[Takedon]

I am going to start writing a book soon and I would like to know if it is worth the try. I've always been good at literature, but with today's technology, very few people read anyway. What do you think?

[EHPrybylski]

Actually, many people read. There are ways to make money writing books, however you need to be prepared for the large amount of overhead involved in marketing them if you intend on self-publishing. If you go the traditional route you have less overhead out of the box, but you won't make as much money.

Both routes have drawbacks and benefits, and if you'd like to know more please feel free to ask. I have experience in both areas (I am starting an indie publishing company and have done freelance editing and writing for several years now).

[writergirl81]

Actually, many people read. There are ways to make money writing books, however you need to be prepared for the large amount of overhead involved in marketing them if you intend on self-publishing. If you go the traditional route you have less overhead out of the box, but you won't make as much money.

Both routes have drawbacks and benefits, and if you'd like to know more please feel free to ask. I have experience in both areas (I am starting an indie publishing company and have done freelance editing and writing for several years now).

You are completely right. I've tried traditional publication and now I've gone into self-publishing. The only reason I went this route is because I don't do well with rejection. And I didn't want to be turned down because the tradition route is so littered with many of the same types of novels as I currently write.

However, I am stuck in my Self-Pub venture because I don't know how to design book covers. I am on disability income so buying a professional cover artist is out of the question, sadly. I just have to stay in the rut until I can figure out how to front all this!

[Takedon]

This is interesting. Do you think that I might get lucky or even successful if I launch my first book on an e-book version on Amazon? Will people be interested in it?

[EHPrybylski]

However, I am stuck in my Self-Pub venture because I don't know how to design book covers. I am on disability income so buying a professional cover artist is out of the question, sadly. I just have to stay in the rut until I can figure out how to front all this!

I may be able to help you out there. PM me, and I will see what I can do to steer you in the right direction.

This is interesting. Do you think that I might get lucky or even successful if I launch my first book on an e-book version on Amazon? Will people be interested in it?

You can certainly be lucky and/or successful if you launch your book as an e-book. Building the platform and doing the marketing (along with editing etc.) will determine how successful you are, though. I strongly suggest both Kristen Lamb's "Rise of the Machines" and Dan Poynter's "Self Publishing Manual". Those will give you MANY of the tools you need.

[zingaling]

As attractive as self-publishing is, if you're using it to avoid rejection you may want to reconsider your approach. Not because rejection is any fun (trust me, I know!) but because it can be necessary to the creative process.

I've read a lot of self-pub in my time, and most of the gems were from authors who had already benefited from an editor to teach them restraint, hone their style, and catch those writing habits none of want to hear but we all suffer from :/

Of course you can get around some of that if you have friends that have some expertise in the area as well, but you still have to deal with the potential for criticism from them.

[Darth-Apple]

As attractive as self-publishing is, if you're using it to avoid rejection you may want to reconsider your approach. Not because rejection is any fun (trust me, I know!) but because it can be necessary to the creative process.

I've read a lot of self-pub in my time, and most of the gems were from authors who had already benefited from an editor to teach them restraint, hone their style, and catch those writing habits none of want to hear but we all suffer from :/

Of course you can get around some of that if you have friends that have some expertise in the area as well, but you still have to deal with the potential for criticism from them.

Well said.

[bench91]

The best way to go out it is not to think "l am going to make lots of money" just write your book to the best of your ability and if it's mean't to be then your book will do well, of course you do have to promote it and l'd would recommend you taking a look at a website called SMASHWORDS. They let you list your book with them and they have a very big reach in terms of where your book gets listed.

[RuthB]

When you have finished writing it, make your book available for download. Get people to review it and post their reviews online with a link. Promote it in social media.

It is not true that people are not reading books. Many downloading books for their e-readers and you are more likely to get sales that way than you are if you tried to get it into print.

[EHPrybylski]

When you have finished writing it, make your book available for download. Get people to review it and post their reviews online with a link. Promote it in social media.

It is not true that people are not reading books. Many downloading books for their e-readers and you are more likely to get sales that way than you are if you tried to get it into print.

There's more to it than this, actually.

While you will want to promote your book on social media you'll want to invest time into building a platform via social media. You will want to write a blog, start a Facebook page, LinkedIn, Twitter... there are a lot of possibilities. And when marketing avoid things like spamming "buy my book" everywhere. It's unpleasant as heck and won't sell your book; it'll just leave a bad taste in people's mouth.

Now, print vs. e-book is a sticky subject I won't broach, but suffice to say both have benefits and drawbacks that are worth noting.