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Hi everyone, i was responding to a friends post when i thought it would be a good idea to start this thread, i hope the mods are o.k with it.

I have been playing Dungeons and Dragons and every other role-playing system out there for over almost 30 years, i am 40 years old btw. I started to Dungeon master or game master my own adventures about 20 years ago, also for any and all systems. I have always been artistic, i play guitar and love to write.

So some years ago a friend of mine said i should write books, and thats when it started. One day a friend came over and uttered a phrase, and right then i knew what i would write about. i created my own world, like T.S.R had with Forgotten Realms Dragonlance etc.


Last year i was fired from my job and decided to change my life, i sat down and finished my first book. My friend and i have shopped the idea to our friends and we have come up with $7000 to self publish the book

I want to go step by step through the process, a journal of sorts, is anybody interested in not only going through the process with me, but the process of writing a book.....I have no college degree, i dropped out and got my G.E.D, i dont think i am an expert, but i believe everybody has their own resistance working against them, that is the biggest danger to all who write......i want to share and learn as i go on this journey with those who are interested, post here any questions and i will try my best to answer.

BTW. i have also written a script for an animated movie set seven years before the book, and i wrote a comic book set in the time of the main characters birth and younger years....all based on the same world, and i am turning my book into a screenplay as we speak

I am sorry i have not posted any of my stories over the years i have been a member. However my goal is to write a story set in my world, and about the characters in my book for this site...unique for all of you.

Thanks for your time!

$7000 to self-publish?

Quite an investment.

Originally posted by Omega Vision
$7000 to self-publish?

Quite an investment.

Good post!

I can self publish for free!...(Yes you can..ask me about it).....or i can pay what the idea earned with my friends and those who decided to invest?...i have no money, no job....i went to my friends and family for support, and my friends came through and loved the idea...we have 7000-12000...to invest.....i decided it would be based on their belief in the book.

Granted no one was serious until i provided the book, when it was finished and i supplied the first three chapters, some people fell in love with it, and it went from there.

Do i try and get a company to hire me and publish my book/idea? i.e....T.S.R, Del Ray, Bantum etc.

Or Self Publish, retain 100% royalties, and i get to decide who and when my book becomes a movie, i decide the rules to the role-playing game, i decide on the cards in the dueling deck i made based on the world.

In this day and age, you have a better chance to self publish, sell 2000 copies and a company will find you!

Then i can be hired by a comic book company etc.

It breaks my heart to see R.A Salvatore speak to his fans about Drizzt, Wulfgar, the characters that he made famous, he has no control over anything...movies...comics...he had to make his own brand...and they still want to see a Drizzt movie rather than his newer stuff.


$3500 for the package deal
$3500 for the Editing
Editing cost from $0.015 per word to $0.045 ..my book is over 90,000 words
So $7000.....to own everything...to have a professional edit, the whole shabang!....it is not that much of an investment.

Just my thoughts.

I think self-publishing can be a viable option nowadays, though you'll have to basically market it yourself. I guess it's a long-shot either way.

Can you explain the editing part?

Like, do you mean checking for grammar/spelling mistakes? Because I try to do that myself.

Originally posted by Bardock42
I think self-publishing can be a viable option nowadays, though you'll have to basically market it yourself. I guess it's a long-shot either way.


What they do now is offer a Distribution package, which markets your book under a major publisher...which acts in a way like a traditional publisher....Under their imprint you can get your book into any book store...and they have a team which helps in marketing etc..but yes most packages will give you a site, market strategies, and submission into most search engines...the more you pay the more options are available.. so price becomes a major factor in self publishing. I believe that in my case it is the best option. Thanks for responding

Originally posted by Omega Vision
Can you explain the editing part?

Like, do you mean checking for grammar/spelling mistakes? Because I try to do that myself.

Ok...Lets understand some things.....one everything cost money, so there are cheaper options( like editing the book yourself, most companies insist you pick at least one of their options), but here is how it breaks down.

