There was the research for the most current information and practices. There was getting past the barriers to reaching those sources. And the challenge of getting digital handouts was enormous. (Consider attempting to collect paper copies from a physical - not virtual - location when you have no personal vehicle but do have mobility impairments and the resources are more than 15 miles away in any direction.) Then came writing the manuscript (think speech). Started as a script with a resource list. Became a PowerPoint. Moved back to script. You're also aware that I was developing digital resources to accompany that talk. That was why we returned to the idea of a script. That resource was to become my first ebook.
Needless to say, there was a lot of learning to do about how to self publish. Enter the generosity of some virtual colleagues who shared their knowledge of e-publishing - from 2008. Technologies and software have changed about every two years. So the guidance about how to do things from one source was good but the the way to do it was obsolete (not to mention time consuming when it came to interpolation). Fortunately, some of those authors pointed to updated versions. And those updated versions pointed to newer instructions.
Ultimately (around the tenth hour and return to PowerPoint - with more success), I kept being steered to some of the best known self publishing sites that have instructions about preparing your manuscript for digital publication. (Some of them even offer advice on how to convert from digital to print!)
Publishing is more than researching and then writing a manuscript. There is an entire process to it. The foundation is creating a plan. (Yes, I know. Planning detracts from inspirational writing. Spontaneity detracts from delivering a meaningful message.) Over the past five months, I've uncovered some remarkable materials about the steps involved in publishing a book. It can be applied to publishing anything, including a resume or profile. And what has me talking to you today is coming across an email promo from Writers Market that talks about the 100 things a writer should know about publishing. It's extremely similar to other content that went before it. You know, I think we can rely on this information.
So today I'm providing you with links to the self publishing sites as well as the resources they provide about using their site to self publish. (Disclaimer: The next sentence is unabashed promo.) Just remember that you can come to me to get proofreading (or editing) services for your masterpiece. As is indicated in the name of this site, you can also just get a constructive critique.
All of that messing about that went into preparing for last month's talk had a starting point. The idea and presenting it along with a plan in the back of my mind about how it was to be delivered and to whom it was intended to reach. Of the 100 things a writer should know is start with a plan.
Now for that list of resources.
Resources:
- IngramSpark - 100 Things Authors Should Know (check the Entrances Bulletins for information and link)
- Plan Your Book
- IngramSpark - Publishing IQ Quiz from IngramSpark
- BISACs: Cracking the Code
- How to make and publish an eBook from BookBaby
- Five Steps to Self Publishing from BookBaby
- SmashWords Style Guide
- Formatting Parts of an eBook from Digital Publishing 101
- Introduction to Ebook Publishing (Smashwords tutorial series, #1), a YouTube video
- What is KDP?: Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing Explained
- KDP Tools and Resources
<-- amended items 11/9/17 >
- KDP How-to Resource Guide
- KDP Help Pages
- CreateSpace How-to Resource Guide
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