Nick Pollack's Blog
June 1, 2017
Things I've Learnt Self Publishing A Book
(Originally posted on my blog at
https://www.nickpollack.com/single-po...)
Well, the last month has certainly been a learning curve.
So on the eve of the release of my first published book 'ANY GIRL WHO LOVES THE BEATLES IS BOUND TO BREAK YOUR HEART' I thought I'd share a few of the things that went extremely well, and those that were... hmmm, kinda disastrous.
So here you go - the good, the bad and the ugly of self-publishing....
1) Read, then re-read, then RE-RE-RE-RE-RE read your proofed manuscript.
I worked with a lovely woman Steffie to copy-edit my manuscript and I would recommend her work. But I've learnt that even once you have the copy edited manuscript back, you still have a loooooooooooooooooooong way to go before being ready to release. Once I addressed her suggested changes, I still needed to get a proof read done.
More money.
And even then, I was still finding the odd misplaced apostrophe here and there.
Lesson Learnt : CHECK EVERYTHING. TWICE. THEN ANOTHER TEN TIMES FOR SAFETY
2) Cover Design
This was probably the big disaster I experienced. Working in the creative arts, I know there's a difference in approach between motion graphic design, poster, album cover, print ad and everything else in the wonderful world of graphic design. Don't deny it, we all judge a book by it's cover. So I figured that not knowing any book cover designers, I'd plonk some hard earned down on someone with a reputable portfolio that I can source internationally online.
Big Mistake.
I wasted $400 on something that took this designer almost two weeks to create. And it was appalling. Comments ranged from 'Looks like Stevie Wonder's first grade art project' to 'At least you now have something to line your budgie's cage with'.
I'd never name names but my advice (to myself in the future) is ensure that you have an open dialogue with anyone you find online to create anything for your work. This was a case of 'send me 50% now, a written brief of what you are thinking & some examples of what you'd like it to look like and I'll get started in 3-4 weeks. Then once I send it, you can pay me another $400.'
Long story short, I was so disgusted with the first attempt, I ceased dealing with this designer.
I'm only basically proficient in graphic design, but I took it upon myself to have a go and threw something rough together over three hours on a Saturday. And that's pretty much the look of the book cover now, give or take a few tweaks.
And I'm really pleased with it, if I do say so myself.
And it's my blog, so I can.
And I do.
Lesson Learnt: CHECK THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ANYONE I FIND ONLINE. PLUS MAYBE TRUST YOUR OWN SKILLS A BIT MORE... UNLESS YOU CAN AFFORD THE BEST.
3) Choosing a publishing platform
I always knew I wanted to use Amazon to self-publish this release. While I know I would have had a much greater chance of exposure if I attempted to go the traditional publishing route through a publishing house, I don't have the luxury of working with an editor and publisher for a year+ before release. I wanted to get the book out into the world to build some exposure for our film, which we hope to shoot in January 2018, as quickly as possible.
And for the most part, releasing through Amazon has been a breeze. Easy to create the account, fast turnaround if I need to make changes to the manuscript when I find a typo or decide I have a better choice of phrase in a scene. Not to mention the fact that it was out in the world less than 24 hours after I decided to 'push the button'.
But the one thing that surprised me is the costs involved. Look, I never created this book as a money making exercise, and if all I achieve from this is getting a bit more exposure for the film, then it's served it's purpose.
However, I was surprised that I only receive US$2.32 from each print copy and US$2.05 from each Ebook. Sure, it's better than nothing but it surprised me is all. Most of the cost of the print book (US$9.99) goes to printing costs and Amazon's share, then there's the shipping costs, making it an almost US$20 purchase.
I could charge more to make a bit more but I don't want to make it a difficult decision to buy the book. Keep the cost as low as possible so as to sell as many copies as possible.
I'd make it free, but Amazon won't let me, as they still need their cut (understandably).
Lesson Learnt : NOTHING COMES CHEAP
4) Marketing
This has taken up quite a few of my night's after work the last fortnight. Building a microsite for the book, creating a Facebook page, Instagram ad, reading books on marketing books, working out the best day and way to release... It's been an intensive self-education.
But fun and rewarding.
Cause if I'm not willing to put the time into promoting my book, who else will right?
So I've got my strategy together now for the public release this coming weekend, and I think I know a few things which should help get it in front of a few eyes.
But the proof will be in the pudding. I may release and no one bothers downloading or even asking about it. Cé la vie if so, but if I get 20 downloads this week, I'll be happy that it's a start in the right direction.
Hey, I'm making it free so there's probably something awfully rotten about the book if I can't giveaway 20 copies, right?
(... don't answer that.)
Lesson Learnt : ONCE THE WRITING STOPS, THE WORK BEGINS
5) Reviews and how to get them
Getting honest reviews is a critical part of the release. We all put much more weight behind a product (book, vacuum cleaner, holiday, etc) that 100+ people have bothered to leave their feedback on. Cause we know that if 100 people were inspired enough to write a review, then at least 10 times that amount must have read the book (cause we're all lazy and we know it - we might like something but if our socks aren't blown off, we won't review it. So we know there must be a good number of people who were just satisfied with that thing, but not amazed to write a comment).
