Tag Archives: Publishing

A blog about the topics of writing, My writing journey

One of my publishing house has closed

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This year, one of my publishers closed. Based on what I know, I completely understood the reasons.

I decided to self-publish the books I had with the company as opposed to going with the publisher of my Jasper, Amazon Parrot series.

It did make me pause. I thought of the pros and cons of traditional publishing versus self-publishing. Everyone has their opinion on the topic.

Over the years, self-publishing played second fiddle in the publishing world. Things have shifted, with major players turning to self-publishing. I am talking about already established authors.

But if you are not established and you are a small fish in the ocean, it is not always easy to get noticed, especially when big-name authors enter the fray.

One needs to be persistent with our writing.

A plus to self-publishing is that your royalty is higher. You have more decision-making in the cover, quicker publication release date, and more control over the book, just to name a few. One big difference is marketing. You have to do it all on your own in comparison to a traditional publishing house.

Traditionally, you do give up money since they are doing all the work. Yet you are not forking money in for an editor, illustrator, or to market your manuscript.

It all depends on where you land on the spectrum. Both have pros and cons, and that is when you need to spend time deciding what is right for you.

For me, I have dipped into both baskets, feeling it gives me a better understanding of the industry and a better prospect of where I want my books to go.

The Squirrel Mafia series, I feel good about going the self-publishing route. Quite a few people know about this series, so when I release volume two, I’m not starting from the beginning. Then I can move on to my next project however it is published.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writing ways

When do you start promoting your manuscript?

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This topic landed in my email box. When should you start promoting your book?

The writers I know in this area start once their manuscript is complete. To me, that is getting on this way too late. I mean, once your book is complete and you tell your friends and family, then what?

I started on my social platform brand once I had my first draft of my Jasper, Amazon parrot series. By the time the drafts, edits, cover, and more, I had grown a following of people engaged in me as I was in them. I had people to shout out to saying, “Finally, my book is done.”

If you wait until the end of your book, you are shouting into the wind in hopes someone will take an interest.

Your book deserves more than that. You deserve better than that.

And one more thing. When submitting my first book to publishers, they always asked where I was. It meant what is your social platform?

Fortunately, I was able to point to where I am at. If I had not done the work, I am unsure if the publishers would have picked up the book.

It does take time. You do a quick search online, which will show you the various platforms. Not all will work for you. Take one platform at a time. Put the work in. If it does not feel right, dump it and try another.

Some of these platforms allow you to schedule the posts, which helps since this frees up time.

Start slow as you build your social platform, your brand, and a gateway for you to shout to a larger audience once your book is complete and not only full but complete and published.

A blog about writing, Writing ways

How is your grammar? :For the record, I use an editor

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How good is your grammar as it pertains to writing? I have done better over the years due to my editor, Nancy. Without Nancy, my books and short stories would not shine as brightly as they do now.

There are programs out there that are free and with a price that helps with commas, spelling, spacing, and more.

But I don’t rely just on the programs.

Some writers I have seen use their writing groups to pick out the errors as they critique them. It does help with your piece having more eyes on it. A few writers have stated that is all they need to get their books edited.

I have heard a few writers stating that is all their books required to run their WIP through a critique group.

It is helpful, but it is not what one should rely on.

Grammar can derail a book, and it can prevent a publisher from taking your book on to tossing it in the trash can.

There are so many books on Amazon that I have read that make me read only a bit. I have reviewed books that are so heavily bad in grammar that I struggle with writing a review. There have been times I have contacted the author, stating why I won’t proceed with a review. I like to help fellow authors and write a review about books. However, an unedited manuscript can derail authors.

I have learned and have done better with my editing, but I will always use an editor at the end of the day. The last thing I want is to see an unedited book online to be purchased that has my name on it.