Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Self-Publishing Secrets
    Self-Publishing Secrets
    Self-Publishing Secrets
    Ebook191 pages1 hour

    Self-Publishing Secrets

    By Gini Graham Scott Ph.D.

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    SELF-PUBLISHING SECRETS is based on a workshop series and talks I have been conducting on self-publishing. It covers these main topics:

    - Why self-publish a book

    - Using a book to build your business

    - How I can help you self-publish your book

    - Deciding on your overall purpose

    - Determining what to write about

    - Creating an outline and timeline

    - Getting your information

    - Writing and editing your book

    - Formatting your book for publication

    - Publishing your book

    - Creating a print-on-demand book

    - Publishing an e-book

    - Creating an audiobook

    - And more.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherChangemakers Publishing
    Release dateJul 16, 2018
    ISBN9781386768654
    Self-Publishing Secrets
    Author

    Gini Graham Scott Ph.D.

               Gini Graham Scott has published over 50 books with mainstream publishers, focusing on social trends, work and business relationships, and personal and professional development. Some of these books include Scammed (Allworth Press, 2017), Lies and Liars: How and Why Sociopaths Lie and How to Detect and Deal with Them (Skyhorse Publishing 2016), Internet Book Piracy (Allworth Press 2016), The New Middle Ages (Nortia Press 2014), and The Very Next New Thing (ABC-Clio 2010). She published a series of books on homicide: Homicide by the Rich and Famous (Praeger Publishing 2005; Berkley Books paperback 2006), American Murder (ABC-Clio, 2007), and Homicide: A Hundred Years of Murder in America (Roxbury 1998).             Scott has gained extensive media interest for previous books, including appearances on Good Morning America, Oprah, Montel Williams, CNN, and hundreds of radio interviews. She has frequently been quoted by the media and has set up websites to promote her most recent books, featured at www.ginigrahamscott.com and www.changemakerspublishing.com.

    Read more from Gini Graham Scott Ph.D.

    Related authors

    Related to Self-Publishing Secrets

    Related ebooks

    Business Communication For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Clearing The Path

      Sep 18, 2019

      Clearing The Path
      5 min read

    • Article

      How To Self-publish A Book

      Jun 12, 2020

      How To Self-publish A Book
      2 min read

    • Article

      Pitch Vs. Query Vs. Proposal

      Jun 14, 2021

      I joined the WD team after working in nonfiction book publishing for about six years. I was used to getting book proposals and kept myself blissfully away from the magazine side of the brand I was working on. But when I joined WD, where the magazine

      5 min read

    • Article

      Inspiration Everywhere

      Jun 19, 2021

      Inspiration Everywhere
      7 min read

    • Article

      Building A Business

      May 21, 2019

      Building A Business
      1 min read

    • Article

      The Way To A Win

      Mar 4, 2021

      The Way To A Win
      5 min read

    • Article

      Indielab

      Jan 30, 2019

      We are in the midst of a revolutionary shift in publishing—an era in which independent authors can work with greater agency than ever before. It is also an era in which writers must position themselves as brands and equip themselves with the business

      2 min read

    • Article

      Calling All Freelancers

      May 8, 2019

      Calling All Freelancers
      2 min read

    • Article

      Best Freelance Websites

      Feb 26, 2021

      With over 1,5 million users, Upwork is one of the largest international online freelance platforms. It works a bit like an online dating service – freelancers post work profiles on the site in the hope that it will catch the eye of potential clients.

      1 min read

    • Article

      8 Side Hustles to Consider This Summer 2021

      Jun 24, 2021

      “Side Hustle” has become quite the buzzword as of late. Granted, people have had a lot of time in the last year and a half to sit inside, potentially sidelined from their 9-to-5 due to the pandemic. This time and freedom have helped people turn their

      6 min read

    • Article

      IBPA Publishing University

      Aug 15, 2020

      IBPA Publishing University
      3 min read

    • Article

      How To Read A Literary Agency Agreement

      Jun 15, 2022

      Kate McKean is a literary agent at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency and writes the newsletter Agents & Books, which can be found at katemckean.substack.com. Although McKean has been an agent for over seventeen years, an early job saw her as an edit

      9 min read

    • Article

      The Writer

      Sep 11, 2021

      Senior Editor Nicki Porter Contributing Editor Melissa Hart Copy Editor Toni Fitzgerald James Applewhite, Andre Becker, Eve Bunting, Roy Peter Clark, Lewis Burke Frumkes, Gail Godwin, Eileen Goudge, Rachel Hadas, John Jakes, John Koethe, Lois Lowry,

