Super accurate. I’m self publishing a poetry collection in just 15 days and every night I watch these videos to see how everyone else’s experiences played out. Love this channel!
I just read The Alpha Drive!!! I couldn't put it down!! It was the first book I picked this month and it definitely kick started my reading mood. it was so much fun and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!!!
Great video. I agree 100% with what you said here. As a self-published author myself, I can get behind everything you said about wearing many hats, and I have to agree that when this happens your writing does somewhat suffer. But, I persevere because writing is my passion.
Self-publishing is a huge commitment but very rewarding. You need to be dedicated and super organized. My editor was a huge help. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Great tips! It' so important to surround yourself with a community when it comes to publishing, especially self-publishing. And modeling the authors who are successful at doing it is a great way to start. Banding together with other authors in your genre is key too, plus you are like one big brain collective when it comes to sharing advice and tips!
Dang girl you have your shit together ...so inspiring ... just where do you find the time to work full time, write, do all your business errands related to your book as well as RU-vid and a life etc ...
I realize I am about 4 months late on this but I just discovered your channel. Your videos are exceptional. You are so down to earth and give people real advice and definitely give off a genuinely "nice" vibe. There is nothing artificial at all in your demeanor or your manner of speaking, which I think is very rare. I just wanted to mention what I think of when someone mentions how a traditionally published author "must be better." Malazan very nearly wasn't published. An amazing, incredible, honestly the-best-thing-I-have-ever-read was turned down by traditional publishers over and over.
Thank you so much for this informative video. I am hoping to go the traditional publishing route but I always look forward to learning more about the self publishing route as well.
JustMeJewel if you want to try something to kick start your writing career try out tinyurl.com/ycv8wyn4 this site. yes you would pay BUT i wrote about 30 articles and got paid well for all of them. i highly recommend it
I went on a reading bench and read all your books! Love them! I bought all three ebooks, and The Alpha Drive on the physical format. I will be buying all of them in physical format.
This is super helpful. I've decided to self-publish myself (due to the freedom that wearing every hat has)... however, it's nice to be reminded of the current cons as well :)
Yes! This is fantastic...and as I'm preparing to self-pub my 2nd book on Monday, I needed the reminder that it's a lot of work for everyone. It can be so overwhelming!!
Yes!! I'm a home schooling mom of four kids, a youtuber and a self published author. It's all SO MUCH WORK! But, I love my life and wouldn't have it any other way.
She is right. Marketing a self published book is extremely difficult. Some people have a knack for it. I did not. I gave up on it. Way way way too much work and not enough time left for actual writing.
Wow this helps me soooo much! I been trying to decide whether I want to self-publish or go to traditional route. And hearing all the feedback about how you shouldn't self-publish was really getting me down and making me look the other route but then I found out that your work is no longer your work if you get traditionally published please correct me if I'm wrong but that's what I've heard/research I've done. But this helps so much to make my decision and after today I will be going the self-publishing route! I need to learn patience anyway and this will help me for all the series that I have in mind and what I've already worked on so thank you so much for this awesome piece of advice!🤓🙌👏
I really like your honesty and all your advice. It is very unusual and precious. Thanks a lot for sharing your experience and for your so positive videos!
My novel was published in the past, but I did not see eye to eye with my publisher. I am going to give self-publishing a try. Thank you for the information :)
It is really so cool to see how far you've come in such a relatively short time. Like 2yrs. I feel nostalgic. Hopefully you can find some solid people to help you out on the other fronts and focus on your writing.
I have written many specification and contract documents in my business life. This requires super accuracy. The things that you did not mention are; Editor reader, proof reader, copy editor, cover art work, typesetting, book and page layout, printing and binding, distribution, etc, the list goes on. So does the cost! I have two books published and although my spelling and grammar are generally top notch there are still typing errors that creep in. Examples of this; sea is what you meant but sew was what was written. Both words are recognized by the spellchecker but you missed the A and hit the W instead. It takes a keen eye to spot these things and they are the things that rubbish your scripts. Proof reading your own scripts is a very difficult job. You obviously won but many fail. Well done you. :) Dana.
You are one of my Inspiration on writing, I admire the fact that you decided to go through all that hard work just to reach your dreams. Keep on writing😄
THANK YOU for being realistic about both self and traditional publishing, way too many self pub people gloss over the former and demonize the latter (just like way too many trad people look down on self). Thanks again, you're fab.