Want a fresh out of college, graduate to edit your book? or a pro who has experience with your genre?......Cheaper more expensive...simple logic.... the company i am using will recommend what level of editing my book needs ( I don't have to accept it), i will explain.

BASIC EDIT....Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and syntax
Correct errors in sentence structure and language usage.
Make note of recommended changes in wording or phrasing to improve the readability of the manuscript
Correct commonly known errors (misspelled names of presidents etc)
COST---$0.015 PER WORD

ADVANCED EDITING........Include all items in the basic editing package
Conduct a telephone consultation with the author (after first review edit) to allow for clarification of any suggested changes, recommendations, editing process concerns, and/or questions
Include a second complete manuscript review edit after author revisions and telephone consultation
Review the organization of the material to ensure that theories (for nonfiction) or characterization and plot narrative (for fiction) are developed fully and that the manuscript is in a well organized format
Ensure that plotline/narrative, dialogue, continuity, and characterization are consistent
Make note of instances where material may stray from its intended purpose
Ensure consistency throughout by noting or correcting the author's use of specific terminology, etc.
COST---$0.03 PER WORD

PRO EDIT.......Include all items in the comprehensive editing package
Conduct two telephone consultations with the author (after first and second review edits) to allow for clarification of any suggested changes, recommendations, editing process concerns, and/or questions
Determine the completeness of the content following revisions made after first review edit with attention to the intended readership purpose and use of the manuscript
After first round of revisions, evaluate the main developmental issues in the manuscript and provide notes to author indicating areas of remaining concern and suggestions for improvement or restructuring of ideas or format
Reorganize paragraphs to make them more logical to the reader
Check the appropriateness of all figures (nonfiction), and note comments or questions
Review the final interior after the manuscript has been formatted/typeset, just before the book goes to press, and correct only spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax
COST----$0.045

SO.....This is the basics of most packages i have seen, not every detail, but a good indication. If they recommend the most expensive one, you don't have to accept( most companies make you have to choose one, so you can pick the cheapest), i plan on having to use the advanced edit, because of the money i got together....
My book is roughly 95,000 words....x $0.03 is around $3500 - $4000 dollars i think lol.
Thanks for the question!

I see. Thanks for the clarification.

Originally posted by Omega Vision
I see. Thanks for the clarification.

No problem, it is exciting and scary at the same time, it feels good to share some info, thanks.

Yeah, I'm going to consider all my options before I make any kind of investment or send my manuscript out.

Here is a Tip....Decide why you want the book published....for instance...do you just want the pride of just having a book published?...to give to your friends and family?...well you could then self publish for free or little money, and pay for the books as you order them or as they are ordered by others( print on demand)
Low upfront cost...you will pay more for each book to be printed....you will get hardly any royalties, and they will own your idea and can make any decisions they want...i.e.. they can settle a deal to make your book into a movie...without your permission....things like that.

If you think your idea is special, if you think it needs further future books in the series, is it prime material for a screenplay to be adapted... if this is the case, you are going to want to pay more upfront cost, and retain 100% royalties and have total control over your idea.. Though you might be young and ready to do intern work, you might even have connections or have past experiences in the field.


From what i have noticed , the day and age of being hired by TSR (wizards of the coast) or a major publisher are fading away, the best technique in my opinion is to self publish and garner their interest by doing well, then they might come to you, or at least it is a way in for someone like me.

Does anyone know how Amazon's self publishing E-Book system works?

Is it any good?

What kind of price are we talking?

Originally posted by Omega Vision
Does anyone know how Amazon's self publishing E-Book system works?

Is it any good?

What kind of price are we talking?

I have not looked into it.


So i have gotten back the assessment on my manuscript, they had some good advice, i am making changes to the manuscript, these will be the last before the editing begins.

The process so far has been interesting
Marketing Strategy.. basically filling out a form they will use for marketing the book

Assessment of manuscript- i uploaded manuscript, they gave me important advice and recommendations. Theygave me an option between three imprints which my book will be under.

Next is the Editing Process.

Originally posted by starlock
I have not looked into it.


So i have gotten back the assessment on my manuscript, they had some good advice, i am making changes to the manuscript, these will be the last before the editing begins.

