HOW TO INDIE-PUBLISH: Tips, Instructions and Inspiration - 99 cents

[Denise Barker]

See also my other e-books:  (1) Good Ole Boys, a novel, (2) A Copyediting Checklist for Novelists, (3) Before-You-Indie-Publish Checklist, (4) Living the Dream Checklist:  How to Quit Your (Current) Day Job and (5) Words Rule the World ~ A Collection of Quotes, Volume One.

Within HOW TO INDIE-PUBLISH:  TIPS, INSTRUCTIONS AND INSPIRATION, here's help for the Indie-publishing author, should it be needed.

You can go the free route and read all the online information regarding uploading, like Amazon’s KDP and related Kindle Boards and Barnes & Noble’s PubIt! instructions and many other helpful internet websites and blogs--like mine (see LivingTheDreamPublishing.blogspot.com)—and learn by doing as you upload e-books for sale.

Or you can buy this quick digest of what I’ve read and learned and put together all in one spot within these 113 pages (when in MSWord version). I love the research, the doing, the sharing of my newfound wealth of info with others.

So if you are not going the traditional publishing route (via agents, editors, publishing house) and wish to be your own gatekeeper/clearinghouse, then this e-book may help you.

A caveat or five:

(1) My knowledge is by no means complete. I am still learning.
(2) I only use Amazon and B&N for selling my e-books. 
(3) This handbook does not replace reading all the free introductory materials within Amazon’s KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), the various Kindle Boards and B&N’s PubIt! instructions, but should help you get to the heart of the matter:  uploading.
(4) I have not used other programs, like Smashwords, or any other program to download e-books, so I do not discuss them herein.
(5) I am a one-woman shop, doing it all myself, with the exception of one cover where I sought out a professional artist. You may wish to hire more help than I did, and that is fine. My route is more self-contained.

PARTIAL Table of Contents

The following is what I have shared with some aspiring authors, and so thought would be of use to others.

INSPIRATION (33pp)

Why I Love Being an Author
I AM
Seeking Wisdom
Persistency is Key
Take Just One Courageous Step
The Three Bullies
Midyear Resolution 2011
Sharing a Few Websites
Defining Wealth
Defining YOU
Defining Success
Anticipation
The New Math
Our Important Sixth Sense
Be Proud, Authors!
Live More by Your by Your Gut Feelings
Repeat: “I Am in Charge”
For Me, It’s Indie All the Way
My Final Edit Process
If You Could Choose, Who Would You Be?
Our Amazing, Creative, Wonderful, Unknowable Mind
Happy New Year 2012!
Generate Your 2012 Mission Statement (Goals)
My Version of Goal-Setting Is Like My Novel Creation

INSTRUCTIONS re DOWNLOADING (11pp)

How to Indie-Publish (in a Nutshell)
No e-Reader? No Problem . . . .
Kindle Boards Book Profile Tips
Indie-Publishing Tips re Amazon and B&N e-Book Uploads
A Very Basic Tutorial on Uploading e-Books to Amazon and B&N
Just for PubIt!

MENTORS (PEOPLE and BOOKS) (10pp)

And My Thanks Goes Out to . . .
Take Away at Least One Nugget
Recommended Reading for Authors
Repeat: “I Am in Charge”
Writing Books I Want to Read

NaNoWriMo (14pp)

Recommend NaNoWriMo Plus Reading For Authors
NaNoWriMo (aka NaNo)
NaNo Tips
My New Characters Woke Me Up Early This Morning
Magical NaNoWriMo
The Beauty of NaNo Lives On
Recap of 2011 NaNo Stats

TIPS FOR AUTHORS (29pp)

About These Grammar Lessons . . .
What Do Readers Choose to Read?
My Final Edit Process
KDP’s New Lending Library

Hope this saves you time as you Indie-publish your e-books.

[Ann in Arlington]

Welcome to KindleBoards, Denise, and congratulations on your book! 

Please note that KindleBoards is a Readers and Kindle Fan forum.  Authors are always welcome to post anywhere but, as you browse the 'boards, please keep in mind that self-promotion, of any sort, is ONLY allowed here in the Book Bazaar.

