Looking to self-publish but tight on funds? Want to build a fanbase before you’ve even released a book? Or, perhaps you want to fund a special project like a graphic novel or audiobook? If that’s you, then crowdfunding might just be your new best friend. Indie bestseller and self-publishing expert Ben Galley shares his top tips in this handy Q&A.
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Serialized novels were popularised by Victorian novelists such as Charles Dickens. Today, free online tools enable anyone to do it – and reach an audience. But would you do it for free? What if it lead to a million hits and a two-book deal with HarperCollins? Emily Benet tells us how she used Wattpad as a launchpad, and shares her top tips for success.
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There are more options than ever for authors to self-publish print books. But they really boil down to three business models: Commission-Based, Upfront-Fee or Subscription, says Sarah Juckes, who outlines the pros and cons of each. Which one is right for you?
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Ben Galley is the self-published fantasy author of The Emaneska Series. Zealous about inspiring other authors and writers, he also runs the popular advice site Shelf Help, and is the co-founder of ebook store Libiro. Ben became a successful full-time ‘authorpreneur’ at the age of 26 and within a few years of publishing his first book. Jon Reed asks him how he did it.
Read MoreMany good self-published books are let down by the quality of their cover, which can scupper the chances of it selling as many copies as it deserves. So how can you give your book the best possible chance?
Read MoreBy Suw Charman-Anderson at forbes.com: Smashwords, the self-publishing platform that allows authors to reach all the major ebook retailers except Amazon, recently
Read MoreBy Piotr Kowalczyk on Password Incorrect: The price of a book is what really matters to readers. It’s where self-published
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“Authors and readers are all that matter. Publishers will soon be irrelevant.” It was billed as The Great Debate – but has the discussion really moved on since last year?
Read MoreSelf-publishing your book is now easier than ever. Self-publishing your book well, however, can still be a real challenge. You will often hear mutterings in publishing spheres that, “You can always spot a self-published book just by looking at it”. And in all fairness, it’s not too surprising, especially if you have chosen to do as much as possible yourself. I’m going to hazard a guess that it is unlikely that as an author, you have also trained and worked as a designer, typesetter, editor, proof-reader and marketer in between writing your book! It’s undoubtedly going to be hard to get the same effect as a publisher who has spent thousands on a book’s production. However, there are some basic things that you can do that will make your life much easier and help your book blend in with the best.
Read MoreIf you were trying to make it in a rock band, you wouldn’t face the dilemma of ‘should I play gigs or try and get signed by record labels?’ You’d be thinking, “I’ll play lots of gigs, record my music myself and send it off to the record labels”. You’d have a MySpace page and do as much as you could to build up your fan base and reputation as a way of drawing attention to the quality of your work and proving that there is a market for it. So, why not apply the same philosophy to writing?
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