The process so far has been interesting
Marketing Strategy.. basically filling out a form they will use for marketing the book

Assessment of manuscript- i uploaded manuscript, they gave me important advice and recommendations. Theygave me an option between three imprints which my book will be under.

Next is the Editing Process.
Nice! Congrats man.

How detailed is your marketing strategy? Because my complete inexperience with marketing anything has made me shy away from querying/submitting to publishers who require a marketing strategy. I mean if I had to make one for my book right now it would probably be something stupid and short like 'I will market it to people who like fantasy'

Right now I'm getting a friend who works as a part-time screenplay editor to look over my book pro bono and offer some suggested amendments. I think I'll also take your earlier suggestion to heart and shave off some of the needless exposition at the beginning of most of the chapters that kind of slow things down and make the book longer than it needs to be.

Well if i remember correctly..

Title of book..why did you choose it
What genre...list books it would compete with.
First book of series?..Stand alone....short stories
Where you live, how that can be a benefit.
Why the book stands out...maybe some other details

But it is not them asking me how i want to market the book, rather information to better help them to come up with the right plan for marketing the book on their end.

It is always good to have trusted people who can read your work and give you advice, and if hes in the field such as you mentioned, that's very cool. Glad i could be of help in some way, see what your friend thinks.

Originally posted by starlock
Well if i remember correctly..

Title of book..why did you choose it
What genre...list books it would compete with.
First book of series?..Stand alone....short stories
Where you live, how that can be a benefit.
Why the book stands out...maybe some other details

But it is not them asking me how i want to market the book, rather information to better help them to come up with the right plan for marketing the book on their end.

It is always good to have trusted people who can read your work and give you advice, and if hes in the field such as you mentioned, that's very cool. Glad i could be of help in some way, see what your friend thinks.
Interestingly enough, she is a little nervous about what edits/suggested edits to make since she's big on kid's fantasy and she doesn't have much experience with "smutty fantasy" as she calls my work.

I've got a list of about 20 publishers organized from most promising to least promising, I intend to try all of them until I get picked up or until I run through them all. And if I do get through all of them without luck I'll just dig up some more or go an alternate route.

Well editing has begun on my manuscript. they were real helpful in a lot of ways, one of them being that my payments were from different sources. I guess they better be helpful since i am paying them. I get two rounds of the best editing available, and one last round of editing before print, to make sure there are no mistakes.

Congrats man. Hope you get your money's worth.

Thought I'd add that this is a really interesting thread, and that I hope you keep this updated as the process goes on. 13

Originally posted by Barker
Thought I'd add that this is a really interesting thread, and that I hope you keep this updated as the process goes on. 13

Thanks Barker, and i will.

I should have my manuscript back by Sept 7th, to work on further.

sweet

Manuscript is back in my court, so much red hehehe.

So i am going through the first round of edits, noticing some really good comments and changes already. Excited and terrified at the same time to see my book altered in a way. I will give more detail in time.

Originally posted by starlock
Manuscript is back in my court, so much red hehehe.

So i am going through the first round of edits, noticing some really good comments and changes already. Excited and terrified at the same time to see my book altered in a way. I will give more detail in time.
Is it mostly grammar or do they also do thematics?

Both. They correct spelling, give me options for other ways to say a word(in some cases),. Help with sentence structure and maintaining consistency. In my brief moments going over the whole thing i was very happy to see so much help and comments. Though the first round of editing is very detailed so far ( i am up to chapter 9), the second round of editing will be more focused on the meat and bones of the story.

Okay, with some delay due to my not having word 2007 i have finished with round one of the editing. The manuscript is back in their court. I get my first phone call with my editor within a day or so to discuss any concerns and or questions in general.

98% of the changes i agree with, nothing major mind you, just trivial things. Now that all the grammatical errors are out of the way and most of the other minor details we can get to the heart of the story.