Of course it works the other way, cause you only write awful reviews on something you truly hate, not something you were just 'meh' about but didn't care enough about to review to tear it shreds.
There's a mental thing that we assume that 'hey quite a few people liked it so I'll give it a go.'
I've been researching ways to ethically get honest reviews. I plan to give away copies to readers on Goodreads, give copies to friends, and to keep searching for people to 'read for reviews'. Hopefully one review will lead to another which leads to another (understandably, no one likes being the first cab off the rank.) Plus I have been offering my time to read for a review for several books on Goodreads so hopefully that can be reciprocated back.
Though if anyone knows ways to get more ethical honest reviews, I'm all ears!
Lesson Learnt : AN HONEST REVIEW IS AS VALUABLE AS A SALE
6) I'm TERRIFIED!!!!
Although this project has been something that's been in my life as a film script for over six years, and I've had feedback from producers, actors, financiers and friends all over the world, I'm absolutely brickin' it putting it out into the world as a book and having people judging it.
I know I won't please everyone with it. It's not everyone's cup of tea.
But what is, right?
But it's a real moment of truth thing putting something so close to me out into the world to be judged and evaluated now.
However, it's all part of the creative life I chose, so as nerve wracked as I am to see how people respond to it, I also know that it's not something to take personally. Whether it's well received or reviled, it's just the work that people are responding to, not me personally.
(Please like it though... PLEASE!!! Be your best friend.... Joking. Or am I?)
Lesson Learnt : HARDENED THE FUCK UP (AND WHETHER IT'S LIKED OR HATED, IT'S OUT OF MY HANDS)
Well, that's a snapshot of what I've discovered over the last month. I've probably learned more but those are the things front of my mind.
And now the countdown is on now to the release this weekend.
I apologize in advance if I bother you with my marketing for the book. It's something I'm very proud of and if you released something you were equally excited about, I'd hope you'd share as far and wide as possible. You'll always have me in your corner spriuking for you if you do.
Hopefully in the next blog installment, I've got the book into 40 hands (two hands holding 20 copies or twenty sets of hands hold one copy each, either works) and that I haven't developed thin skin over how it's received.
If you do pick up a copy, THANK YOU, sincerely. I know how much entertainment there is on offer everyday, so the fact that you grabbed a copy means the world to me.
I hope you like it.
In fact I hope you LOVE it and want to tell others about it.
If you do, I won't stop you. I need all the help I can spreading the word.
So on that note, I'll leave you with this...
'Dear sir or madam, will you read my book, it took me years to write, will you take a look...'
N
https://www.nickpollack.com/single-po...)
Well, the last month has certainly been a learning curve.
So on the eve of the release of my first published book 'ANY GIRL WHO LOVES THE BEATLES IS BOUND TO BREAK YOUR HEART' I thought I'd share a few of the things that went extremely well, and those that were... hmmm, kinda disastrous.
So here you go - the good, the bad and the ugly of self-publishing....
1) Read, then re-read, then RE-RE-RE-RE-RE read your proofed manuscript.
I worked with a lovely woman Steffie to copy-edit my manuscript and I would recommend her work. But I've learnt that even once you have the copy edited manuscript back, you still have a loooooooooooooooooooong way to go before being ready to release. Once I addressed her suggested changes, I still needed to get a proof read done.
More money.
And even then, I was still finding the odd misplaced apostrophe here and there.
Lesson Learnt : CHECK EVERYTHING. TWICE. THEN ANOTHER TEN TIMES FOR SAFETY
2) Cover Design
This was probably the big disaster I experienced. Working in the creative arts, I know there's a difference in approach between motion graphic design, poster, album cover, print ad and everything else in the wonderful world of graphic design. Don't deny it, we all judge a book by it's cover. So I figured that not knowing any book cover designers, I'd plonk some hard earned down on someone with a reputable portfolio that I can source internationally online.
Big Mistake.
I wasted $400 on something that took this designer almost two weeks to create. And it was appalling. Comments ranged from 'Looks like Stevie Wonder's first grade art project' to 'At least you now have something to line your budgie's cage with'.
I'd never name names but my advice (to myself in the future) is ensure that you have an open dialogue with anyone you find online to create anything for your work. This was a case of 'send me 50% now, a written brief of what you are thinking & some examples of what you'd like it to look like and I'll get started in 3-4 weeks. Then once I send it, you can pay me another $400.'
Long story short, I was so disgusted with the first attempt, I ceased dealing with this designer.
I'm only basically proficient in graphic design, but I took it upon myself to have a go and threw something rough together over three hours on a Saturday. And that's pretty much the look of the book cover now, give or take a few tweaks.
And I'm really pleased with it, if I do say so myself.
And it's my blog, so I can.
And I do.
Lesson Learnt: CHECK THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ANYONE I FIND ONLINE. PLUS MAYBE TRUST YOUR OWN SKILLS A BIT MORE... UNLESS YOU CAN AFFORD THE BEST.
