If I've said it once....

If I've said it once, I've said it 1000 times: there is nothing, I repeat, nothing that a "self publishing" service can do that you can't do yourself - better!

So many times people ask if they should "self publish" by using a publishing service. My repy is always: "self publishing" means that YOU are the publisher.

YOU can hire your own graphic designer who will actually customize your book to match the content.

YOU can hire your own editor who will ensure that the book is grammatically correct and that the story or information flows in a logical manner.

YOU can hire your own printer who will print according to your specifications: type of paper, type of cover stock, type of binding, etc.

I don't know why people who decide to self publish think that it's a good idea to turn the project over to someone else - someone who just does not have a vested interest in the final book. People who want to turn control over to someone else should just work with an agent to find an interested publishing house. In that case, one expects to lose control of the project.

When you self publish, you ARE the publisher and it is YOUR business, and the profits are YOURS.

OK, I'm ranting, but the decision to self publish or get published is a personal decision however the decision to self publish means that you SELF publish.

Best of luck with your project.

Denise

Summer is here

Finally, summer is upon us with blue skies and warm days. Hallelujah!!! Enough of cold and snow, heavy coats, boots, gloves and scarves. Hurray for shorts and flip-flops.

Summer is a good time to reflect on past goals and to work toward new goals. Summer is a good time to work on that book writing and/or book publishing project that is stored in your computer waiting for that "right time". Well, this summer can be the right time. You can spend your time at the cottage, at the beach or even on your patio, planning how are are actually going to get that book idea published. Now is the time to gather information and to read, read, read everything that you can about publishing and especially about book marketing.

More important than getting the book published is figuring out how to sell the book. Who will buy it? Where are the markets for those buyers? How will they know about your book? Summer is a good time to get a notebook and make notes as ideas pop into your head. It's a great time to brainstorm your book project as you share a margarita with friends and family. You will be amazed at the ideas people will give you just in casual conversation.

When you are relaxed, you have time to just let your mind wander, gaining information for your book. You have opportunities to observe people in book stores and in libraries: how do they browse? What catches their eyes? How do they choose a book in a specific genre?

Summer is a good time to research your book cover. What makes a book cover attractive? - fonts, colors, photos and graphics, title, emotions created??

Use your leisure time as productive time, even though it doesn't seem like work. Just let your mind work on its own and you will be amazed at the results.

Denise