self publishing - is it worth it?

by jeanette mccarthy
(Leicester, UK)

Abandoned - could you survive?

Genre: crime/thriller

My novel "Abandoned" has been published by LULU, a print on demand, or 'POD' company and in my experience, although it has proved to be inexpensive, POD is not for those looking for an easy life.

Many companies will expect you to proof-read, format, and upload your novel to their specifications, as well as obtaining your own ISBN number and barcode. You must have an ISBN if you want to sell in online stores such as Amazon, and this is not as simple as it sounds. In addition, if you want your own cover design, you may need to invest in additional programs such as Adobe Acrobat.

Then there is the marketing to be done. Once your book is published, within a few weeks it will be available online at Amazon, W H Smith and so on. But it’s up to you to make sure everyone knows it’s there. This is when the hard work starts, and it’s no use being a shrinking violet. You need to get out there and blow your own trumpet!

So, is it worth it? Well, for a start, there is no doubt that the feeling you get when at last you hold YOUR book in your hands is pretty special. I didn’t stop smiling all day.

And your work will be out there, for people to see, and hopefully buy. Something that’s not possible when your manuscript is still sitting in the drawer hoping for a publisher. And, of course, if you’re lucky, it could be the stepping stone to greater things.

But be prepared for some hard work. It’s down to you to make sure the whole world knows about your book. That means targeting bookshops, finding people who will review the book, sending out press releases, and putting up posters and flyers. It’s also a good idea to have a website, and these days, a blog.

And you have to keep at it. After a hard day at work, it might be the last thing you want to think about, but it’s the only way to get your work noticed. It’s down to you, no one else.

POD is a great way to test your market and, hopefully, make enough of a case for your book that you will attract a large publisher to your door. It’s said that publishers check out the internet regularly, looking for POD titles that catch their eye.

And who knows, you could be the next Christopher Paolini, self-published author of ‘Eragon’ which is now a film blockbuster. Well, we can all dream...

Visit Jeanette's site.