I had my first phone conversation with my editor, it was a great experience. We spoke so long my battery ran out on my cell, and he even called me back 3x because of the time it took to reboot the phone While i was explaining some of my concerns for the book, he even stopped me for going to fast, as he was writing it all down. I now wait for the manuscript to be returned to me for the second round, i am feeling very good about it so far.

Originally posted by starlock
I had my first phone conversation with my editor, it was a great experience. We spoke so long my battery ran out on my cell, and he even called me back 3x because of the time it took to reboot the phone While i was explaining some of my concerns for the book, he even stopped me for going to fast, as he was writing it all down. I now wait for the manuscript to be returned to me for the second round, i am feeling very good about it so far.
Sounds like you've got the right person if he's that enthusiastic.

This is all awesome.

I might have missed it, how long did it take you to write the story? From thinking of the concept to actually writing to actually finishing.

Originally posted by Barker
This is all awesome.

I might have missed it, how long did it take you to write the story? From thinking of the concept to actually writing to actually finishing.

I have been playing and conducting Dungeons and Dragons sessions for over 25 years. i have always had lots of adventures written and played out over the years. About 5 years ago a friend of mine was over my house and uttered the words "The Smoking Monk"...and i knew right then i would write my story based on it lol. So i took the concept of the Monk and created my own character classes for D&D. We roleplayed for about 2 1/2 years. When i was fired from my job almost 2 years ago, i made a choice to stay home and write my book.
I started with a bible, a list of characters, places, events, and story-lines spanning the course of the world, from creation to future( from before the time the book is set, to the future of the series).
It took me about 10 months to write the actual manuscript. 1 year and 8 months from pencil to paper, starting with the bible. I write on paper and then type in the computer btw.

It should be noted that i also wrote a screenplay for an animated movie, and 1 issue of a comic...based on the world, they were included in the time frame, so it is really is hard to define exactly.



BTW. In discussing illustrations for my book, they will only re-size the images, they will not adjust them for anything else. This means it is up to me (since i do not have any money, nor do i know any pros) to take my scans and get them ready myself. thankfully i am familiar with photoshop!

Good books = You get paid to publish.

Bad books = You pay to publish.

If a publisher wont pick you up... move on to something different. Your book is probably just not good enough. Not every unpublished work is a diamond in the rough.

Originally posted by Omega Vision
Well not all self-publishing is vanity publishing.

Self-publishing can be just as valid as old fashioned publishing just more personally expensive and less certain to pay off once your book is out there.

It's an avenue I'm considering but one that I'll turn to if/when the more conventional channels have been exhausted.

A few self-published books have sold over a million copies on Amazon. As I said "Not every unpublished work is a diamond in the rough."

Some have done very well... but for every one... there will be a million that fail.

Originally posted by Omega Vision
He's already spent his money. At this point I don't think pontificating to him about the perils of self-publishing is at all productive. I just skim read the thread. I figured he was asking for advise.

In that case... I wish the guy luck.

Hey, i welcome all advise and any conversation. I would be foolish not to, however this is not a manuscript that i had tried to get published the traditional way, i never sent it to anybody for that reason. That said, here is what happened in a nutshell.

When the manuscript was finished (1st draft), i had given it to several friends and family to read. When i was deciding what to actually do with the manuscript two of my friends told me they would invest in self publication, they believe it will be a profitable venture for all. I have not actually put any money into this project at all. I decided that if people were willing to invest, i would go with my instinct and give it my all..

So here i am, in the middle of this process, thanks for the kind words and support.

Originally posted by starlock
Hey, i welcome all advise and any conversation. I would be foolish not to, however this is not a manuscript that i had tried to get published the traditional way, i never sent it to anybody for that reason. That said, here is what happened in a nutshell.

When the manuscript was finished (1st draft), i had given it to several friends and family to read. When i was deciding what to actually do with the manuscript two of my friends told me they would invest in self publication, they believe it will be a profitable venture for all. I have not actually put any money into this project at all. I decided that if people were willing to invest, i would go with my instinct and give it my all..

So here i am, in the middle of this process, thanks for the kind words and support.
Ahh, well that makes sense. I'd do the same in your position.