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--Please bookmark this thread (using your browser's bookmark/favorite function) so you can update it and add to it when there is more information, as we ask that authors have only one thread per book.  You may start a separate thread for each book (or you may have one thread per series of books, or one thread for all of your books, it's your choice).

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Authors: KindleBoards Tips & FAQ.

All this, and more, is included in our Forum Decorum.  Be sure to check it from time to time for the current guidelines and rules.

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Betsy & Ann
Book Bazaar Moderators

[Denise Barker]

I'm not a marketing guru or know all the secrets of social media, but this is sound advice:  keep writing.  Having more great books to offer your readership is always a good move.  Have a good week, everyone!

[Denise Barker]

I'm an avid reader.  I read across almost all the genres.  I love a great book no matter what it may be labeled as.  I like mine with some humor, some life lessons, some great inspirational themes, some insights into the age-old questions of Why are we here?  What is my purpose?  So a psychological bent is always welcomed.

As an author, I try to give my readers all of the above mixed with intellect and a nice smattering of fresh words, maybe even one or two that, while my novel should define each enough to keep some from dashing to the dictionary, they may still consult one to confirm my usage.

On the other hand, the things I as a reader cannot abide, and as an author I am embarrassed for my profession, is stupidity in the plot, in the characters' actions.  While we have all done one thing (or two) without thinking--opening the door without checking to see who it is; walking in the dark to our car alone; etc.--we haven't done five such acts within five days or less.  Neither should our characters. 

Our plots should make sense.  In reality.  You should tie up all threads.   If you mention your main character buys a ticket to France, and we never hear about it again, what purpose did it serve?  Make it necessary to the plot and/or characterization or cut it.

We've got seven-year-olds reading Harry Potter.  We've got multiple police dramas on television.  So research your storyline, your main characters' careers, if you are not actively involved in it yourself.  We are such an informed community nowadays that you can't just slip any ol' thing into your story to get you from one plot point to the next without our readership calling "foul."  There was one book snafu I read about where someone crossed over into Canada from the U.S.  But the story failed to show our traveler paying the toll.  Such a small detail.  But there was fallout.  It was noticed.  And I am here to tell you that it made it to the internet and I am aware of it.  Even though I have no idea which author it was, much less the book title, and it wasn't something from my own pleasure reading.

So, authors, you are writing to a highly sophisticated group.  Remember that as you work your craft. 

[Denise Barker]

Indie-publishing is my chosen way.  It allows me total freedom.  It resonates within my heart and soul.

It is not the only game in town, of course.  You may choose to go strictly traditional.  Or a mix of the old and the new.

Whichever way, do what is right for you, what gives you peace.  And success to us all!

[markobeezy]

Has anyone here had success with contacting established authors directly? I once posted directly on Conn Iggulden's forum and got a reply directly from him!

[Denise Barker]

Indie-publishing isn't hard.  No one step is difficult.  However, the process has many components, a lot of levels.  It takes some perseverance, grit, determination.  But we are authors, are we not?  We pen one novel over the course of one month (NaNo first-draft version) or over years (like I understand the author of A Little Death in Dixie relates).  Therefore, IMO, if you create books from sheer imagination to hundreds of pages of prose, then you are probably equipped to handle the ins and outs of Indie-publishing.

It may be a long haul and not a quick ride if you are seeking enough money to keep you at home churning out the novels--that's my greatest desire.  So settle in, put on your thinking cap, grab your favorite pen and jot down ideas.  Go to your computer and flesh them out.  Keep reading.  Keep learning.  Keep writing.

[Denise Barker]

I'm on Day 5 of my free campaign within the exclusive Amazon Lending Library and I would recommend it for Indie-publishing newbie authors.  This was my debut novel, Good Ole Boys, and I'm still wondering where all my readers came from as my social media is limited by my current skills and time allocation.  Still, I'm impressed with the tallies.  As of this morning of the final day, I have yet to have downloads from France, Spain and Italy--I would love to have reached them.  I had a good showing from Germany, the U.K. and the States, with current numbers of 11, 351 and 1555 respectively.  Of course, if my totals had capped 5,000 or more, I would have been ecstatic.  Overall, I'm happy and satisfied.  I got my name out there courtesy of Amazon's freebie promotion--what a great way to introduce myself to a new reader base.

Have a great week, all!

