1/ Self publishing vs other options.
Let's get one thing out of the way.
You should publish once with a mainstream publisher. Get it out of the system. You should sell a title on Amazon. Make it to your genre, subject top 10 list. Even hit the numero uno spot for a day.
2/ But once you are done, you are done.
It doesn't matter who your publisher, distributor or book seller is. In the end you, the author, sells the book.
You create the hype, you generate the traffic, you direct the buyers.
Amazon doesn't get people to your book, you do
3/ So if you are writing the book, editing it, marketing it, promoting it, how much of the book proceeds do you get?
Do you get to talk or see or engage with your customers? Do you even know who they are?
With main stream publishing, no. There is no data, real time or otherwise
4/ It gets worse.
God forbid you are an unknown #desi #author living far away from the power centers of NYC, London and SFO
The math is not geared in your favor. You start off the race with a ship anchor tied to your legs and a blindfold over your eyes.
5/ So how do you know what part of your campaign is working? What do you need to tweak or change or pull or push? You don't.
And because you don't, you can't do anything to fix what is broken?
6/ What is your best bet?
If you have the ability to process payments, you have a platform to direct traffic from and you are willing to work hard, look at doing it yourself.
The downside? You are not going to be on the NYT or Amazon best seller list. No bragging rights.
7/ If you do it right and you have a great product and plan it well, you can do a 1,000 copies.
You have full control over your campaign. You can tweak it in real time and you only drop 5% to 10% of the book's price in payment processing and order fulfillment.
8/ A word of warning.
It's back breaking, soul wrenching, exhausting work. Filled with ridges of self doubt.
To break even on this train of hurt all you need is a single decent reader review.
A random note of appreciation from a stranger.
A book filled with preorders.
9/ Remember what I said earlier.
Once, just once, do a book with a mainstream publisher. It will teach you a great deal about the process of getting the book to a market. It is frustrating but great education.
But once you are done, consider the alternate path
10/ Lessons from a #book #launch - Part II
A thread for those who asked why #FounderPuzzles is not on Amazon. Been there, done that. Thrice.
Twice on the topic top ten best seller list. Once on numero uno.
@FaizaYousuf
@babushka99
@RahmaMian
#authors #Writer #WritersCafe
11/ If you are interested in main stream publishing, you will find this of interest.
#WritersCafe #writers #writerscommunity #writersoftwitter
financetrainingcourse.com/education/2013…
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