So i have sent in my manuscript once again. The editing has been pretty easy using the track changes in Word. They addressed all my concerns and even went beyond leaving comments and the normal editing process. In discussing a term i used in the book that i wanted to change, the editor actually put the effort into giving me several options already in the manuscript. The constructive criticism has been a little tough at times in the manuscript i must admit, but looking at the improvements i made from them, i know it was necessarily, but seeing my work taken and being asked to alter it in some way is never easy i guess.

So i now have to send in my images for the illustrations and concept art while finishing the interior layout questioner.

Pretty cool, keep updating us.

Also I don't know if you need more money for this or anything, but you should look into Kickstarter. It's worth a shot.

Originally posted by Barker
Pretty cool, keep updating us.

Also I don't know if you need more money for this or anything, but you should look into Kickstarter. It's worth a shot.


That is a great idea, thanks for the info. I have a comic, animated series and a trading card game that tie into the world i created, and i do plan on a complete trilogy for the book idea, i am at chapter 6 of book 2., something like this could really help. I love the premise also, i would totally help those if i had the money. Once again thanks for the tip.


As of now i wait, i sent in my Cover concept art and illustrations. Now i wait for 2 cover art premises, with up to 5 revisions to get the cover as best i can since i could not afford to hire my own. I also wait for the interior layout to be sent to me for my approval.

I got my sample chapter, so now i must approve font, illustrations, name placement, etc. I get to see how the book is going to be laid out, next will be the cover art.

That's awesome, man.

I now have the full interior layout, the only thing i want to change is the illustration size and how close they sit to the chapter heading. Everything else from the font and style i chose to the placement of page number,name of author and title of book, look great, i am so excited.

Full interior layout is finished, and i get to choose between 2 covers for the book. It looks like as of now the book will be 332 pages, this edition is hardcover 6x9. I will also have a softcover at 5x8 soon after.
Maybe i can upload the two images for my cover..lets see..
Oh, they are low res..and watermarked. When finished they will be hi res..and all cleaned up..lol

I will upload the first here and then another in a separate post.

Here is the second choice i have for the cover.

Publishing prep edit has been approved, as has the interior layout. The book should be 332 pages, hardcover 6x9.
I picked the second choice for the cover. The black border and the full dragon did it for me. And it won on my facebook pages.

Back cover design is next. after that it is a quick series of tasks which should not take that long.

This thread is great for me since I am in the process of writing a curriculum for home groups that will become a book later. Thank for doing it!
1- What ways will you use to get your book "out there"?
2- How do you find an editor that knows about what you are doing?
3- How does the profit change whether you are self-published or use a publisher?
4- If you use a publisher, do you lose all rights to your creation?

Originally posted by MARCMANtheDUDE
This thread is great for me since I am in the process of writing a curriculum for home groups that will become a book later. Thank for doing it!
1- What ways will you use to get your book "out there"?
2- How do you find an editor that knows about what you are doing?
3- How does the profit change whether you are self-published or use a publisher?
4- If you use a publisher, do you lose all rights to your creation?

1- The Company i used to self publish will treat the book as a online entity as well as traditional marketing( i got the Expanded Distribution Package). The package i paid for, will get them to treat it as a website they will try to make successful. And i will get the inclusion on search engines etc. The book will also be presented, and reviewed by, the small press buyers at Borders, Barnes & Noble, and other large wholesalers.

There are other options to pay for, such as publicity events. Money means allot.


2- I did not. I paid for the best editing from the company i used to self publish. What they do is hire an editor. This is how i can explain it better.
Pay for the cheap editing-You get a college student
Pay for the mid-range editing- You get a guy right out of college
Pay for the Most expensive editing- You get a professional who has been in the field for years.

I think it is in their best interest to get someone who has edited books like the one you or i would present. And it was explained to me that they would when i asked them the same question basically.

3-I guess the same way an owner makes more profit than his employee. In going to a publisher, you might get a contract for the book, and let us say possible books into the future. That might mean a certain amount of money up front and or a paycheck every week or month. Now granted a young author with no experience, or payed work history in the field, will not get the best deal. However i am not an expert as i have never been published. Successful creative people seem to always be trying to get a better deal, actors writers etc.

