piece is not because of our scruples, but because we were not asked. I can't speak for the others, but I am CONSIDERABLY annoyed about that.
Third, hmm, it's Eastenders time. I will read the posts afterwards
1 in a million? I doubt it.
Any self published author who understands that books do not sell themselves will almost always make out better than the one who wrote a book and waited 5 years for a conventional publisher to pick him / her up.
Another myth is that the conventional publisher will do all the marketing etc for you. WRONG!
As a conventionally published author you will do just about the same amount of selling as you would a self published author. The only difference being you would be given an advance on possible sales and may not receive any other royalty check until the conventional publisher makes their money back. After that you are a mule, making money for your agent and the publisher.
Ok. So you rather spend five years of your life waiting for someone else to dig in their pocket for you. Hey I understand, many people like charity and like to trust their lives to others. I don't. Life is short and I want what’s mine now!
I have yet to speak to a self-published author who has covered all bases of the publishing process and was not better off self-publishing.
1 in a million? That sounds like something an agent or publisher would say because they are scared that this coming trend will take them out of business.
Benoit Akoa,
I believe the POD phenomenon is indeed threatening conventional big house publishing and, the big houses know it. But, POD is a forum of sorts where (at least for now) the big houses can scout new talent. They don't have to risk anything as they have in the past and the scouting process enables them to identify promising prospects without the capital investment of before. I believe actually, the POD and DIY trend will prove to be beneficial for the industry as a whole.
By the way Benoit,
Head Games sounds awesome. I just published The Object of Evil. I think my next one will be a sequel; a Serial Killer, as well (no pun intended).
Absolutely Chris,
POD is an excellent tool for the author to test the waters, for the publishers who tend to follow trends to feel good about an author's works even if experimental as long as they see the results. In addition, for the author to commandeer a larger royalty cut.
An author who has successfully travelled the self-publishing route is definitely more valuable to the publisher as part of the revenue generating team versus a "Green" author who understands nothing of the process.
It is a win win for author and publisher. I am not so sure, where the agent fits into this equation other than eventually becoming a manager rather than a talent scout.
The readers will also benefit from the lower cost of available talent hence variety in books. I do not think quality will take a significant hit given the rubbish already produced by conventional publishers. I have read better quality books overall from the independent side than I have from the conventional side. More risqué, unique, les "blue print-ish"
Thank you Chris,
Head Games will be out in June just about , and Guinea should follow. Keep in touch, I may want to read yours too
Hey there, Benoit - good to see you again! I remember when you were on Authonomy all the time.
I must reply - simply because I am in agreement with you about self-publishing - a couple of days ago I blogged on the subject of precisely that - 10 reasons why I would always be better off self-publishing:
http://agnieszkasshoes.blogspot.com/2010/01/dear-publisher.html
My point is simply this - a self-publisher needs to go in realising how hard it will be, how they need to be in itfor the long haul, and how they absolutely need to treat it as a business. What's dangerous is assuming they'll be an overnight sensation through self-publishing just because one or two people have been - I think suggesting that would be irresponsible. On the other hand, five years and five books down the line - if they get the business AND the quality right - absolutely they're better off self-publishing. Better off than being picked up byu a publisher - let alone hanging around! I've just self-published my second book in the space of 6 months, and I LOVE doing it.
Hello there Mr. Dan Holloway,
Yes those were the days. The days of authonomic absorption, chasing the so coveted editor's desk.
Well those days are far behind me and I am well on my way to my first novel release, May 3rd 2010. I became tired of waiting for someone to tell me that my words are worth presenting to the public.
That is the first principle of self-publishing: self-confidence and the belief in the self and what you do. Without it one is doomed to waiting for the big dogs.
I agree, publishing is a lot of work whether you self publish or not. It is also a lot of fun, for me it is more fun than work because I am selling the ultimate products, my own image, my own thoughts. I am working to create a standard out of ME. It is the ultimate fun
Yes, the publishing market has changed. After 40 years trying to get in the door and doing everything I could to improve my writing, I published my first novel using POD in 2008.
My Splendid Concubine went on to earn honorable mentions in three writing contests and garnered great reviews and has now sold more than that 500 book average we often hear about.
In 2009, I decided to start an imprint and in December, I published my first author. In January, I published Our Hart, the sequel to My Splendid Concubine.
I'm also carving out a nitch as a blogger on blogs like http://learningchina.wordpress.com/
I've been a guest on traditional talk radio on stations across the nation as a China expert, and I've been interviewed by a radio station in Europe using SKYPE. An English language magazine published in mainland China also reviewed My Splendid Concubine.
When I submitted Concubine to the self-publishing contest at Writer's Digest, the judge said this about the novel, "Hart's struggles adapting to Chinese culture, always feeling the pull and force of his Victorian British background, are compelling. His relationships with his concubine and his concubine's sister are poignant--the novel is as much a study of the complexities of love as it is anything else. A powerful novel ..." Judge of 2008 Writer's Digest Self Published Book Awards
Although a traditional publisher has not come knocking on my door, I have fans that read my work.
Technology has leveled the playing field and traditional agents and publishers are going to have to adapt to survive. The great thing about POD and sites like Amazon is that our books are always on the virtual shelf and always in print.
