I'm writing an article about the realties of self-publishing in today's market. I'm looking for authors who have had traditional publishing deals and then moved to self-publish and then find out what their experience was like. How did it work, did it work, etc. If you fall into this category of author, I'd live to chat about possibly interviewing you. Pls message me or email at jeff@storygeeks.com.
On Writing : Looking for authors to interview... by Jeff Lyons
Other topics in Authoring & Playwriting:
Check out Trending Discussions
Register / Log In
Jeff, you could post this in the "Jobs" section found in the upper menu bar. That's where members post various "want ads" or searches for creatives, paid or not paid. The Jobs section functions rather like the classifieds. Whereas the craft and business forums are for topic discussion. I hope that helps. :)
ok
Jeff--have you been published traditionally as well???? email me and we'll chat... jeff@storygeeks.com
Hi Tigerman here. If you are interested, I published one book as an ebook, and then had my memoir Follow in the Tigerman's Footsteps published by POD. If you like you can contact me via guestcolin992@gmail.com
I've published three (four if you count a short-story) books via self-publishing after looking into the traditional publishing route. Unless your books get a lot of exposure, or you happen to know someone in the industry, it's extremely hard to get noticed. Self-publishing gives you a "product" which is then sold and earns you money (more money per sale than you'll get from a traditional publisher) whilst you wait for it to become famous (ie: 50 Shades of Grey was self-published and, after creating a buzz, was picked up by a publishing house I believe). I recently had all three of my books turned down for an appearance at the Hay Festival in the UK, because they "didn't fit the programme". Despite my biography/memoir, Access Denied, falling squarely into their "Biography" section, and having 100% positive reviews, and my book of travelogues, Omonolidee, being about, well, Travel - another of their categories!! To be honest, I have severe doubts as to whether anyone at Hay even bothered to read anything I sent them because I am self-published. The following give two very different perspectives: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/mar/30/self-publish-and-be-damned-... http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/mar/21/for-me-traditiona... Jeff, if you would like to interview me please let me know. David E. Gates.
Yes it's a jungle out there. :)
Hi Jeff. If ever you are looking for writers with disabilities, it seems life has been very generous on that score, I would be glad to assist :-)
Daisy--Very interesting... yes I'd like to hear more about that... didn't get an email.. fyi.... jeff@storygeeks.com. Maybe we can chat on ph... :)
So, for all you guys who responded to this post, thank you. Unfortunately I didn't get enough responses to make this possible, so no article. :( But, I might email some of you to ask you about what your doing with your books. If that's ok. I want to learn what other people are doing that's working.
No problem contact me if you like.
I'm a ghostwriter. Most folks I work with insist on a trad pub contract. Yet my last three clients, all of whom were thinking trad, switched plans and are now self-pubbing. One reason for the change is, in some cases, the impossible demands publishers now have: strong online platforms, etc.
1 person likes this
I had my memoir printed as POD. But due to the high price they put on the print edition, I think I should have self-published.
1 person likes this
Doug--Yes, trad pubs all want you to have an established platform/online presence, etc. I got a two book deal with a trad publisher and had a weak platform, but the book ideas were strong so they signed, but this is not the usual case. And they dont' help you with sales and marketing anymore... you have to do all the work yourself anyway. But, Im finding that I spend all my time marketing and have less time to write :) It's very hard and getting harder with the glut of self-pub'd work out there. It's a real problem.
Yo Jeff -- First, congrats on winning attention with excellent book ideas. But the ongoing need to market your own work is discouraging. I often wonder how much more I might produce if not for all the ancillary demands on my "book" time. Continued success!
Colin Guest -- POD is a fine way to create a paperback. Now you can consider self-pubbing the digital edition. New platforms do all the formatting for you and help place your book at the major sites -- Amazon, Barnes & Noble -- format so that anyone can download your book. https://www.publishgreen.com/ is one platform. There are others. Best of luck.
Exactly... it's diminishing returns for me. I'm convinced the successful indie author are those who make enough money to pay social media and marketing companies to do the heavy lifting for them. It's a real business... you have to hire third parties now. But, you have to know how it all works, so you can manage them, so you sitll have to learn it all.