| ing a printed book is a bit more complicated than | | | | to review bound galleys and work your publicity |
| creating a PDF eBook. More steps are involved, | | | | into their own production schedules. Now, for |
| just by right of producing a tangible finished | | | | traditional publishers who have full staffs and |
| product that needs to be handled in the physical | | | | plenty of money and connections and the |
| world (versus an electronic document that can be | | | | machinery for publishing, that's fine. They can |
| distributed by e-mail or online). The basic print | | | | pretty much guarantee that a book will come out |
| publishing process for a print-on-demand publishing | | | | exactly the way they say it will, exactly when |
| cycle for a book that will be sold online through | | | | they way it will. But when you're on your own, it's |
| the print-on-demand vendor's website (and/or | | | | a different story. Anything could happen along the |
| other online booksellers like Amazon) breaks down | | | | way. You could experience delays with the printer. |
| as follows: | | | | You could experience personal complications. You |
| 1. Complete your manuscript | | | | could find yourself stalled by artwork that didn't |
| 2. Develop your cover concept (and do a trial run | | | | come out the way you wanted... any number of |
| of a cover) | | | | things can go wrong, when you're on your own. |
| 3. Format your manuscript for printing (the final | | | | So, it's prudent to be a bit more conservative |
| product is called a "galley") | | | | about marketing a book you're working on. Even |
| 4. Complete your cover artwork (and proof it | | | | if you're 100% absolutely positively unwaveringly |
| with trial runs of a cover) | | | | convinced that your book will come out in three |
| 5. Put your galley and artwork together | | | | weeks, anything can happen in that time, that can |
| 6. Create marketing collateral, press releases, etc. | | | | hold you up or wreck your carefully laid plans. So, |
| 7. Publish! | | | | don't make any promises you can't keep to the |
| 8. Receive hard copies of your book and send out | | | | press. It will only work against you. |
| review copies to press | | | | All this might sound a little daunting, but if you're |
| 9. Send out press releases and place advertising | | | | reading this, you're probably an independent type |
| and line up interviews | | | | of person, so the inherent risks and dangers will |
| 10.Continue the marketing cycle to keep your | | | | trouble you a lot less than someone who's never |
| book in the press | | | | published before and is nervous entering |
| 11. Track your sales and order more books for | | | | uncharted waters. Certainly, going it alone as an |
| more publicity | | | | independent print publisher can take a lot more |
| I recommend printing out this list and using it as a | | | | preparation and organization, than operating solely |
| project plan for your print publishing. And fill in the | | | | in digital formats. But it's also very satisfying, to |
| blanks in the process, where you know there are | | | | have a book in hand that you can give to friends, |
| more steps involved in your own personal | | | | families, reviewers, and others who say, "So, |
| experience. Or follow the sample project plan | | | | you're a writer?" |
| immediately following this section. Having a | | | | And if you format your book well, your work can |
| checklist to follow can simplify what can be a | | | | be indistinguishable from the work of other |
| complicated and sometimes confusing process. | | | | writers published by mainstream publishing houses. |
| Now, one thing you may notice, is that I have | | | | You can get your own ISBN, your own |
| listed marketing after the actual publication of | | | | professional-looking cover, a great looking interior, |
| your book. I strongly recommend waiting till you | | | | and all the marketing collateral you could ask for... |
| have a finished, published book in hand, before | | | | without spending a small fortune. All it takes is |
| you start sending out press releases and | | | | determination, the right information, some |
| generating interest. I've had international press | | | | creative inventiveness, a keen eye for detail, and |
| people contact me within 24 hours of sending out | | | | a willingness to keep going, no matter what. |
| my press materials, but I had no hard copies in | | | | With a little extra care, some advanced planning, |
| hand to send to them, so that pretty much | | | | and an eye for detail, you can turn your eBooks |
| derailed the opportunity I'd created for myself. | | | | or white papers or other digital information |
| In the traditional publishing world, it's customary to | | | | products into printed books -- and not drive |
| publicize a printed book at least three months in | | | | yourself crazy in the process. |
| advance of publication. This gives the press time | | | | |