To print and beyond ~ the brass tacks of independent and self-publishing

The decision to self-publish or to sign a contract with a small, independent publisher is a difficult one for most writers. Last week, we took a look at some of the reasons Alex and I chose to “go indie”.

This week, we’d like to carry the topic further by sharing some of our personal experiences in the self-publishing process.

Keep in mind; it’s not our aim to persuade any writer into a specific course of action. Nor is this post intended to replace your own good research into the nuts and bolts of the publishing industry.

We hope that by laying bare a few of the facts we’ve discovered, we may be able to shine a light into the dark and scary tunnel of indecision.

For each of our Carrick books, the self-publishing process was slightly different. This is because each work was unique and had its own needs. It’s also because the Print On Demand technology and the services available for authors were evolving.

Alex is a trained editor and I have a background in literature, so we had a small advantage throughout the revision and editing process. Even so, we did not take quality for granted. We put each of our books through a rigorous process of revision, copy editing and formatting.

With Gold And Fishes, because of the research material presented in the book, I hired an outside copy-editor and I was glad I did. He didn’t recommend many changes, but he was able to assist me with the correct way to present statistics. This knowledge went a long way to enhancing the quality of the book.

Once Alex and I were satisfied our books were ready for press, we went looking for a publisher. There are a number of excellent print on demand publishers — your research will no doubt lead you to the one that best suits your needs. We chose to use BookSurge, which later became CreateSpace, because they offered several service packages that allowed us some freedom.

For authors who cannot make the financial commitment to use a print on demand service, there may be less expensive print options available. Also, the new Kindle technology is truly outstanding, and is designed to allow authors of quality work to see their books on the virtual shelf.

We opted to make all of our books available in both print and Kindle version.

The great thing about Smashwords (See Donna or Alex on Smashwords) is that you can make your e-book available to e-readers other than Kindle. Provided you have an ISBN number and meet Smashwords quality control, you can also have your work appear in the main Bookstore catalogues: Barnes And Noble and Sony for example.

We found we had greater success through Kindle than through Smashwords, but we loved the freedom of Smashwords, and the way it supports independent writers. If you’re determined to reach readers through any means possible, I do recommend you look into the Smashwords formatting guidelines and give it a try.

In the past, writers were expected to write. Large publishing houses would pick and choose whom they wanted to invest their resources in, which is certainly fair, since they assumed the burden of the costs. Their editors would recommend re-writes and revisions as deemed necessary. Once all revisions were complete, they would also take responsibility for the editing process.

The obvious advantage of the old publishing model was quality control. The publishing houses would ensure only high quality work was presented to the public.

The disadvantage was that a great many worthy manuscripts never saw the light of day, and were destined to lie in the dust of the editor’s slush pile.

Now, thanks to e-publishing and Print On Demand services, many terrific writers are finally able to realise their dreams. Yes, they must be willing to bear the cost and the effort to get there. For most of us, the benefits of artistic control far outweigh those costs.

Also, under the old model, most large publishing houses would spend at least some effort promoting even lesser known authors. That service has largely fallen by the wayside, along with the expectation of quality control for entry level authors. For the most part, the author is now responsible for revisions, edits as well as promotion.

Which leads me back to independent and self-publishing. Since the greatest burden of quality and promotion is placed squarely on the author anyway, the only divide between traditional and self-publishing for most of us is now the cost of Print On Demand services.

E-publishing crosses that divide for authors who do not have the resources for print. It is the final bridge. Most e-publishing services are free. This includes Kindle’s Data Text Processing module.

To summarise, here are the key steps to be aware of in either independent or self-publishing:

1- First and foremost, write a good story. This should go without saying, yet we often seem to forget the basic principle of story-telling. Find your niche, your target audience, and tap into it.

2- Hook up with a talented group of fellow-writers who understand your genre. A strong critiquing group can lead you to better understand what revisions or re-writes your work will need. If you can’t join a group in your area, join one on-line. In the absence of a traditional editor, this is vital.

Remember: be open to criticism, but you are the author. Take suggestions with an open mind, and implement the ones you agree with.

3- If you cannot find a strong critiquing group, it may be worthwhile for you to invest in professional manuscript evaluation. This is not the same as a copy-edit service. An evaluation will not tell you whether your use of the language is correct. It will tell you whether you have a good story, and whether it flows in a logical and compelling sequence.

4- No matter how strong your editing skills are, once all revisions and re-writes are complete, present your work to a copy-editor. If you have a trusted friend with good eyes, ask for help. If you do not, then hire an editor. (We offer both manuscript evaluation and copy-editing at Carrick Publishing.)

Understandably, many writers operate on a shoe-string. If you cannot afford a professional copy-edit service, then we strongly urge you to impose on a friend who has solid writing/reading skills.

5- Ensure your work is properly formatted — whether for print or for e-publishing. There is nothing more annoying as a reader than paying good money for a book only to find it has been hastily put together with sloppy presentation. For those who may not possess the technical skills, we do offer formatting services. For the technologically brave, we recommend you review all work in layout before placing it on the market.

6- Be prepared to market your work. You will need to invest time, and often at least some money, in promotion. It is naive to assume that “if you build it they will come”. Without the resources of a large traditional publisher behind you, you will need to roll your sleeves up.

For many writers, this final step may prove the most challenging. Historically, we have enjoyed imagining ourselves hidden away in garrets recording our deepest tales onto paper. We are not people who enjoy the front lines. However, we need to become that kind of people.

If we don’t find a way to maintain a high quality in our work, the noble art of writing and publication may pass into history. It’s up to us, folks, to keep this art alive.

Best in writing,
Donna Carrick

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