Comments on: Good/Bad/Ugly: Lessons of a NY Pubbed Author Gone Hybrid

By: Established Author Tackles Self-Publishing - For Better Or Worse

Established Author Tackles Self-Publishing - For Better Or Worse — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 15:03:00 +0000

[…] Read the full article here: Good/Bad/Ugly: Lessons of a NY Pubbed Author Gone Hybrid […]

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 10:04:48 +0000

In reply to Beth Yarnall. Thanks, Beth! Following in your footsteps! Best to you and your writing in 2016!

By: Beth Yarnall

Beth Yarnall — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 01:52:06 +0000

Congrats Laura! Welcome to the dark side. 😉 I LOVE being a hybrid author.

By: minaraulston

minaraulston — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 02:05:29 +0000

Hi Laura, I have been a freelance writer of articles and speeches for nearly 20 years. But, my writing began as a result of escaping and abusive relationship. I began writing what I thought would be a "pamphlet" for my church's ladies ministries. My end product was a non-fiction book, Home Should Be Safe: Hope and Help for Domestic Violence Victims. Obviously a niche subject. I totally self-published it, no self-publishing company involved. It took me about 5 years as I researched, wrote, edited and studied the self-publishing process. Although my sales have not been tremendous, I have it on my own website http://www.minaraulston.com, Amazon and now on a domestic violence resources website. I also sell them when I have the chance to speak and in my church's bookstore. I learned so much from this process about writing and publishing and I do plan to publish more books. I also have author friends now asking my advice.

By: Pizzos3.com

Pizzos3.com — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 21:10:34 +0000

The very thought of self publishing gives me a visual of the bootleg purse man selling me a few Louis V's on a Detroit street corner out the trunk of his car when I was in my 20s. Not because there is anything wrong with it in any way, (live strong, hustle on) but simply because I believe some like the gifted and talented you in more ways than one have a skillset designed to basically be an entrepreneur and many, many, many do not. And I my dear am the later at this moment in my life. That moment representing 4 kids at every academic level, college administrator position, PHD candidate, ministry leader, and, and, and.... I haven't figured out the traditional route yet and its DAUNTING. I can't imagine the self pub industry. But you know what, each day in this journey I'm growing and learning and you never know. This may be in my future somewhere down the line. Therefore thank you for the knowledge, tips were excellent as always. I will tuck this neatly away in the file of ideas that I've discovered as life goes on, finds a way to come a'knocking. ~Blessings

By: C. K. Crouch

C. K. Crouch — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 03:34:50 +0000

Great post Laura. I will have to wait until the first of January to order your book. I'm stuck in rehab for knee replacement surgery. I live alone so it was decided the best thing was for me to go to rehab. Unfortunately, the only approved facility is 50 miles from home, and ancient as the hills. I enjoyed reading your post. I am working on book book 4 in series about a group of Navy SEALs. I know it's over done but I'm an army vet as well as an army spouse for 20 years. I decided to write one book in 2012 for NaNo and decided to write about the rest of the guys on the team. There's a novella and most of the books need to be edited and revised but I ended NaNo and this story wanted to be written so I decided since I was facing knee replacement surgery I could write it during December. I did a double NaNo this year.I am wishy washy about Ny or Indie. i like the idea of the control, but to walk in Wal Mart and see my book on the shelf is a dream :-) Happy New Year from Texas where it's turned frigid over night. I'm hoping to escape Rehab for New Years. I was sent here because I live alone. Sigh. I just want to go home now lol.

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 20:14:56 +0000

In reply to Beth Mikell. And it's good that we have the option of experimenting, Beth, right? And you just reminded me...I have sheets in the dryer. Back in a bit...

By: Grace Burrowes

Grace Burrowes — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 20:10:03 +0000

My experience mostly echoes yours. Self-publishing is nowhere near as tough as I thought it would be, and the rewards have been well worth the learning curve. One observation: As an indie, if you hire the wrong editor (I did), you simply send them on their way, your pocket somewhat lighter. If you get into a bad trad situation, it can go on for three, interminable books (or more), with no recourse. Worse than no recourse for some, because the person causing you the trouble might also be the person deciding whether to offer another contract/or how to market your books/or how to design your covers. etc. You lose a lot of flexibility, control, and the ability to nip problems in the bud when you accept that advance. The effort and frustration involved are all wear and tear on the author, much as the indie learning curve and "working without a net" feeling can be. Always, the resource allocation Rubik's cube, but for me, the indie path has worked well.

By: sallyjadlow

sallyjadlow — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:36:56 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. In formatting here are some tricks: Use italics if a word needs to be italicized... do NOT underline. To start a new page (after the end of a chapter or section), insert a "page break." In Word, it’s the ctrl-enter keys. Do NOT hit the enter key several times until you get to a new page. If you're formatting poetry or recipes and want the next line immediately below the current one hit Shift + enter to make the lines hang together without a space between.

By: Beth Mikell

Beth Mikell — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 14:21:35 +0000

In reply to LauraDrake. Thanks for the reply, Laura. I'm just a writer, lucky enough to be doing what I love most. Happily, I have a forgiving family, especially when I forget to do the laundry or burn lunch. ;) It happens... To be honest, I have only had my books enrolled in Kindle Select for the last six months and my sales have been better than when I used more diverse sales distribution. For now, this method works for me. Who knows, I may change my mind tomorrow, but that's okay too. There's always a bit of risk involved no matter what option.