**UPDATE TO THIS BOOKLET – This book has been updated and renamed – A Writing Life
About the old book
Are you harbouring a desire to finally write that bucket-list novel? Do you already have a published paperback that you want to convert to an eBook and sell online?
Every writer’s journey is different. Every Path to publishing your painstaking work is both hard but enjoyable work. It is said that you cannot learn from other people’s knowledge, and while this may be true, we can all benefit from advice and experience.
My Writing Process is a 26-page booklet (PDF format) which takes you through my process of self-publishing an eBook. From the idea or concept of your novel through to the actual publishing of the finished product (there is also a small section on doing a print run if you chose to do that).
There will no doubt be some nervousness about how to approach publishing your digital eBook. In this booklet, I give you as many tips and hints as I can, in the hope that it shows you that it is not such a daunting challenge to get your book in the online stores.
This book will not be for general sale and will be FREE to those who subscribe to my newsletter.
Here are all the areas which I cover, including a few lists of my suppliers, “how-to” books that I have read, and lessons learned section.
Book Table of Contents
Section A – Writing Decisions
Fiction or Non-fiction. Once off hobbyist or Serious career author. Decide early – your thinking might need to change. Traditionally published or Self-Publishing. Series or Standalone. Get yourself mentored up. Publishing books I’ve read (and re-read many times). Make time, don’t find the time. Panster vs Plotter – Which are you? Kick-off your Author Platform
Section B – Writing
Concept documents / Ideas down on a single page. Research the main idea points. A one-page synopsis. Come up with the premise. Work on a rough outline. Character names and CVs. Create a stepsheet / Chapter outline. Get your mindset ready to write. The first draft. Write five to six drafts. External Edit. Apply changes and suggestions. Write full synopsis. The design of your cover. Send the list to the designer. Last few reworks. Send to Beta-readers – focus on plot and characters. Ramp up efforts on your author platform. Create a book page on your website. Front and back matter. Send document off to the proofreader. Final read through. Complete blurbs and descriptions. Update webpage for the book. Getting your manuscript formatted. Decide on the sales price. Back up your files and covers. Send out ARC – advanced reader copies.
Section C – Publishing
Upload Word doc to your aggregator then publish. Smashwords to distribute to all vendors. Blog and promote on social media. Upload your Mobi file to Amazon. Claim your Amazon Author Central Account. Printing paperbacks – Do it yourself. Printing paperbacks – Use Amazon to do it. Full cover design. The importance of the Amazon “also bought”. Post publishing changes. Filing the documents – the Outlook method. Promotion scams – a warning. Promotions and adverts. Rankings. For the future.
Author Bio
Appendix A – Suppliers I use
Appendix B – Writing books that I have read on my journey
Appendix C – Lessons learned so far about Self-Publishing
An early post that I wrote about self- publishing – SELF PUBLISHING – THE REASONS I CHOSE THIS PATH FOR MY BOOKS