Self publishing is the same...there are self publishing companies that will get your book made for little to no money. However you start to loose your cut of the profits. I went with a company who offers a true (as true as you can get i guess ) 1000% profit.

4- If i worked for a magazine and wrote stories..would i own the stories?.. i guess that would be up to you when you were hired. Maybe you would be able to say,"hey i want the rights to do what i want with the stories i will write for your magazine". I do not know. What i do know is from the self publishing industry.

Self publish for little or no money, and someone else could have the rights to decide if your idea/story will be sold to Paramount to make a movie. In my research, i found a woman who self published her book for about 300 dollars. Now in the day and age of digital printing, when a book is ordered, it is created and sent out..so to speak. She understood that she would not make a lot of profit, it was for pride and, possibly a chance for something more to happen. What she found out, is that, if Del Rey books were to come to her and try to make a deal with her to publish her book under their banner. She has no rights what so ever for 6 years to accept the deal ( the self publishing company could though). And if she read her contract right finally, she would have no say in a movie deal etc.

However the creation is yours. after six years you can do what you want with it ( In her case) and be the sole owner. It is when you work for a company, like say Marvel Comics. You create a character, and they can do what they like with it. You will get creative credit for it. But will you have the right to sell your creation to a movie company without Marvel letting you, or taking their cut?


One of my favorite authors is R.A Slavatore. He wrote books for TSR and still does i believe. People are calling on him to make his characters and series of books into cartoons and movies ( Drizzt stories, Icewindale trilogy, etc). Anyway, it breaks my heart when he has to plead with his fans and explain, he has no rights to the characters. TSR decides what to do. He then goes on to explain how his more recent books are in his control. Yet they are not the characters his majority of fans want to see in a movie or cartoon. Make no doubt he is probably rich and well off, is he regretting that he might have no rights to his greatest creations ( His most selling books and characters within)
I think i have a unique and fun idea and the world i created is crazy,weird, and a for an adult audience. But i want to be able to be in charge of my destiny so to speak. It is risky, but i think it is worth it.

Welcome to my world, i am just finding my way through this crazy world of self publishing and i am not sure of every step i take. Which is why i made this thread lol.

I think all of your questions helped me also just by responding, so thanks for posting.

How did you find your company and what is it called?

Are you saying that even if i self-publish, I cannot do what I want for 6 years? Why would the self-publishing company have a say?

So when you self-publish, the less you spend, the more rights you give up?

I am concerned about Copyright Laws. I do not want to write my book then get sued from a guy I did not know had written something similar (My book is not a novel but a self-help books of sorts)

Out of my book will also come conferences and retreats. If I use a publisher, do they 'own' my idea and I would them have to run all that by them for approval first and give them some of the profits?
Would they also have the right to create things based on my book?

BTW, ever heard of CreateSpace?

Originally posted by MARCMANtheDUDE
How did you find your company and what is it called?

Are you saying that even if i self-publish, I cannot do what I want for 6 years? Why would the self-publishing company have a say?

So when you self-publish, the less you spend, the more rights you give up?

I am concerned about Copyright Laws. I do not want to write my book then get sued from a guy I did not know had written something similar (My book is not a novel but a self-help books of sorts)

Out of my book will also come conferences and retreats. If I use a publisher, do they 'own' my idea and I would them have to run all that by them for approval first and give them some of the profits?
Would they also have the right to create things based on my book?

BTW, ever heard of CreateSpace?

I started with some books. One of the best ones was The Fine Print of Self-Publishing, by Mark Levine. In the third edition he added the fact that in the time of his first publishing of his book and his third edition of it, he had formed hi sown company. So being a fan and loving his view on self-publishing, i looked at Mil City Press, as one of the companies i would research before deciding. My investors agreed that Mil City was worth the risk of using a new company, rather than some of the companies that have been out for a while. In the end that is who i chose to self-publish with.

