Several of us authors have recently completed our latest projects–our books. Here’s a timely revisit of an early post from Indie Scriptorium.
Marketing–Building a Website
Check it out, click on the link below.
Re-Visit Sunday–Website Building
Publishing
Publishing vs Printing–Clarifying Confusion
CLARIFYING A CONFUSION (I HOPE!!!)
Some time ago we told you the sad story of friends of ours caught up by a so-called “vanity publisher”. When their work was accepted (with a great deal of enthusiasm!) by this publisher, they were over the moon. Slowly, however, joy turned to frustration and financial loss to the tune of more than $30,000-oo. With nothing more to show for it all than only one single copy of their book they were hugely ashamed and embarrassed – not at all surprising as they are very savvy and have always dealt with life in a business-like way.
Fortunately, this bitter experience has not killed the urge to write. But it could well have done so.
However, we have become aware of the fact that, as well as this vanity publishing racket, there are a number of other matters connected with writing that are causing a degree of confusion among those of us who dream and scribble and dream some more.
The two words we want to deal with today are “printing” and “publishing”. They are not the same and they are not inter-changeable. Let me repeat that so you get the message –
THEY ARE NOT INTER-CHANGEABLE
Printing is something you can do yourself. All you need is a laptop; a ream of plain paper; a printer attached to your laptop; card for a cover and a good strong stapler or comb binding machine. Your magnum opus won’t look all that professional, of course, but it will be printed. If you require a better-looking job, you can source a printing business, make an appointment to discuss the details of exactly how you want your book to look; how many copies you would like and how much it will cost. End of story.
You may have ordered only a few copies to give away, in which case you pay up; collect; distribute and (hopefully!) bathe in the glow of all the congratulatory comments. End of story. On with the next.
On the other hand, you may have ordered a hundred copies with a view to selling them. Have you decided on a marketing plan? How do you intend to publicise your book so eager buyers will be aware that it is available for sale? Do you have a list of bookshops that might be willing to stock your deathless prose?
If you decided to jump on this bandwagon, you have now become a publisher. Congratulations!! I really hope you succeed and make at least enough money to cover your costs and maybe have a celebratory dinner as well.
Bottom line: publishers are businesspeople whose essential business is to produce books, market them and make a profit. They do not author books although some do occasionally commission a book on a particular topic from an author they know and believe in. Once they have found a book they consider marketable, the author is offered a contract. After this is signed the publisher works hard to ensure a profitable outcome; hard work that involves, among other things, editing, proofreading, printing and marketing – and that printing is done by a printing firm; a separate business.
Publishers are not printers and printers are NOT publishers. Not a case of “never the twain shall meet”. Far from it. Much more a case of mutual dependence as each cannot function without the other. Think of it as complementary co-existence.
© Mary McDee 2024
Feature Photo: Winter Elm Mirror-Design © L.M. Kling 2020 (artistic design 2024)
To Market, To Market…
This Friday we, the members of Indie Scriptorium, will be selling our books, artwork and cards at the
Reynella Neighbourhood Centre Inc. Twilight Christmas Market.
164 South Road, Old Reynella
Friday 8 December 4 – 7pm
If you are in Adelaide, come and visit us there.
Not only will you be able to see the books and artwork which we have produced, we will be available to discuss with aspiring authors, such topics as: Helpful tips on becoming a writer, publishing your own book, and marketing options.
Hope to see you there,
Indie Scriptorium – a self-publishing collective.
© Lee-Anne Marie Kling 2023
Feature Photo: Christies market © L.M. Kling 2019
In the meantime, check out this blog from the recent past on ways to sell your book …
Feedback–When Published
Feedback …
When Published
I like to celebrate. As a child, when I received full marks for a spelling test, Dad rewarded me with a Kitchener Bun from the Fish ‘n Chip shop/Bakery which in the good old days of my childhood was situated opposite Glenelg Primary School. Years ago, now, when I used to drive my son his course in Magill, my mum and I treated ourselves to lunch at the local hotel.
Every so often, I check my Amazon account. I wipe off the virtual cobwebs of neglect, and dig deep in the files of my mind, retrieving the password to enter. I expect nothing to have changed.
I’ve been busy with my blog and the rewards, small, though they are, compared to the rest of blogging world, but the steady trickle of views, likes and comments, satisfies me. Over the years, the number of followers has steadily grown.
Once long ago, now, I made a daring move, and posted my short story, Boris’ Choice—not for the faint-hearted or while one eats breakfast…After the post, I checked for results on Amazon with my War on Boris Series books?
And…there were. Yes!
Then, I checked the reviews. Now, I don’t know how other writers have fared with reviews, but for months since I published my books, I had received no reviews. Yes, I asked my readers to do the deed and tick the star-boxes and comment, with no results. Yes, they’d say, and the weeks went by and nothing. Were they just being polite? A little research on comments on Amazon yielded answers. This platform is selective in who can give comments. If they think the author is using friends and family to generate positive, five-star comments, they will not publish those comments. Amazon were onto me, I thought.
Eventually, though, feedback and comments began to trickle in.
Anyway, back to checking the reviews…I looked again at one of the countries one of my books sold. The page appeared different. A yellow bar, and a comment. Genuine feedback. Not a great appraisal, but an appraisal all the same. I knew the person responsible for this first-ever comment for my book but was not surprised at their response. I did wonder at the time how my novella would work for them—not well—just as I imagined when they informed me, they’d bought the book on Kindle. As I said before, Boris and his antics are well…not for everyone.
The point is that trusted readers, friends, writers’ group colleagues need to give honest feedback that helps the writer refine their craft. We as writers need to be open to how we can improve our writing.
But, once the work is on a public platform, feedback has a different purpose. Comments from readers can help sell the work, or help prospective readers determine if the story is for them.
Of course, there’s always the Trolls who get a kick out of making hurtful comments. In Amazon and WordPress there’s an option to screen harmful comments out. And of course, there are people who mean well but the story or genre is not for them.
That being said, and for fear that there will be readers who will misunderstand my works, the over-riding theme of my stories are the classic fight of good against evil. How evil, like Boris, can creep into our lives. And when for whatever reason, usually when we maintain and enhance our self, and to avoid discomfort, we allow evil to stay. This evil, however subtle, will drive us to isolated places in our lives, like Boris does in The Hitch-hiker; places we never wanted to go. I want young adults and people young at heart, to make choices and use their energy for goodness and to fight evil, so they can live a full life and be an agent for good in their community and the world.
Especially currently.
© Lee-Anne Marie Kling 2016; updated 2022
Feature Photo: Tyranny of Golf © L.M. Kling circa 1982
Indie Scriptorium -- Self Publishing Collective 