I have always been very interested in writing fiction, I have spent a few hours today coming up with a story. Its called "A students fantasy" This will be based for teenagers and adults (obviously)- despite that I have loads of ideas, I love planning it all out and thinking what my book would look like published. I have visited the YA website and left my details, and read through what they do, also video's like yours are a great resource for things that you'd need to take into consideration. Though I really hope that getting a D in my english GCSE wont affect my chance of becoming an author. Its what I want to be and I am so ready for It. Thanks for this video 😊😊 -Jotted a few notes
My first book was actaully self-published through an independrnt press, who had a contract with myself, and the printing press, he was using, and for all the clarity. Unfortunately, for me I had to learn this the hars way like most authora do. I had to buy my books, for 7.15 a piece, from a printing press, and my publisher as well, and it got extremely expensive, and way too time consuming as well. If anyone bought my book from the printing press website then the printing press, and my publisher got the majority of it, my royalities were extremely low, not to mention all thw times I only had a thirty minute lunch break from my day job, and I had to package, write out addresses, pay for the shipping, and even sign and dedicate several of them as well.
I love your channel and videos! You are amazing and inspire me to continue writing! I am planning to publish my book on the Internet on a free website called 'Wattpad'. Could you please make a video on publishing your book on the Internet. Wether it is better, or not recommended for new writers? Thank you so much! BTW, I love your hair color!😂💙❤
I would use wattpad for short stories. But if you have put in the time to complete a novel you might as well self-publish it. At least you will have a physical copy for yourself.
I am starting out self-publishing but I do eventually want to crossover into traditional and be a hybrid author. I never thought of RU-vid Videos the way you just spoke of them. I was only going to use them to promote other authors and myself when I self when I launched my radio station. I some author do what you do in blog form, but in video form. So I will reconsider the idea of vlogging other purposes than just promo for future references. Thank you Kristen. :-)
This is a great and informative video. I vastly underestimated how much work self publishing is. It was just too much for me. You need to be very business oriented to be successful in self publishing.
I help run a Romance conference and have been doing so for over a decade and I can attest to personally seeing traditionally published Authors dominate a huge signing for two signings for years. Now the pendulum is starting to swing back and forth between the two kinds of publishing, some are dual published which is becoming more popular. In the conference I help with the signing among other duties I think if you take out a few big Traditional Authors the balance between both publishing types are about even. On another note with so many Book stores closing Conferences and fairs are getting more important. Just my view on things from a set next to an amazing Author and great person.
You are so awesome! I really needed this right now. You've inspired me. It has been an incredible and arduous journey. Thanks for your attitude. And the reminder about J.K. Rowling!
For my camera, I use a Canon Mark II G7X and absolutely love it. I've also heard great things about Sony's Cybershot DSC-RX100 IV. For editing software, I recommend iMovie (it's super user-friendly). For more advanced users, Final Cut Pro is great. And for lighting, you can purchase any ring light on Amazon, or purchase professional "photo" box lighting from Fovitec (this is what I currently use). Hope that helps!
I have published two novels .... and I would give this advice to would be authors: Take a day out, and visit some local coffee shops. Look carefully at their customers. Observe how many people are sitting there reading a book. .....
But even with traditional publishing you still have to market your book. I'm going to traditional publish all my 15 books, but if I get a contract I'm selling my rights to the traditional publishing company I think not sure, which means if I'm planning on becoming a film producer and Screenwriter I want be able to adapt any of those books into a Screenplay or produce it if it becomes a movie another film producer will have to do it. Now self publishing the author still have the rights to the book, but the 30 Screenplays I'm writing and going to produce is not the same stories of my books. Even becoming a filmmaker I will have to market my own film movie distributors don't do it anymore. It's all on me.
Great video and very helpful. Thank you, you have told enough to help me make the decision towards the type of publishing I will be pursuing. It was what I had already surmised. I will be going for traditional publishing. Thank you, by the way, the lighting is low on your left side my right side. I have noticed the light coming through the window to your right and realized that it was a good amount of light, yet, there does need to be light on both sides of your face. Just saying.. Much love and peace, Saundra Fisher.
Quick question: should I have to put dedication, acknowledge, preface, table of contents on the right side (odd page) of my non fiction / non fiction paperback book?
I have published 6 books. Not exactly the most successful. I have tried to do traditional I can't find anyone to look at them. Let's put that another way, I can't get answer so I guess that is a rejection. Yes it takes a lot of time to do each hat you wear. I need tips on marketing.
So real! Self-publishing isn't the easiest route... Well, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful vacation; you've greatly earned it!! :) And Happy day 8 of your Birth'month!
Kristen, I just watched your publishing series. Did I hear this right, you cant publish without having your own publishing company on ingramsparks? So in order to publish with them I'd have to create a publishing company?
Thank you for another great video! I'm still working on my very first project but I do plan on self-publishing when it's ready to go out into the world :) You did mention, though, that if someone orders a signed copy of your book then YOU'RE responsible for mailing it out. Does this apply (for you) to just the signed copies, or you responsible for mailing out every book you sell?
I'm pretty sure it's just the *signed* ones. Her books are created through a couple of print of demand companies--the books are not printed unless someone orders them then they are shipped directly to them. With the signed ones, she has some of her own books at her home, and to order signed ones, you contact her directly to buy one. Self-publishing has come a long way.