I am not saying you wont be able to do anything for six years, however it can happen. Do some research into whatever company and make sure you can terminate your contract at any time. One of the steps that they are doing for me is Copyright registration..you will be by law the owner. It is the contracts the self publishing companies have that binds you to use their services. In any case you will have them or you yourself will have to Copyright the book, so it will always be yours legally.

Loosing rights?.. i was only comparing self publishing to traditional publishing. In a way that says, i self-published, i own it and i have the opportunity to make 100% profit. In going with a traditional publisher, in some cases you might not have total say in what happens.

The less you spend, the more profit you loose in self publishing, however that is only what my research tells me as i looked into this process. And in one case, some one who went the cheaper route, had to stay with the company for 6 years before she could do what she wanted with her book. However she is the sole owner of the copyright.

Let us say i am self publishing using the company i described. After a year i make 30k from the book. A traditional publisher takes notice of my sales and offers me a position with them. I can immediately terminate my contract and agree to let the traditional publisher publish my book. Also let us say that they offer me more than 30k a year, and are using their own money for marketing etc, it might be a smart move. I am sure i will have to sign a contract that states i have to stay with them and fulfill my duties, whatever they may be. They may want me to write other how to books, or in my case the second two books in my trilogy.

In some cases, you are locked into a contract that states you must use their services (Self publisher) for a certain time. So when the traditional publisher comes along, you find you can not negotiate.



My advice would be to read his book and learn more, i feel i might not be explaining it properly lol. I am not a lawyer, just someone who decided to self publish. And since i have never been published by a traditional publisher, i do not have all the answers. Go online and research more into the material you are going to publish, such as how to books. I hope i helped, as i have little experience with traditional publishers, and this is my first self-publishing experience.

When you refer to self-publishing company and talk about contact, and let them find an editor and market your book, that sounds a lot like what a publishing company would do right? (profits and "rights" not withstanding)

Thanks for all the tips! This is a great start for me. I will look into that book as well.

Yes,some of the self publishing companies act almost exactly like a traditional publisher. The expanded Distribution package i got, will enable me to be under one of their imprints. Basically, i do not want my book to have a "I self-published my book feel". So they have divisions which act as traditional publishers. If i am correct, i will be under Two Harbors Press. They in turn will distribute the book. This provides me with a way into Brick and Mortar stores. Anybody will be able top go into a Barnes and Nobles and order my book. Being under an imprint also gives the book a more legit feel, where some might be turned off to the idea of a self- published book.

I love the discussion, feel free to drop in anytime.

I'm starting on sending tentacles out whilst writing a new project; this is very inspiring and has resteeled my resolve. Congratulations, starlock, and thank you!

reading the book you recommended - very interesting so far...

1- I had heard that by putting it on CreateSpace (an Amazon self-publishing service) that you'd be exposed to great numbers. The book disagrees with that but does not say why.

2- "If you cannot afford a professional editor, don't bother publishing you book" that is a strong statement!

3-I have NO clue if the following request is reasonable since i do not know what a contact would show, but would you consider emailing it to me?

Well I expect the harshness of the professional editor is because editors know what works in books and what doesn't - they have to take lessons on grammar, spelling, and plus they know how to turn your idea for a book into an idea for a realistically marketable book.

Cool stuff Starlock.

I might have missed it, but is it going to be available digitally on say Amazon's Kindle Bookstore? Or is your deal just for a print run?

Originally posted by Barker
Cool stuff Starlock.

I might have missed it, but is it going to be available digitally on say Amazon's Kindle Bookstore? Or is your deal just for a print run?


I have the option to pay for a professional E-book, which is compatible with most readers. My concern is money right now.

If all works out, i will have the hardcover version and the E-book version out at the same time. However if i need to save some money, it will only be a hardcover at first, then E-book and shortly after a paperback version.

What is definite, is a pre-order special for autographed copies before anything else is out. This way i can autograph and send them to friends and family etc. In any case i will post here with all the information when its available.