[Denise Barker]

Want further inspiration?  Check out my blog on Konrath's success at http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/02/snapshot-of-joe-konraths-e-book-success.html.  Enjoy!

[Denise Barker]

If you are awaiting replies from your submissions, why not upload one of your completed works as an e-book now?  Why wait to be "accepted" and then wait further before it becomes a paperback and even more waiting before you see the royalties--or the diminishing advances paid out in installments?  Why just honor only traditional publishing?  Never before has the stigma of self-publishing (hence the old term:  vanity publishing) of the twentieth century had such a beautiful face-lift.  It is called Indie Publishing.  Take the leap.  Make your successful novelist dream come true faster--one step at a time.  Best wishes, all!

[Denise Barker]

What a wonderful era for authors we are in!  I was writing in my 20s, but that was thirty years ago when self-publishing had a huge stigma as the term "vanity press" indicates.  Yes, I would have loved to have been published back then and earning enough money to pay the bills.  Yet . . . I did need more life experience to give my writing a richer fullness.  I am just glad to be invited to the party!  Have a good week, everyone.

[Denise Barker]

I'm no marketing guru.  If you need help there, hire an expert.

Still . . . I share my "marketing" plan here in my blog.  http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-marketing-plan.html

Enjoy!  Use what rings in your soul.

[Denise Barker]

First Day of Spring!  Hope you enjoyed it.  I was going to do a NaNo month every season.  Guess it is time again to hit it hard on the creation front.  Good wishes, all!

[Denise Barker]

Here's my newest favorite quotation, courtesy of Angela James, Carina Press editor:

Indie publishing is . . . "the new black."

[Shelia A. Huggins]

Here's my newest favorite quotation, courtesy of Angela James, Carina Press editor:

Indie publishing is . . . "the new black."

I must say...I absolutely love that.

[Denise Barker]

I'm not the marketing guru, so go elsewhere for those needs.  BUT . . . I am loving Pinterest.  And I love blogging.  Those are my two favorites.  Best suited for my personality and schedule.  Find yours and enjoy them!

[Denise Barker]

Keep like-minded people about you as you go this route.  It will help you find success.

[Denise Barker]

I love being one-hundred-percent Indie!  But it does entail a learning curve.  Hopefully "having gone before you," my lessons will save you time and frustration.  Best wishes, all!

[Denise Barker]

Check out my blog at LivingTheDreamPublishing.blogspot.com for Indie-publishing tips and info.  Plus don't miss out on J.A. Konrath's blog entitled A Newbies Guide to Publishing at http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/.  He's the master.

[Denise Barker]

For today, let me share a wise quote:  Obstacles can’t stop you. Problems can’t stop you. Most of all, other people can’t stop you. Only you can stop you.  Author Unknown

So don't let the naysayers sway you from your dream.  Keep writing!  Keep creating!

[Denise Barker]

If your Kindle upload worked fine and you are wondering why the same e-novel won't upload "pretty" within PubIt!, try a free download of Calibre software.  That may fix your formatting problems.  Good luck!

[Denise Barker]

With Indie-publishing so new and vibrant--and changing with each e-reader device's capabilities--we need to share what we know with others.  This book of mine is the first step.  It'll get you started and reduce your learning-curve time to an hour or two.  Wish I had had someone to show me the ropes and save me valuable days.  Good luck!

[Denise Barker]

Thankfully, there are levels of Indie-published.  You can be like me, one-hundred percent Indie with the only exception being one cover out of six e-books.  For my debut novel, Good Ole Boys, I sought professional help (a friend of my son's).  But, alas, being a struggling artist, I am attempting to create the cover for the prequel.  I'll try my hand at it, but may have to resort to a barter--trading some copyediting skills for some drawing ones. 

And that's the beauty of being Indie.  You can hire all the help you want and need, if money is no object.  Just like the big publishing houses do.  Only better.  You can avoid that agent's on-going percentage cut by being your own agent, or hiring a marketer on a job-by-job basis, all with a flat free.  A one-time expense, not a lifetime recurring bill.  You can avoid that publisher's cut, too, by going directly to e-book.  Just keep in mind the other options for later, when the coffer is full:  audio, paperback, hardback, video games, etc.

You think this e-book evolution is mind spinning now?  It can only get faster, as our info age accelerates with new software/hardware.  Hang on and keep writing!