Cross Focused Media

Recent blog articles by Julie Cave and Rachelle Gardener got me thinking on some of the challenges authors can face when they go the route of self-publishing. Here’s a bit of what I shared in response to Julie’s blog article:

“As you mention above, the road to a traditional publishing contract is fraught with challenges and rejection. So if you’re just looking to get your work out there, it is a possible shortcut. However, if you’re going to go that route, you should really consult with a professional editor prior to going to press. So many of the self-published books I’ve come across are full of spelling and grammatical errors. You’ll also want to work with a designer to create appealing cover art. When a potential reader is considering a book, the cover art is your chance to grab their attention for the few seconds you have it. You’ll want the best cover art you can afford. Finally, you’re going to need a platform. You’ll want to build an audience on a blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. and seek out opportunities to speak at events and conferences. Writing short articles and guest blogging doesn’t hurt either.

Sound like a lot of work? It is. Authors must understand that if they choose the self-publishing route that they’re going to need to do way more than just write the book. They’re also going to have to take on the responsibility of marketing and selling their book as well. If I had to recommend one over the other, I’d have to say I side with Julie and recommend that authors take the route of the traditional publisher whenever possible. Learning how to write a solid book proposal is an extremely important first step. You may also want to seek out the help of a professional literary agent like Rachelle Gardner to help shop your book idea to major publishers.”

Below are a few of the books I normally recommend to aspiring authors:

I would love to hear other’s thoughts on self-publishing versus traditional as well as books that you’ve found helpful for your writing journey.