Okay, awesome. Stick with it man, if I ever write out any of these short story ideas I have, I know who to come to to ask questions. haermm

Originally posted by Barker
Okay, awesome. Stick with it man, if I ever write out any of these short story ideas I have, I know who to come to to ask questions. haermm

No problem at all.

Originally posted by Barker
Okay, awesome. Stick with it man, if I ever write out any of these short story ideas I have, I know who to come to to ask questions. haermm
If you're looking to get a short story published I don't think self-publishing is valid like it is for novels.

This, however, is an excellent site for finding publishers: http://www.duotrope.com/index.aspx

It seems to me like a traditional publishing company pretty much offers the same services and a good self-publishing company. Is that correct?

Originally posted by MARCMANtheDUDE
It seems to me like a traditional publishing company pretty much offers the same services and a good self-publishing company. Is that correct?
Self-publishers require you to pay them.

Most traditional publishers don't require you to pay anything (barring postage if its snail mail)

But the key difference AFAIK is that self-publishing is (more so than regular publishing) a gamble where you might shell out a lot of money and get ripped off by a phoney company or get a real company but not get your book anywhere because they can't promote it.

Traditional publishing meanwhile means a lot more rejection and frustration and still carries the risk that your material will get stolen or you'll get ripped off somehow but if you manage to find a reputable, major publisher with lots of clout that likes your material you're golden.

Originally posted by MARCMANtheDUDE
It seems to me like a traditional publishing company pretty much offers the same services and a good self-publishing company. Is that correct?

To an extent, yes, however like Omega said, there are differences. The one i look at is royalties, and ownership of all the rights to do what i want, when i want. There are obvious risks though, like described throughout the thread.

Here is the final cover for my book..made for the hardcover dust jacket

Whatever..the post did not upload image, and i can not delete it. so here is another try..

I hope this works this time...here we go...

I have approved the interior and cover art files, and finished Copyright step! I am now in the middle of the website creation process for the book trying to decide which template to use and what it should exactly say on the site. Also, they should be sending me a copy as part of the physical proof step for me to approve, can't wait to finally see in my hands!

I believe i can now start the E-book creation process, but i am awaiting verification. It is definitely taking longer than i would have thought. However i feel it was for the best as i think it will be a better book for it.

Okay Marketing plan is done and the website is all but finished. All that is left is to order copies and approve the physical copy. After that the book will be available!. It looks like next week i will place the order!

Self-publishing is not an easy thing to do. I have done it for years with my songs. I wish I could find a real publisher.

Originally posted by Jim Colyer
Self-publishing is not an easy thing to do. I have done it for years with my songs. I wish I could find a real publisher.

I used to be serious with my music, i play guitar. I have just let it become a hobby a my true love is for telling stories. But i hear ya, lets hope things work out for the both of us eventually, maybe this hard work with self publishing will get their attention.

It is official...The book is out!

http://www.thedeadlyaddictionschronicles.com/

E-book versions are now available. Ran into a couple of snags during the process, but all is good now.

Congratulations, Star, hope it sells well!

Thanks. i have a booth at the N.Y Comic Con..that should help allot

Ive read some of it.. It's good.. I self published mine on amazon, but I would love it in print.

Thanks Pure Passione, sorry i have been so busy, have not checked the thread in ages.

How are things going, Star? Is the book selling well?

Originally posted by Omega Vision
How are things going, Star? Is the book selling well?

Everything was going great until my girlfriends cancer came back. Since then i have not been out there much, nor doing the proper promotion. I was able to only write for a living, for a while. I work part time writing online and with book sales i was able to stay home. Now with my girlfriend going through this all over again, i find myself looking to go back to work. I would say if i had the time and effort, it would do well.

Originally posted by starlock
Everything was going great until my girlfriends cancer came back. Since then i have not been out there much, nor doing the proper promotion. I was able to only write for a living, for a while. I work part time writing online and with book sales i was able to stay home. Now with my girlfriend going through this all over again, i find myself looking to go back to work. I would say if i had the time and effort, it would do well.
That's awful, Star. No wonder you haven't been here much.

Hang in there. I wish the best for both of you.

Thanks, i will try!