BellaOnline Forums Career Nonfiction Writing Self-Publishing

I own a small publishing company that prints POD (I use Lightning Source as my printer and they're terrific). While I've never published any of my own work through my small company, I've published books for others who wouldn't have a shot with the biggies (at least not yet).

I believe that self-publishing has its place for those who are willing to take all the gains and all the loses. I know specialists who are in front of an audience all the time and they make good money selling their self-published books through their website and to their audiences (specialized niches). I know photographers who use LULU for their books/calendars and have been happy with it.

As a writing coach, I evaluate each of my client's potential and discuss their goals - from there we decide which route is best for them. I have a few novelists who are wonderful writers and I believe their books will be picked up by an agent/publisher. I also have clients who are better off going the self-published route. Then I've had clients that I recommend they take some writing classes before they consider publishing.

No matter who the author or what route they take, in the end the author sells the book and you've got to be willing to do the work - whatever that may be. There are a lot of wonderful books and podcasts out there on book promotion. Here's a good one: All Things That Matter

As I tell my clients, "Be the Writer" - what they learn from me is that 70% of being a writer is marketing! That's why having a platform is so critical these days if the goal is a big publishing house.

Be realistic and Be the Writer.

Good advice. Marketing is my least favorite thing, and it's something I really have to work on when my next book is released. Silly me, I thought writers became writers because they don't like to talk...and then my publisher kept putting me on the radio and making me talk!

Marketing is my fear. The business of writing is my fear. Right now, right here, I will pledge to be more opened minded and to visit this site often so I can glean all the support and education I can in this matter.

It's nice to have a support group.

Marketing isn't necessarily fun, but it's not necessarily that hard either. It's just a sequence of steps you take to make sure people know about your book. So you go through them one by one

Yes, but can we do them without speaking?

Sure, Terrie! There are tons of ways to market. Speaking is a great way to promote a book, but not the only one!

I wrote an article on Marketing Tips for Writers this week for the SOHO site. It's geared to writers of books, but will work for anyone.

I didn't include it in the article, but podcasting is one way to "speak" without facing an audience. Of course, you can also work on learning to love speaking! I do!

I currently have a coaching client I'm working with to promote her book, and she is a speaker, but still wishes the book would market itself! LOL

I'm trying, honest. I'm speaking this Sunday on the subject of literacy. It's getting easier.

I do a lot of speaking to groups and clubs. Preparation, know your subject and practise is how I made sure I was ready. I wrote my speech, practised it aloud to myself and my husband and had a Powerpoint slide presentation to back me up. I was still very nervous the first few times, but now I don't usually get nervous. I have a two minute presentation at the Deafness Forum in Canberra in a few months time. Not sure how I'll approach that one yet though :-)

Just pretend that your audience is naked. lol.

At church? Maybe not a good idea I think I'll get the moms to line up the preschoolers I teach to wave at me while I speak--they all do anyway and then get mad because I'm not waving back.