      1 min read

    • Article

      New World Order

      Oct 1, 2020

      New World Order
      2 min read

    • Article

      Breaking Free From The Debt Cycle

      May 10, 2020

      — Have you ever felt absolutely overwhelmed by the burden of debt? You are not alone.  Debt is a pervasively significant stressor with household debt in the U.S. recently reaching record levels surpassing $14 trillion.  And while managing and reducin

      4 min read

    • Article

      Niche Market PR

      Sep 28, 2020

      Niche Market PR
      3 min read

    • Article

      Smart Ways to Give (or Lend) Money to Family

      Jun 6, 2019

      Parents spend more than $500 billion annually assisting young adults with student loans, housing, groceries, car payments, cell phone bills and other expenses, according to a recent Merrill study. For many families, that largesse is in the form of a

      8 min read

    • Article

      More Eyes = More Sales

      Aug 13, 2019

      More Eyes = More Sales
      11 min read

    • Article

      Yes, You Can Break Free of Your Brand

      Feb 27, 2024

      CANDACE NELSON, founder of the world’s first cupcake bakery, Sprinkles Cupcakes!” That was my introduction on more than 100 episodes of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. It’s how the world came to know me—Mrs. Sprinkles. The Cupcake Queen. By co-founding

      3 min read

    • Article

      I Fixed My Knee Pain, So I CAN RUN AGAIN

      Jul 7, 2021

      My symptoms started the second I crossed the line of a local 10-mile race in 2018. I suspect that I damaged my knee on a downhill descent, perhaps having gradually sustained wear and tear over time. The pain in my knee joint didn’t go away with rest,

      1 min read

    • Article

      Facebook Is Testing Ways To Compensate Video Creators So It Can Cut Into YouTube's Dominance

      Mar 19, 2018

      If you're a die-hard fan of a Facebook video creator, the social network may soon give you a way to pay for exclusive content and award you with a digital badge to declare your fandom. Those are some of the new ideas Facebook is introducing in the co

      2 min read

    • Article

      Distribution Options for Indie Authors

      Feb 15, 2021

      The decision to self-publish a book means taking on all the responsibilities of a publisher. This puts the author in charge of not only the writing, but the distribution, marketing, and promotion as well. Amazon is the leading vendor for book sales i

      4 min read

    • Article

      Home Business Magazine

      Sep 28, 2023

      Stacy Ann Henderson, CEO & Editor-in-Chief Richard Henderson, Publisher Sherilyn Colleen, Content Editor Shayla Henderson, Reviews Editor Richard Rabil, Slice, Inc., Graphic Design Barbara Weltman, Home-Based Business Start-Up Guide Texterity, Inc.,

      1 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Self-Publishing Secrets

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Self-Publishing Secrets - Gini Graham Scott Ph.D.

      INTRODUCTION

      ––––––––

      SELF-PUBLISHING SECRETS is based on a workshop series and talks I have conducted on self-publishing to several different groups in the San Francisco Bay Area.  This is also being turned into a video.

      It covers these main topics:

      - The advantages of self-publishing a book

      - How I can help you self-publish your book: my background in

      publishing

      - Deciding on your overall purpose and goal

      - Determining what to write about

      - Creating an outline and timeline

      - Getting your information

      - Writing and editing your book

      - Formatting your book for publication

      - Publishing your book

      - Creating a POD – Publishing on KDP and other platforms

      - Publishing an E-book – Publishing on Kindle and other platforms

      - Creating an Audiobook – Publishing with ACX/Audible and other

      platforms

      - Using a PDF to sell your book online

      - Creating a course: using PowerPoints and videos

      - Setting up your sequence for publishing

      - Distributing and promoting your book

      - Getting testimonials and reviews

      CHAPTER 1: WHY NOT FIND A TRADITIONAL PUBLISHER?

      ––––––––

      One of the first questions that comes up when I suggest self-publishing a book is why. There are many reasons, but first I want to deal with the issue that comes up for many would-be authors – I’d like to find a traditional publisher.  Why can’t I find a mainstream publisher?  Some writers even have visions of their book being a best seller. Why not approach a traditional publisher?  Why self-publish?

      First, let me start with a reality check. 

      If you are writing certain types of books, it is not likely that a traditional publisher, other than a very small one, will be interested, unless you have already developed a platform and have lots of followers.  This largely applies to books in the self-help, popular business, relationships, and memoir categories, since these are very competitive genres. The major publishers want someone who is already very well-known.  This means that you have about 50,000 or more followers and fans on Facebook or Twitter, have frequently appeared on the media, or have an active speaking program with 100+ audiences.