3) Choosing a publishing platform
I always knew I wanted to use Amazon to self-publish this release. While I know I would have had a much greater chance of exposure if I attempted to go the traditional publishing route through a publishing house, I don't have the luxury of working with an editor and publisher for a year+ before release. I wanted to get the book out into the world to build some exposure for our film, which we hope to shoot in January 2018, as quickly as possible.
And for the most part, releasing through Amazon has been a breeze. Easy to create the account, fast turnaround if I need to make changes to the manuscript when I find a typo or decide I have a better choice of phrase in a scene. Not to mention the fact that it was out in the world less than 24 hours after I decided to 'push the button'.
But the one thing that surprised me is the costs involved. Look, I never created this book as a money making exercise, and if all I achieve from this is getting a bit more exposure for the film, then it's served it's purpose.
However, I was surprised that I only receive US$2.32 from each print copy and US$2.05 from each Ebook. Sure, it's better than nothing but it surprised me is all. Most of the cost of the print book (US$9.99) goes to printing costs and Amazon's share, then there's the shipping costs, making it an almost US$20 purchase.
I could charge more to make a bit more but I don't want to make it a difficult decision to buy the book. Keep the cost as low as possible so as to sell as many copies as possible.
I'd make it free, but Amazon won't let me, as they still need their cut (understandably).
Lesson Learnt : NOTHING COMES CHEAP
4) Marketing
This has taken up quite a few of my night's after work the last fortnight. Building a microsite for the book, creating a Facebook page, Instagram ad, reading books on marketing books, working out the best day and way to release... It's been an intensive self-education.
But fun and rewarding.
Cause if I'm not willing to put the time into promoting my book, who else will right?
So I've got my strategy together now for the public release this coming weekend, and I think I know a few things which should help get it in front of a few eyes.
But the proof will be in the pudding. I may release and no one bothers downloading or even asking about it. Cé la vie if so, but if I get 20 downloads this week, I'll be happy that it's a start in the right direction.
Hey, I'm making it free so there's probably something awfully rotten about the book if I can't giveaway 20 copies, right?
(... don't answer that.)
Lesson Learnt : ONCE THE WRITING STOPS, THE WORK BEGINS
5) Reviews and how to get them
Getting honest reviews is a critical part of the release. We all put much more weight behind a product (book, vacuum cleaner, holiday, etc) that 100+ people have bothered to leave their feedback on. Cause we know that if 100 people were inspired enough to write a review, then at least 10 times that amount must have read the book (cause we're all lazy and we know it - we might like something but if our socks aren't blown off, we won't review it. So we know there must be a good number of people who were just satisfied with that thing, but not amazed to write a comment).
Of course it works the other way, cause you only write awful reviews on something you truly hate, not something you were just 'meh' about but didn't care enough about to review to tear it shreds.
There's a mental thing that we assume that 'hey quite a few people liked it so I'll give it a go.'
I've been researching ways to ethically get honest reviews. I plan to give away copies to readers on Goodreads, give copies to friends, and to keep searching for people to 'read for reviews'. Hopefully one review will lead to another which leads to another (understandably, no one likes being the first cab off the rank.) Plus I have been offering my time to read for a review for several books on Goodreads so hopefully that can be reciprocated back.
Though if anyone knows ways to get more ethical honest reviews, I'm all ears!
Lesson Learnt : AN HONEST REVIEW IS AS VALUABLE AS A SALE
6) I'm TERRIFIED!!!!
Although this project has been something that's been in my life as a film script for over six years, and I've had feedback from producers, actors, financiers and friends all over the world, I'm absolutely brickin' it putting it out into the world as a book and having people judging it.
I know I won't please everyone with it. It's not everyone's cup of tea.
But what is, right?
But it's a real moment of truth thing putting something so close to me out into the world to be judged and evaluated now.
However, it's all part of the creative life I chose, so as nerve wracked as I am to see how people respond to it, I also know that it's not something to take personally. Whether it's well received or reviled, it's just the work that people are responding to, not me personally.
(Please like it though... PLEASE!!! Be your best friend.... Joking. Or am I?)
Lesson Learnt : HARDENED THE FUCK UP (AND WHETHER IT'S LIKED OR HATED, IT'S OUT OF MY HANDS)
Well, that's a snapshot of what I've discovered over the last month. I've probably learned more but those are the things front of my mind.
And now the countdown is on now to the release this weekend.
I apologize in advance if I bother you with my marketing for the book. It's something I'm very proud of and if you released something you were equally excited about, I'd hope you'd share as far and wide as possible. You'll always have me in your corner spriuking for you if you do.
Hopefully in the next blog installment, I've got the book into 40 hands (two hands holding 20 copies or twenty sets of hands hold one copy each, either works) and that I haven't developed thin skin over how it's received.
If you do pick up a copy, THANK YOU, sincerely. I know how much entertainment there is on offer everyday, so the fact that you grabbed a copy means the world to me.
I hope you like it.
In fact I hope you LOVE it and want to tell others about it.
If you do, I won't stop you. I need all the help I can spreading the word.
So on that note, I'll leave you with this...
'Dear sir or madam, will you read my book, it took me years to write, will you take a look...'
N
