If you’re a Wise Ink reader, you know that going indie is a commitment. But with so many different publishing options out there, how do you know you’re choosing the right method?
We firmly believe that every book and every author has their own highest path. When you’re considering going indie, here are the most important things to ask to make sure you’re on the right road:
- Do I really, really want to do this?
Going indie is a fancy way to say you’re starting a business. With any fledgling business comes late nights, upfront capital investments, and a fair amount of chance. If you don’t want to commit all the way to investing, rethink your publishing strategy.
- Am I willing to market my book?
Ultimately, this is the question that separates those that want to self-publish and those who go traditional. If you are going indie and aren’t that into marketing yourself and your product, you will most likely shell out some big bucks for PR support. Before you go down the road, look into pricing options and suggestions from other indie authors.
- What kind of publishing experience do I want?
There are lots of types of indies out there: everything from companies that resemble traditional houses, but use a different revenue stream (Wise Ink is one of these) to online package deals where you’re essentially your own project manager. Some people love to become their own one-man publishing house, but others just get overwhelmed. Remember to shop for experience along with product and price!
Readers, why did you choose the indie publisher you did? What did you learn? Will your path change for your next book?
I work with a ton of independent authors every day, and a great majority of them have told me that the best publishing experience they’ve had is through Amazon. It’s easy, it’s free, it’s straightforward, and the potential for success is real.
Like you noted above, you have to be willing to put some time, money, and effort into marketing your book, but for someone just getting into the game, I can’t emphasize enough — go with Amazon.
Best,
Mickie Kennedy
http://www.ereleases.com/hello.html?a=76
The publisher I used was highly recommended by another author I respect highly. I think the one question I should have asked was how much the books would cost me for book signings and events. Other authors have told me I’m paying nearly double what a print-on-demand book should cost an author based on size and number of pages. I understand the investment in set-up costs, and editing costs perfectly and have no problem with that, but books for my own use should be at absolute cost. It was a very expensive mistake on my part.