      You might still find a traditional publisher for books in these regular genres, but this will probably be a small publisher with limited distribution; you will probably get little or no advance; and the publisher will do little or no PR for you.  Basically, the major advantage of opting to go with a small publisher is they have a pre-established distribution network.  But with little promotion, you will have limited sales and will get only a small royalty.  Plus the publisher will have control, so you may be limited in your sales to other markets, including e-books, audiobooks, and international sales. You may also give up the possibility of dramatic and performance rights, should your book have potential as a documentary or feature film. 

      Then, too, if you sign with a publisher, you will generally face a long time before the book’s release – generally a year to 18 months with the larger publishers, 6 to12 months with medium-sized publishers, and 3 to 4 months or longer with the smaller publishers.   However, if the publisher has not paid you an advance, the publisher may feel under no compulsion to publish your book, and you may find after six months or a year, the publisher still has no plans to publish – which I experienced with a few publishers.  Thus, while you may not lose any money, you may lose a lot of time and experience a lot of frustration.

      Also, be aware that even if you do find an interested traditional publisher, the publisher will generally do little to promote the book.  Commonly, with the exception of really big books with high profile authors, the publisher will send out a dozen or so books to major publications that do book reviews and to a few media and book reviewer contacts, but after that you are on your own.  The publisher may be willing to send out book copies for you, if you find book reviewers who want a hard copy of your book to review or if you are interested in participating in a book festival or trade fair.  But if there is any entry fee, typically you have to pay; the publisher doesn’t normally do this.

      If it’s an academic book where interest is largely limited to a niche audience in your field, a trade publisher will probably not be interested unless you are a well-known authority.  But if the reputation or prestige value is most important to you, do contact academic publishers first, since being published by an established press will contribute to your academic career, whereas a self-published book will have less authority in your field.  If you don’t find an academic publisher, you can always self-publish.

      Similarly, if you have written a novel or a timely book on a topic that could have wide appeal, it can be worth it to pitch the book to editors and agents first and go the traditional route if there is interest.  If not, you can self-publish.

      Still another alternative is the hybrid model, where you pay a traditional publisher to publish your book, usually under a special imprint.  For example, Wiley, a business book publisher; Hay House, a self-help, inspirational publisher; and Simon and Schuster, a general interest publisher, have set up divisions to publish books from authors who pay for their help with editing, design, marketing, and distribution.  On the plus side, these publishers normally exercise some selectivity to be sure the book fits with their line and is a well-written book.  This hybrid model can also be a good approach if you already have a built-in market, such as if you are speaking nationally on a particular topic or have an online marketing company, where you can expect several thousand customers.  However, a disadvantage of this approach is that you have to pay a substantial amount through an upfront payment or an agreement to purchase a large number of books – generally about 20,000-30,000 copies.  So if you don’t have the customers or funds to commit to this method of publishing, a hybrid solution with a traditional publisher might not be the most realistic approach.

      Thus, under most circumstances, it’s better not to choose the traditional publishing route, since your book may not be likely to find a traditional publisher. Also, it may take too long for your book to be published if you want a book out quickly, because you are doing talks, workshops, or seminars, and would like your book to be available for sale and to show your authority in the field.

      But there is an alternative to consider if your ultimate goal is a traditional publisher.  Start with a short part of the larger book – perhaps 7000-10,000 words of a 60,000-80,000 word book, and publish that.  You can use this short book to help build your platform.  Then, perhaps a year or two later, submit a proposal to an established publisher for the larger book.  Include your already completed chapters and describe the platform you have built up due to the growing number of attendees at your programs and your media appearances.

      CHAPTER 2: WHY SELF-PUBLISH A BOOK

      ––––––––

      Admit it.  If you are reading this book, you are probably already considering self-publishing a book – or at least deciding between going the traditional route and self-publishing.  So if you haven’t already decided, or are trying to convince a spouse, family member, friend, business associate, or client to self-publish, let me count the many reasons for you.

      - You have a message to share with others.  This might be a book to support a cause or a creative project, like a novel, to express yourself and get recognition from others.  Or perhaps you or someone you know have experienced a tragedy or been a victim of a terrible experience, and the book is a way of making sense of it, feeling better, or sharing what you have learned with others. 

      - You want to build your personal brand or your business.  Generally, these will be short promotional books about you and your company or tips on how prospective clients or customers can help themselves, so they will hire you.  Your book will help to show that you have the expertise to do these tasks more quickly and more effectively than they can themselves.  Here I will be focusing on publishing this type of book.

      So what are the major reasons for self-publishing a book to build your brand or business?  Let me count the whys.

      More Credibility and Visibility as You Show Off Your Knowledge

      Among other things, you gain more credibility and visibility when you have a book.  It’s an ideal way to highlight what you do, provide some background on your company and yourself, or give a prospective client or customer some useful tips related to your business, which show you as the authority on the subject.  You can include photos to show off the work

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1