Take the self publishing quiz -is self publishing for you?
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That's a question only you can answer. Today, more and more writers
are choosing the do-it-yourself method for getting into print. Many
have learned that even if they are accepted by a traditional trade
publisher, the vast majority of promotion and publicity still rests on
their shoulders if they hope for success. Why do most of the work,
then settle for a lousy 10% royalty? Additionally, these same trade
publishers are rarely willing to take on a no-name author; they want
guaranteed bestsellers. That said, publishing your own book is not for
everyone. Take this self-publishing quiz and ponder your answers.
Do you want to be in control?
People who self-publish like to control their own destiny. They want
to decide what the title is, how the cover will look, what the nterior
design is like, how the content will be edited, what ways the book
will be promoted and sold. They want to be in charge of the whole
enchilada.
Are you willing to educate yourself?
You'll likely spend thousands of dollars on this venture.
Surprisingly, many people will investigate all aspects of a summer
vacation . . . yet jump into self-publishing without a clue. That's
bad news. You need to be willing to read books like The Complete Guide
to Self-Publishing, to attend writing and publishing meetings in your
area, to seek out and attend relevant national conferences. This kind
of preparation helps you avoid costly mistakes and gives you insider
knowledge on what works best.
Do you have persistence? Tenacity?
Are you willing to follow through doggedly? Writing is just the
beginning. Book marketing should begin the minute you get an idea for
a book - and never end! You must be willing to pursue hot leads and
persevere five, six, even seven times. (Of course, every author must
be willing to do this if he or she hopes to sell books.) Self-
publishing allows you to get off to a fast start (4-6 months versus a
year and a half with traditional publishers), but you must have
staying power.
Do you have the time?
If you think writing was a chore, double or quadruple that if you
truly want to be successful. Book production details take hours and
hours, and marketing is never ending. We've had clients who got up at
5:00 a.m. to work on their projects before they went to their daytime
jobs. Others block out three hours in the evening to pursue their
publishing project.
Can you afford it?
While you can put something together via Print on Demand (POD) for a
few hundred dollars, if you are planning to make serious money and
change lives with your book - be prepared to invest several thousands
of dollars. The returns can be enormous. Some successful self-
publishers make as much as 80% of the retail price of their book when
they return for second, third, and fourth print runs.
Are you willing to discipline yourself to be a "business person?"
Writing books often attracts creative souls. Successful self-
publishing requires a business mind-set. They are not mutually
exclusive. You can learn to hire and supervise suppliers, do
bookkeeping, fill orders, organize and execute marketing campaigns.
While many of these things have creative aspects to them, they are
much more right-brain than left-brain. When you self-publish, you are
going into business.
What's your passion level?
(No, we don't mean sexually.) You've got to have a huge commitment to
this book. No one cares about it as much as you do. You've got to love
it, and nurture it, and raise it to outstanding adulthood. Is what you
have to offer important enough for you to get - and stay - supremely
pumped up? There are few professions that allow us to touch
lives . . . to make people happier, healthier, or wealthier . . . to
actually enrich the world with our words.
So you've taken the self-publishing quiz. If it shows this is for you,
it can be an immensely rewarding adventure both financially and
emotionally. www. Self Publishing Resources .com can assist you at
every turn in this exciting journey. Visit us to learn how we can help
you successfully publish your own book.