And the Midwest book review wrote, "My Splendid Concubine is packed cover to cover with intriguing characters and plot, a must read for historical fiction fans and a fine addition to any collection on the genre." Midwest Book Review, May 8
It is obvious that those people that acted as the gate keepers, the agents and editors, have been removed from the process. Now it is up to the reader to decide what they like.
The list reads:
1. Indie films
2. Indie music
3. Indie books
Even with talent, writing a novel is work! Then there is the editing process: more work! (Absolutely necessary for POD books!) But the work is worth it if you really want to get a message out. It is a labor of love.
Then the hard part begins: marketing. I have always found it easy to market the products of others in which I believe. But marketing my own "baby" is an entirely different story.
Art
My self-published books have sold more than 7000 copies, mostly through word-of-mouth. I have enthusiastic fans who have called my books "masterpieces" and my characters, "cherished friends". So I can't understand why publishers and agents are not responding to my emails or phone calls.
Choosing between self-publication and playing the waiting game of (hopefully) attracting a mainstream publisher's interest is an immense decision for an author; it is extremely hard to decide what to do for the best.
I am hoping against hope that the latter option works out for me. In light of this, I (and I'm certain, other Authonomists) would welcome a slightly-improved way of publicising our Authonomy books - even if it were merely a 'zoom' facility to show our cover art more effectively. Amateur writers, lacking the funds available to publishing houses, need a little assistance in publicising their work, to complement their own efforts.
Authonomy membership has done wonders for me personally, so I'm not complaining; merely making a suggestion. The author Bradley Wind designs and creates book covers for numerous members at no charge - it would go some way to rewarding him for his endeavours if his artwork was displayed in all its glory.
Affiliate Marketing is a performance based sales technique used by companies to expand their reach into the internet at low costs. This commission based program allows affiliate marketers to place ads on their websites or other advertising efforts such as email distribution in exchange for payment of a small commission when a sale results.
www.onlineuniversalwork.com
Gabriele, if your self-published book is doing well,why on earth are you interested in agents and publishers?
It's one of the things I just don't get. Like building up a great little business and selling it to a conglomerate. Fine as an exit strategy when you're fed up. But as a career move?
I also think self-publishing suits a particular kind of niche book. Yes we have examples here that show how mainstream books can succeed through self-publishing - but it is a business model much more suited to the niche end
Dan, I'm trying to broaden my distribution. So far, my books have sold mostly through a few stores in Southern Ontario and at events where I rent a booth, although I have also sold some internationally from my website. But not enough. I know that there is a much larger market out there, but don't know how to distribute economically to other countries.
I did not do POD, but printed several thousand copies of each title - so I still have a large inventory in my basement. (All of it much more than paid for by sales so far.)
Don't let anyone tell you that sales and marketing are easy. It's a lot of work - much less fun than writing! I can't get onto Amazon.ca because I'm not a large enough "publisher". Amazon.com has my books, but by the time I pay for shipping (they only order a very few at a time) and they take their ruinous 55%, I make no money at all on those sales. Not a good business model!
Yes, I love to have complete artistic control of my books, and I'm thrilled to have fans who take the time to write and tell me how much they like my books. They help to keep me motivated. So I'm working on a new book, the 3rd in a series of historical epics.
I have several websites, a blog, and a trailer on YouTube, so I continue to do what I can to get the word out. Oh, yeah, and I'm on Authonomy, too.
I had a similar experience with CreateSpace. They are definitely the best DIY publisher out there. I will shout it from the rooftops! As for other Self-Publishing operators - and I don't mind saying I am referring to Lulu, they are the pits! I can write a book on my experience with them over a period of 2 years.
So I've heard that Paolini wasn't really a self publisher. His parents ran a small press.
http://jimhines.livejournal.com/313073.html
@Gabriele, I can see your issue with wanting to sell to a wider audience - especially if you have a large inventory.
We are ahving a debate about distribution & indie authors today at Year Zero if you want to join in
http://yearzerowriters.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/book-distribution-the-only-question-or-a-non-question/
Very best of luck to you. Yes, marketing is hard work - but for me it's as much fun as writing. It's about finding and connecting with readers - and taht's what - for me - storytelling is all about.
Actually make a good living from self publishing/web distribution. Write under several names for different genres (branding is important) and it is all worth the effort.
And I get to keep all the profits!
i have visited your blog this is really good and use full for me. thanks
build a niche store
Life is too short to gripe! Get out there and live whilst you can still breathe.
This Benoit dude knows what he is talking about. I've done both! Although I do DVD animation and graphic novels rather than traditional novels, I have experienced working with a major publisher (TOKYOPOP) and going it alone for ten years. There are advantages and disadvantages to each road.
It is very easy to get a nice advance and then never see another check. It is also easy to have a decent steady income (and get it NOW) self publishing. I should also note than I self published 2 titles and shipped nearly every package by my own hand before being approached by TOKYOPOP.
The naysayers are never going to do anything because they don't really WANT to. If they really want it, they will go out and take it! Reading their comments, it is obvious they don't really want it.
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