Goin' Indie
SOME OF THE LINKS on this page don't work right now because they connected to a site called Red Room, that no longer exists. I'm at work on reconstructing this. In the meantime, click on BLOG above and see what's there.
This page is for independent publishers. I like the term "independent publishing" because it's about being a smart entrepreneur and creating books that rival what a big publisher might bring out in terms of quality. You will never match the marketing power of a giant, but there are still things you can do. Below are links to give you insight into independent publishing/self-publishing.
"Inside the Mind of an Indie Author" Click here
This page is for independent publishers. I like the term "independent publishing" because it's about being a smart entrepreneur and creating books that rival what a big publisher might bring out in terms of quality. You will never match the marketing power of a giant, but there are still things you can do. Below are links to give you insight into independent publishing/self-publishing.
"Inside the Mind of an Indie Author" Click here
Overview
Here are a few pieces to read to get a sense of what we're talking about here.
--HOW SELF-PUBLISHING CAN AND CAN'T WORK: A Quick Overview Click here
--NEW YORK TIMES article about Amazon and self-publishing: click here.
--A NEWBIE'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING, an ongoing blog by Joe Konrath Click here.
--A GOOD PUBLISHER IS HARD TO FIND, a new reality in the way books are published. Click here
--HOW SELF-PUBLISHING CAN AND CAN'T WORK: A Quick Overview Click here
--NEW YORK TIMES article about Amazon and self-publishing: click here.
--A NEWBIE'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING, an ongoing blog by Joe Konrath Click here.
--A GOOD PUBLISHER IS HARD TO FIND, a new reality in the way books are published. Click here
Writing the Book
A number of classes in UCLA Extension's creative writing track is about this very thing, writing the book. You'll learn how to be clever, creative, and professional. By far, too many people rush to production instead of spending the majority of time writing, rewriting, rewriting, and rewriting.
There is no shortcut to brilliance. Spend most of your time in perfecting your book and receiving feedback. Only when you are confident that you won't be raked over the coals for typos or poor quality should you go ahead to book production. For more about the writing and publishing today, also click on "For Writers" in the toolbar above.
Here are a couple of links to work on this part of your project:
--UCLA Extension classes, click here. If you're not in L.A., consider their online classes.
--KEEP TRYING. In writing and in publishing, this is the mantra (and more). Click here.
--PARENTING AND WRITING—CAN THE TWO MIX? Click here
There is no shortcut to brilliance. Spend most of your time in perfecting your book and receiving feedback. Only when you are confident that you won't be raked over the coals for typos or poor quality should you go ahead to book production. For more about the writing and publishing today, also click on "For Writers" in the toolbar above.
Here are a couple of links to work on this part of your project:
--UCLA Extension classes, click here. If you're not in L.A., consider their online classes.
--KEEP TRYING. In writing and in publishing, this is the mantra (and more). Click here.
--PARENTING AND WRITING—CAN THE TWO MIX? Click here
Book Production
To make your book, you need to hire professionals--people with experience that you can work with. If your goal is a book that looks as if it came from a major publisher, you will need an editor, a few proofreaders, and a book designer. Yes, you can try to do all three yourself, and while it'll be inexpensive, it won't match the training and experience of the right people.
Perhaps the best place to get a lot of information on this side of things in one spot is the website Self-Publishing Review. It has articles as well as names of people you can use for production purposes. Click here for the website.
Also, for a great blog by a good designer, click here to read what Rob Siders has to say. The designer of all my books has been Daniel Will-Harris--an amazing guy--so click here for his website.
Perhaps the best place to get a lot of information on this side of things in one spot is the website Self-Publishing Review. It has articles as well as names of people you can use for production purposes. Click here for the website.
Also, for a great blog by a good designer, click here to read what Rob Siders has to say. The designer of all my books has been Daniel Will-Harris--an amazing guy--so click here for his website.
Marketing
As I've moved from traditional publishing to independent publishing, I've written on a number of topics associated with it. This is what I have so far:
-- HOW DARCIE CHAN BECAME A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR (Wall Street Journal) Click here
-- INTERVIEW WITH DARCIE CHAN Click here
-- INTERVIEW WITH BOYD MORRISON, a early adapter of self-publishing who went mainstream and hit success. Click here.
--MAKING OR GIVING THE GREAT INTERVIEW Click here
--HOW TO NOT DIE IN GIVING A READING Click here
--THE 99-CENT EBOOK DILEMMA: ROAD TO SUCCESS OR A SUGGESTION “IT SUCKS”? Click here
And Another Take on eBook pricing from the Huffington Post Click here
--MARKETING YOUR LITERARY NOVEL THROUGH INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING Click here
--HOW TO GO BANKRUPT THANKS TO REALLY GREAT REVIEWS Click here
--LITERARY PRIZES AS A WAY TO MARKET Click here
--MY REALITIES OR "HOW TO MARKET YOUR BOOK OR WATCH IT DIE" Click here
-- HOW DARCIE CHAN BECAME A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR (Wall Street Journal) Click here
-- INTERVIEW WITH DARCIE CHAN Click here
-- INTERVIEW WITH BOYD MORRISON, a early adapter of self-publishing who went mainstream and hit success. Click here.
--MAKING OR GIVING THE GREAT INTERVIEW Click here
--HOW TO NOT DIE IN GIVING A READING Click here
--THE 99-CENT EBOOK DILEMMA: ROAD TO SUCCESS OR A SUGGESTION “IT SUCKS”? Click here
And Another Take on eBook pricing from the Huffington Post Click here
--MARKETING YOUR LITERARY NOVEL THROUGH INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING Click here
--HOW TO GO BANKRUPT THANKS TO REALLY GREAT REVIEWS Click here
--LITERARY PRIZES AS A WAY TO MARKET Click here
--MY REALITIES OR "HOW TO MARKET YOUR BOOK OR WATCH IT DIE" Click here
Books That Can Help You
--THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER by Carolyn Howard-Johnson Click here
--HOW I SOLD 1 MILLION BOOKS IN 5 MONTHS by John Locke Click here
--HOW I SOLD 1 MILLION BOOKS IN 5 MONTHS by John Locke Click here